Polish LOVE: The New Sephora by OPI Urban Ballerina

WOW! If I were a nail polish collection this is what I would look like. I love all the grays and beautiful pinky neutrals. I can't wait to get my hands on this collection:)

L'Occitane 20% Shea Butter Hand Creme-Review

This product is my go to when I have dry feet and or hands. I suffer from extremely dry skin especially in the winter time. I got into a routine of putting this on my feet at night and then putting a thick pair of socks on and my feet have been soft all winter.Which is a huge change from my normal cracked feet. I think that this product is a little pricey for the amount of product that you get but I am on my second tube and feel it is worth the money.

The lotion itself has a nice thick consistency; so when you squeeze it out of the tube it doesn't get all over. I also love the fact that it is a thick cream in a tube and not a large tub. It is way more portable and easier to use. The lotion has a subtle scent but it does not clash with any perfumes or other body lotions that you wear. This is key for me because I do not like scented body lotions on a whole (there are a couple that are too yummy to resist).

burning the candle at both ends.....

My days are becoming increasingly long as the school year has started and my beloved MAC Studio Finish concealer (NW 20) is starting to fall short or rather disappear around hour eight, and my friends that is just not cutting it anymore. So I recently took a jaunt down to my local MAC store and picked up their new Pro Longwear concealer in NW 15. I LOVE IT !! I have been wearing in consistently for about a month now.

It is marketed as a lightweight medium to full coverage that lasts up to 15 hours. I believe this product more than lives up to its promises.

I place it underneath my eyes and allow it to soak in for about twenty seconds or so before I blend it.

The pro longwear series tends to run a little darker then the average MAC product. I had to go down one shade. Remember to use a warm shade as an under eye concealer to help cancel out the cool tones of dark circles.

a moment for skin care

I know that none of us can resit the urge to splurge on all the beautifully colored packages of powders and creams, all of which promise to make us look like a supermodel (I know I am with you all especially the glitzy packaged ones) but if you have not invested time in your skin the results will never be what you desire. So let us take a moment of pause from our makeup covered worlds to talk about skin care.


I have been blessed in my life not to have had immense trouble with my skin. I do suffer from extremely dry skin, it is like the Sahara desert in the winter months and I do have occasional acne but other than the latter no real problems. I do think that some of this can be attributed to luck of the draw in the good ol' gene pool and some of it is a strict regiment that I follow. I am pretty loyal to skin care products unlike my fickle ways in makeup. So I have been using the following products for many months now and in some cases decades.


I want to put it out there in the open that every one's skin is different and you will have to, through trial and error, find what works best for your skin.


I think the first rule in skin care is your outward appearance will tell you how well your body is feeling on the inside. A quick, and inexpensive way to help your skin look healthy is to drink water. And now I will step off of my soapbox of good hydration and tell you about the products I am currently using.


Day Routine



1. Rinse face off in the shower - I am not a supporter of over washing your face. You will end up stripping your face of all of the good oils as well as the yucky bacteria and old makeup.

2. Apply a serum- I am currently using Philosophy's Miracle Worker miraculous anti-aging concentrate.

3. Apply eye cream- I am on the hunt currently as my last eye cream has started to irritate my eyes.

4. Apply a good moisturizer- I am currently using Philosophy's Miracle Worker miraculous anti-aging moisturizer

Night Routine
1. Cleanse Face using clarisonic and Cetaphil Cleanser- The clarisonic has revolutionized my routine and I have been using Cetaphil forever and still think it is the best cleanser on the market. It is so gentle and does not dry out your skin, which is very important to me considering that I have not an ounce of moisture to lose.

2. Apply MD skincare Alpha Beta Daily facial peel steps 1 and 2- Love this product. It keeps acne at bay and leaves skin with and even texture and glow.

Another product that I swear by and have been using since high school is Clearasil's vanishing acne treatment cream. I use this as a spot treatment whenever I feel a pimple coming on.

This has been a very long ramble but hey your skin is the largest organ on your body; you should be taking care of it! If you have any questions or want more of an in depth review on the products listed please just leave me a comment!

July Favorites

I will get better at this updating thing......(trails off ).

So July was very hot and very humid here in Nebraska, home of the good life. Just to help paint a more meaningful picture in your minds it has been like wadding though a giant bowl of pudding as you walk around outside. Nevertheless, I have started to wear minimal makeup as anything more will melt right off your face.


Foundation wise I switched to Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer, in the color sand. I absolutely love this product. It melts right into my skin and becomes one with my epidermis. It provides light coverage but seems to be slightly build able. This and a little concealer is all I have been wearing. So my actual skin is on display.

Other than a little black liquid liner this is all I have been wearing. I have actually enjoyed this summer experience. I am interested in what summer beauty products you all have been loving!!! Let me know.

MAC just when I am getting bored....

I am so excited. MAC, I can never seem to get away from you; just as I am getting bored and am starting to stray towards another brand, you suck me right back in with this ....... http://www.maccosmetics.com/vv_landing/index.tmpl.

April Favorites

I have actually I know to my shock as well changed my morning makeup routine this month. I have trade in the old brown matte eyeshadow for a little something more dramatic and fresh. So my favorites this month are the new products that I have found myself wearing daily.

1. Rubenesque Paint Pot- I love the warm color this brings to the eyes. It is great on its own or paired with a dark grey or brown eyeshadow for something more dramatic.

2. Chanel's Eyeshadow Quad in Mystic Eyes- I like to wear the darkest shade all over my lid and then smoke out the crease with a blend of the silver and gold colors. I use the light pink as a highlight on my brow bone and in the inner corners of my eyes.

3. Tarina Tarantino blush in Feather- I love the whole concept of this line it is girly, sparkly, and pink, what more could I ask for. The packaging also happens to be a bit gimmicky which is what sucked me into this line in the first place. The product that is within these pink sequined containers is high quality. The blush is a nice velvety consistency. This color in particular is described as a shimmering peach and it is true to its description. I feel as though it offers a lift to my face without adding much color or an obvious blush look.

4. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Mangosteen- Yummy this has been my go to lip product this month. It boosts a good deal of shine with a citrus flavor.

Let me know what some of your favorite products were this month!