July Ipsy Glam Bag Review

It's that time again, folks. It's Ipsy Glam Bag Review time! 

Yay! You know you love it.

Continuing with the vibe of summer essentials, this month's theme is Sensationally Sunkissed. 

We all know I am so down for all that.

I mean how perfect is that scalloped edge neon pink bag for summer?

Almost as perfect as the summer essentials it comes filled with.

Starting from the center you've got Befine Food Skin Care Daily Moisturizer , Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil, Whet Refined Nail Lacquer, Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, and bareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow.

I'm so excited about this bag let's just jump right into it. 

Befine Food Skin Care Daily Moisturizer - I literally ran out of moisturizer, from my May Glam Bag, the night before this Glam Bag arrived on my doorstep. I call that fate, my friends. 

While I don't know much about the brand itself, the bottle seems to hold all sorts of promising promises. 

SPF 15

Made with vegetarian proteins from rosemary, pomegranate, and rice

Allergen Free

Fragrance Free

Paraben Free

No artificial coloring

"No animal testing whatsoever"

And last but not least, proven to be safe and effective for all skin types through dermatological and clinical testing.

Whew, that's a lot of good karma for a sample size to handle. I really enjoy using this product. So far it hasn't broken me out, I don't feel sticking or oily after using it, and it smells nice too! Overall, a huge win! 

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil - This is the only product I haven't put to the test, mostly because the weather for July has been all over the place lately and I just haven't made it out to the pool all that much. That's the South for you though. 

Overall, I can't see how you can go wrong with a tanning oil though. I mostly like using oils (sparingly) to tan with because of the fun beachy smell and this product definitely has that going for it so that's a plus.

Whet Refined Nail Lacquer - Due to some past duds, I've started to dread seeing nail polish in my Ipsy Glam Room but this one was definitely different. The first thing to catch my eye was the color, obviously. Some of my most loved nail polishes are dark colors like Essie's After School Boy Blazer or Sinful Colors Rich in Heart but those are really more reminiscent of Fall, which makes me love this take on a dark color that is also bright. Facetious, love the name, is a bright royal blue in the sun but a dark navy indoors. Right up my alley and perfect for summer.

Everything about this brand, from the packing to the name, intrigued me. I really loved the little campy take on the name in the description on the back of the box, "wHet your appetite." If you can't tell already, I'm totally sold but it gets better. Just like the moisturizer, this product has a lot of promises...

Three Free (which I had to google):  means it is free of the Big 3 Toxic Chemicals in nail polish: Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde (yikes), and Toluene. So that's a good thing.

Vegan Formula

Made in the USA 

7 Day Chip Resistant (I haven't been able to test this but I could definitely see it being true)

and limited edition (isn't everything these days?)

wHet, I might just have to check you out. Thanks, Ipsy.

 So, I may have forgotten to take a close up of these next too products but I did manage to swatch them both and there's a surprise in store if you keep reading.

I'll start with the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, mostly because I have a confession to make. I didn't actually get this in my Glam Bag but before you freak out let me explain. I traded my light pink Brilliance Balm for my mom's hot pink version that came in her bag this month. Same difference. 

I really like the formulation of this balm, it's pretty moisturizing and gives a great wash of color without being patchy like I find a lot of color balms to be. I also love crayon type deals like this so this is definitely another hit. 

The big ticket item this month was billed as the bareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow with SPF 15 even though it was the smallest sample in the bag. bareMinerals promises 12-hour color that won't budge, smudge, or crease while brightening, smoothing, and protecting. Yet again, that's a lot of promises. However, I was on board as soon as I swatched this product. It is so creamy and blends like a dream, almost to the point that I would say it is cream-to-powder. It is definitely long wearing but I don't know about 12 hours, I usually don't wear my makeup for that long anyway so the coverage was good enough for me. I'm not too big on the color, Divine Wine, since it is a darker color than I normally go for and features too much shimmer to be used in the crease. Which is sad because the formula really is so good that I would use it in the crease even though it is a cream eyeshadow but the good news is that there are 9 other shades to choose from in the range with the lighter shades (most specifically Candlelit Peach and Soft Shell) looking very promising. 

To sweeten the deal Ipsy, bareMinerals, and ULTA teamed together to offer FREE Shipping at ULTA.com with any bareMinerals purchase and I've included the promo code down below just for you! xoxo

Want to check out Ipsy for yourself or subscribe to your own Glam Bag? Click the link below.

Ipsy Glam Bag

If you already subscribe to Ipsy then leave me a comment below letting me know your favorite product from this month's Glam Bag.

until next time, 

xo

Merisa

May Favorites 2014

Hey guys!

So I know I'm a little late to the game on this one (mostly because I attempted to do a video instead of a post but that was a major failure, don't ask) but I really wanted to go through my monthly favorites for the month of May really quick because honestly, I miss blogging and I miss monthly favorites so let's get to it.

Beauty Favorites

Golden Magnolia Sun Body Cream

What is my number one rule, children? That's right!

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! 

So it should really come as no surprise that one of my favorites this month would be a body cream. Between swimming, tanning, and just being outdoors in general my body gets super dehydrated going into summer so I recently stocked up on some essentials at Bath & Body Works. I picked up the "Golden Magnolia Sun" Triple Moisture Body Cream because it just seemed fitting considered the title of this blog. The scent is so fresh and can only be described as "pretty" even the description on the back sounds pretty. 

"Golden Magnolia Sun is a luminous blend of pink magnolia, golden apricot, and sun-kissed peony, blooming with a touch of sensual vanilla and cassis nectar. 

I don't know what half that stuff should smell like but together it is heavenly. 

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Mousse

My name is Merisa and I am officially a self-tan junkie. 

May marked my first month tanning bed free.! Yay! I finally understand that tanning beds only cause harm, thank you, thank you. *bows graciously accepting imaginary applause*

Anyway, I needed to find a way to get that golden glow that I was missing so much. That's when I started trying out a ton of self-tanning products from high end to drugstore brands. I picked up the L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Mousse because it actually came with a sample of L'Oreal's new sunscreen that I really wanted to try (I'm picky about sunscreens). I wasn't expecting a whole lot because I was so set on trying the St. Tropez Mousse but I tried it out anyway.

Let me just say that I was hooked after the first swipe of my tanning mitt. 

I LOVE this stuff. It delivers wonderful color immediately while only taking a few hours to build up to an even better warm toned glow. Application is super easy and one pump of product goes a long way with no streaking at all.

I'm planning on doing a whole self-tanning post later on this month so keep an eye out for that for more info on this product and more.

Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub 

I received this product in May's Ipsy Glam Bag (which I will be posting about very soon, I promise!) and I was immediately shocked by how much product came in the sample. At 1oz. of product it holds 75% more than the microdermabrasion scrubs I received with Birchbox (if you don't know how I feel about that then check out this post). I have become so obsessed with microdermabrasion scrubs lately that it's practically the only scrub that I let touch my face. Oddly enough, I really like the scent of this product (usually these types of products are more chemically smelling but this one has a lemony scent) and love the thick and creamy texture. I little product goes a long way so I expect this sample to last a long time. Overall, a huge thumbs up to Ipsy yet again!

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub

Keeping with the theme of scrubs, I picked up this lip scrub during a shopping trip in late April and feel in love! This product quickly became a staple in my nightly routine as it is super easy to just dip your finger in the sweetly smelling pot, dash a bit of scrub across your lips, and enjoy! After rubbing the scrub between my lips it almost seems like a reward to take it off. Seeing as it is made with fresh, edible, vegan ingredients the scrub is completely fine to just lick off you lips (my favorite part) and I love the sweet and salty, kettle corn combination. I already can't wait to try the other LUSH lip scrubs. 

Essie Nail Polish

I know it's technically still spring but for me as soon as the temp gets above 75 I'm ready for summer which means I'm in need for a summer nail polish. That's when I hit up my handy dandy box of polish (which is a lot bigger than I ever care to admit to) and found this polish which I've had for ages. I don't know if it's my awesome tan (thanks, L'Oreal) or what but Essie's Mod Square definitely hit the mark and is my new go-to polish for summer. 

These next two products go hand in hand...

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer

Real Techniques  Expert Face Brush

You've probably heard me gush about the Instant Age Rewind before just as I've heard countless beauty bloggers go on and on about it but let me just say that it is totally worth the hype! I have the neutralizer shade which I'm not too big on really and would probably pick a different shad next time but I have yet to find a concealer that covers my monster under eye circles as well as this sucker does. It has a super lightweight, creamy texture that doesn't crease but with high impact coverage that can even tackle blemishes and redness too. I really enjoy taking the Expert Face Brush and blending it in after I've used the brush to apply my foundation because I'm not too big on the shade but the formula is out of this world and I pray Maybelline never changes it.

Everything Else

Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit

Let me just say that every girl needs one of these bad boys in her bag at all times!

I had a lot of events in May and I cannot tell you how many times this little emergency kit came in handy. It has everything a girl could need in a cute little case. From breather freshener, hairspray, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, deodorant, aspirin, a sewing kit, the list goes on. My favorite might just be the unbelievably good tasting/smelling mini lip balm. In my personal opinion this product is worth the $16 price tag from Sephora just because it is so hassle free. They come in a variety of colors and there are even kits for brides and bridesmaids, perfect for wedding season.

Lilly Pulitzer Ear Buds

I've had these for quiet awhile as I picked them up during either the End of Summer or Winter sale on Lilly's website, I can't remember which but they have come in super handy during the month of May. I would just throw the buds in their handy little pouch then in my bag they went with me to the library, my Editing & Design class, and even the pool most recently. I love how I don't have to worry about my headphones getting tangled or broken because of the soft case and I especially enjoy the print on the ear buds. Definitely something to keep an eye out for during Lilly's upcoming End of Summer Sale.

Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Home State Print

There I was just minding my own business, scrolling through Instagram when I notice an anon-account I follow posted a picture of these Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Home State Prints (I believe they were Alabama and South Carolina) and I just had to have one. I commented on the picture asking if they could possibly do a print of Kentucky and got an immediate response saying yes so I hopped over to Etsy, messaged the shop setting up a custom order, greeted again by an immediate response, and had my print customized and ordered within a day. The print is from LWCDesigns on Etsy and I have to say that not only was I super impressed by how quickly they operated (I received my order days before another order I placed with a different shop a week earlier) but also the value of the print compared with the price. At only $6 ($9.50 with shipping) I was totally impressed with the overall experience. The print came framed and everything!

I highly suggest you head over to LWCDesigns right now to check out some of their other amazing products and check them out on Instagram as well!

Books

You might recognize these books from my What We Love Wednesday Haul post back in December and I hate to say it but I'm just now getting around to reading them and by reading them I mean blazing through them. Seriously, I believe I finished the first three books in a week. 

I'm not going to give too much away but I am completely and utterly obsessed with The Mortal Instruments Series, so much so that I actually can't bring myself to finish reading the fourth book in my box set until I have the last two books (the last of which was just published a week ago) ordered and on their way. I've spent my days on a float in the pool with these books glued to my hand, I just can't put them down. 

Music

"First things first, I'm the realest!"

If you haven't heard of Iggy Azalea than you must be living under a rock because she is everywhere at the moment. I've had a strange fascination with Iggy ever since she came out with "'Work" last year and I am so excited that she has found success with "Fancy" which you can see the video for in my last What We Love Wednesday post. She recently released her album, The New Classic, and it has been at the top of my Spotify playlists all month. She also became the first artist since The Beatles to remain at the No. 1 & 2 spot with their first Billboard Hot 100 entries with "Fancy" and Ariana Grande's "Problem" which she features on.

Also, she teams up with Rita Ora for her next single "Black Widow" which is probably my favorite song off the record, go check it out!

TV

So MTV might not be the same music television we grew up with but that's not stopping them from delivering on some great tv still. I'm sort of obsessed with their new show "Faking It" which is a kind of crazy show of two high school best friends who fake being lesbians to get in the "in-crowd" but the writing is fantastic and I love the quick wittiness of the characters, especially Gregg Sulkin's British-but-trying-to-be-American accent. 

Magical Moment

My magical moment of the month is a no-brainer...I graduated from college this May!!!

It's been quiet a journey but it was well worth it in the end and I can't wait to see what this next month has in store for me as an official college graduate! That's fun to say!

I hope you enjoyed this look into my monthly favorites!

Comment below with some of you favorites from May and be sure to let me know what your Magical Moment was!

until next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa 

What We Love Wednesday!

Ahhhh! I feel like it has been forever since I did a proper What We Love Wednesday...

probably because it kinda has been but I've had so many great things come into my life lately that I just had to share so here we go!

- Essie On a Silver Platter-
You've probably heard this before but I am obsessed with nail polish...Essie nail polish to be more specific and I honestly believe I have found my favorite glitter polish ever, which as you will know is quiet a feat. Wanna know how I know this polish is really great? Of course you do, that's why you're ready this. Duh! Well, On A Sliver Platter is one of those glitter polishes that is so pretty it distracts me when I'm writing. Seriously, I actually stopped in the middle of my Modern History exam just to admire my own nail polish...a little vain but whatever, it made me really happy! haha
I don't know what it is exactly but this polish is really great because it has a shiny base that's almost opaque shimmery gold with blue glitter in varying sizes that's just really eye catching. This also makes a really great top coat for School Boy Blazer, which might actually be my favorite polish ever...which is really saying something.

-NYX lip butters-
I have heard so much about these things over the years and really just brushed them off until I spotted them in Ulta and decided to give 'em a try. I regret nothing.
These suckers are awesome! I have two, in Apple Strudel and Cupcake, and need more desperately (by need I mean want, of course). I swear they smell like vanilla or just sweetness in general (I'm awful with describing scents, you'll hear more about that in a second.) Apple Strudel is this really fun peachy color while Cupcake is a hot pink that leans more on the red side, both really great for spring and summer.
They're really opaque for glosses but they're also good for layering over other lip products like my Revlon Color Burst Matte Balms. I'm currently stalking Ulta's site trying to decide what colors I want next...I'm leaning toward Maple Blondie and Red Velvet at the moment. ;)
Keep a look out for these products in my upcoming post about my favorite lip colors for Spring!

- Gucci Guilty Black-
For my birthday back in October, I was determined to treat myself to a new perfume during my girls' birthday weekend-away. So, I waltzed into Sephora and spent a ridiculous amount of time scouring the bright display of crazy insanity that is the fragrance section. After exhausting my nose and using up every sense I had (and probably testing the sales girl's patience too) I decided to be a bit of a badass and go for the sleek black and red bottle of Gucci Guilty Black.

I'm really bad at describing scents (if you couldn't tell from above) so I checked out Sephora's site to see what they had to say about it,
 "The Guilty Black lovers bring out the most scandalous sides of each other: alone they are magnificent, together irrepressible. Fearless in their passion, they are brazen, shameless, unpredictable—ready for each and every explosive encounter. Their attraction is instinctive: they go where they sense danger and each other. 
Too much is never enough for young hedonists, who drive each other to stray ever darker. Life is thrilling and meant to be lived to the fullest. Again and again, they give in to pleasure and the excitement of breaking the rules. 
Gucci Guilty Black is a sensual oriental floral, inviting you to indulge in your burning desires."

 Can I just say that reading that automatically brings the word "badass" to my mind...exactly what I was thinking when I made this purchase and I love that! 
To be perfectly honest, I'm not a badass...in case you couldn't tell from, well, any of my previous posts. I started to feel like the scent didn't really fit my personality very well. (Sidenote: scents are supposed to fit your personality, right?) I left the fragrance alone for a little while, just letting it chill on my dresser until one day I decided to get some use out of it. Spraying it reminded me of the fun and determined time I was having during that period in my life and I'm loving that now. I truly believe that scents connect deep in our memories so I highly suggest going out and finding a fragrance to connect with a great memory...it's definitely worth it.

-My Kate Spade Bag-
If you saw my last post then you've probably already heard about my new Kate Spade bag so I won't bore you with too much droning on about it but I will say that I absolutely, positively adore it!
It seriously might just be the cutest thing I've ever owned (aside from my puppy) and I treat it like a child. Seriously, I knocked it into the corner of the Bridge on campus the other day and almost had a heart attack. It's that serious, people. I've officially become that girl!
It will most likely be my forever favorite but I will spare you by just posting it this one last time.

My sister was an absolute gem last weekend and picked me up a kick-butt iHome (it spins!) from her work last weekend and I have been playing music like crazy in the room so I've got quiet a few favorites this week.

-Iggy Azalea "Fancy"-
If you haven't seen this video then I highly suggest you click the link above and prepare yourself for the ultimate throwback!
In the video, my ultimate hairspiration and Aussie girl crush brings back Cher and the gang in her version of Clueless. It's seriously amazing, check it out below and get ready to dance around your dorm room.

You can also check out the song and a lot more on my Spotify playlist below or by checking out my Spotify profile by clicking THIS LINK :)

-5 Seconds of Summer-
Now for something a little toward the other end of the spectrum...a pop-punk band that toured with One Direction. They're from Australia, I discovered them on YouTube, and they are absolutely adorable. There's really not much more I can say than that but you've got to check them out. I've linked some of my favorite songs below (including their latest video)...

"She Looks So Perfect" - 5 Seconds of Summer

-House of Cards-
TGFN!!! That's short for Thank God for Netflix because without it I would never have been introduced to this amazing show. As you probably already know, I'm a history/political science nerd so of course a show that chronicles the internal affairs of both the Capitol and the White House are right up my alley!
Also, it's a serious nail biter (that season 2 premiere tho!) and, as is custom with Netflix. you have the opportunity to binge watch as each season is released collectively instead of by episode.

I'm not proud of this fact but I may have watched the entire first season and most of the second in like 2 days...but I've managed to convince myself to slow down as this is a show that is meant to be savored not devoured. What makes it even better is that the two main characters are Southerners who rose to the top (they even take a trip to South Carolina in a few eps) and aren't afraid to put up a fight. Claire Underwood looks like she has some Monogrammed Magnolia spirit deep in her if you ask me.
Consider it the West Wing with a lot more spice. Now go head over to Netflix and check it out if you're not already hooked.

I hope y'all liked this look into my favorites this week! Comment below with your favorites or let me know your thoughts on some of the things I mentioned above.

until next time, darlings.
xo
Merisa


PS: confession...I actually made this post last week but forgot to schedule it for last Wednesday so sorry if some of this stuff is a little played...it's only been a week though! xo

Manicure Monday: Fall Favorites

Happy Monday, lovelies!

This past week has been beyond hectic (only one blog post! That's just crazy!) and I am bound and determined to make this one better. What could make the start of this week better than making it a Manicure Monday? Nothing!

I love FALL! I love fall colors! I love fall weather! I just love, love, love fall!

So, nothing makes me happier than incorporating fall into every aspect of my wardrobe including my nail color. Here are a few of my absolute favorite nail colors for fall.

Fingrs Heart 2 Art

From Taupe to Bottom, Stop Metalling in My Business, Red You Loud and Clear

I found this brand at Walmart for like $1-something a piece, a price a nail polish addict such as myself just couldn't resist! Plus the skinny bottles make polish storage a breeze and I think the colors are really unique. I love the beige-nude shade and think it's perfect for fall while the oil slick holographic and shimmery red are right on trend this year. 

Sinful Colors: Super Nova

Essie: Eternal Optimist

Nicole by OPI: Khloė had a little Lam-Lam

Sinful Colors: Rich in Heart

• Sadly, these photos don't do the colors justice but this shimmery rose-gold shade is out of this world amazing! It's definitely right on trend this year with the rose-gold, definitely a very hot color this fall, plus it adds the perfect amount of sparkle to your look (I have this color on my toes at the moment!).
• Could there ever be a more perfect name than 'Eternal Optimist'? I think not.I picked up this neutral pink shade last year from Essie and still love it, especially for the colder months.
• Now for the darker colors, while I love super bright colors in the summer there's just something about going dark for the fall that just brings the whole look together. I love this dark, almost navy bluish-green shade from the Kardashian's collection with Nicole by OPI. How cute is that name, though? Precious!
• This is by far my favorite color this season, Sinful Colors has really hit the mark this year. Rich in Heart is the perfect color for fall! It is the perfect combo of black and red with a slight shimmery gold throughout. Blending in perfectly with the whole oxblood color that's everywhere this season (I'm throwing all the blame for that one on American Horror Story: Coven, how could you not!)

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Manicure Monday with the perfect shades for fall. All of the polishes above can be found at any drugstore or Walmart.

until next time

xo

aFm

I 

May Favorites 2013

I'm a little late but I couldn't help but feature some of my absolute favorite things from the month of May 2013. First of all, at the risk of sounding cliché, holy crap I can't believe it's already June! That means half of the year is almost over! Ridiculous.

Anywho, lets get started.

--Tanya Burr on YouTube--

While I love this British beauty's beauty blog, tanyaburr.co.uk, I adore her make-up tutorials and daily vlogs on YouTube. She's so cheery and fun and bright that you can't help but thrive off her energy and personality. Watching one of her videos can seriously change my mood as well as my beauty routine. I also love her daily vlogs and snippets of how cutesy and lovey she is with her fiancé/fellow YouTuber Jim. She id absolutely precious and I recommend her channel 100%. 

So don't forget to check her out at youtube.com/tanyaburr and youtube.com/tanyasvlogs.

--Essie Nail Polish--

I am a die hard Essie fan and self proclaimed nail polish addict so when. I come across a new Essie color I will most likely buy it but what is unusual about the colors I've loved in May is that they break completely away from my comfort zone.

My favorites have been two colors far from the light pinks and deep reds I've come to know and love over the years. I have fallen so hard for both the shades that whenever they are on my tips I can't help but smile and find myself taking better care of my nails because of it ( I even accidentally grew out my nails a bit in May while wearing Play Date but then Finals Week blew that all to hell.) I highly, highly recommend both shades as fun summer hues!

--My Tervis Tumblers--

Tervis has been a staple in my family for years but I never really appreciated them until I got my own set while on vacation with my friends. My Little got me a huge tumbler for my birthday but I had mainly stuck with my smaller cups for travel and long nights in the library but now that I've started my summer job back and have been packing my lunch to work I've brought out the big guns and they have saved the day. My drinks (and ice) stay cold throughout the day and in this massive heat wave that alone is a lifesaver so I'm definitely listing my Tervis tumblers as a Mat favorite. You can pick up your own at tervis.com!

--DVD Box Sets--

Okay this one is kinda lame but throughout May I was in the process of moving a lot, from dorm room to house to apartment, it was just a lot so I haven't had cable as of late which has resulted in me breakin out the old DVDs and I've been having a blast.

I've watched a heck of a lot of Sex & the City and still begged Carrie to say yes when Aidan proposed, I've freaked out over the craziness that is Brothers & Sisters, and I've went gaga over Tom Welling as a young Clark Kent in Smallville. Yes, I'm all over the board on this one but watching these beloved shows over again have made me relive some pretty fun moments in my own life while I was at it.

Last but not least...

--Maybelline Color Whisper--

This is a fun find I just happened to stumble upon while helping Little find a Taylor Swift-esque red lipstick. They are cute, fun, easy lip colors that are gel like so they're somewhere between a lipstick and a lip gloss. 

They offer a variety of super wearable colors; I have a nude, a bright pink, and a corally orange all in my bag right now so I can mix it up day or night. I think I'm going to try out a red and a plum color the next time I'm out, they're that good.

Hope you've enjoyed seeing some of my favorites from the past month! I would love to hear some of yours so be sure to comment.

xo

aFm