Ride or Die Makeup Tag

Happy Labor Day! I hope you're enjoying yours, and maybe getting some shopping in. But before you do, I made a video of my favorite makeup products. It's called the Ride or Die Makeup Tag and I'm tagging YOU!

Primer:

• UD Pore Perfecting

Foundation:

• Armani Luminous Silk

Powder:

• RCMA No Color

Setting Spray:

• Mac Fix Plus (I use my DIY dupe here)

Eyeshadow Palette:

• LORAC Pro

Mascara:

• It Cosmetics Super Hero

Perfume:

• Miss Dior Cherie

Bronzer:

• Tarte Park Avenue Princess

Blush:

• Exposed by Tarte

Highlight:

• The Balm Mary Lou Manizer

Eyeliner:

• Kat Von D Tattoo (see my other fave in the video!)

Lipstick:

• MAC Lady Danger (see my other faves in the video plus a sweet story!)

Lipgloss:

• Buxom 

Brow:

• Benefit (yes I know Essence is a dupe--see my comparison here)

Concealer:

• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illuminator

AND THERE'S EVEN MORE on my Youtube, plus the reasoning behind each item!
I TAG YOU!
Let me know you makeup must-haves!

Best of Beauty: Top 15 of 2015 (GIVEAWAY)

And we made it! Another year is in the books. I, for one, am glad this year is over. But it wasn't all bad. One of my highlights was trying out all the makeup. All the beauty things! And today I've got my list of 15 items that were huge faves of mine. This is something I have done for the past few years (see 2014, 2013, 2012) and to keep you reading, there's a giveaway at the end. Two winners! Let me know your faves.

TOP ROW 1-6:

• Beachwaver--My fave hair tool for beachy waves
• Lancome Grandiose Mascara--Because I love long lashes
• Oribe Texturizing Spray--Instant volume and texture
• Cailyn O Brush--For when I want to take time doing my makeup, this gives me an airbrushed finish
• Makeup Geek Brushes--I love every one that I've tried
• Q Tica--I picked up this extending top coat at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and it's been a must-use ever since

MIDDLE ROW (7-11):

• MAC Lady Danger--My fave red of the year
• Armani Luminous Silk Foundation--This looks lovely on dry skin.
• UP&UP Nail Polish remover--I've tried every method of removing glitter polish, and this is THE fastest.
• OFRA Liquid Lipsticks--My fave brand of all matte liquid lipsticks
• Perfect Formula Gel Polishes--I got a sampler pack of these, and loved them all.

BOTTOM ROW (12-15):

• Olivia Palermo for Ciate in Smoked Suedes--This palette really impressed me for design, shades, and formula
• D&G No.1 Sophia Lauren Lipstick--My fave everyday lipstick
• Becca Skin Perfecting Highlighters--I love every shade in powder or cream. Perfet for glowy skin.
• Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes--Sometimes I need a quick clean up, and these never let me down! They get everything off.

Giveaway: 2 Winners will win $25 gift cards to Walmart, thanks to Neutrogena. 

To enter: In the comments, tell me:

• a beauty fave of yours, 
• how you follow my blog (or my social media)

Make sure I have a way to contact you! This giveaway will end Jan 10, 2016

Top Date Night Essentials You Need

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #BeHealthyForEveryPartofLife #CollectiveBias

I asked my sister to describe me in one word. I was expecting awesome, funny, intelligent, loving, or maybe happy.

She chose prepared. Prepared! I wanted something cool, like, well, cool. But she's right--I've accepted my fate. I'm admittedly the person you call when you need something, if you're in a crisis, or possibly a zombie attack. 

I carry this sense of being prepared for any situation into what I literally carry, like in my bag. Recently I took my prepared self to Walmart to stock up on some date night essentials: 

And here's what I picked up:

But that's just a sneak peek of what I use, so let's check out the Top Date Night Essentials You Need.

-Mints or Gum

• I think for a date night, this goes without saying. Everyone needs these. All the time.

-Advil Tablet Vial

• I get these in the travel section and prefer this small container. Use Advil tablets for headaches, minor arthritis and other joint pain, muscle aches and pains of the common cold. 

-Phone Battery

• Because every single blind date I've ever been on has been awful, I make sure my phone is charged and has a back up, so I can arrange to cut the night short. #sorrynotsorry

-ChapStick Total Hydration

• Soft hydrated lips are a part of my daily life, so date night is no exception! 
• This one is 100% natural so lips are always kissable.

-Artificial Sweetner

• I might be prepared, but being graceful is definitely not me. I use this when I notice a grease spot from a food accident on my shirt or pants. Pour it on and allow it to set and it will soak up the oil. Wipe away.
• I also will use this to make a quick sugar scrub on my hands with a little soap.

-Nexium 24HR

• Because heartburn happens, y'all. May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. Use as directed.

-Lip Liner

• This one is surprising, right? The color lasts longer than a gloss or some lipstick finishes, and won't melt, should I accidentally leave it in the car. I add the ChapStick Total Hydration on top of it. I keep it in a neutral color that goes with everything.
• Be sure to fill in the entire lip.

-Hand Sanitizer

• I'm a germaphobe!

-A Cute Clutch

• Throw these items in, along with my wallet, phone and keys, and I'm set for date night! Red is my COLOR, y'all.

What are your date night essentials?

Extra Elle:

• Getting my hair done today--one of my fave things ever.
• I'm trying to get exactly 1.5 million (slight exaggeration) things done before I leave for my trip back home. Wish me luck that I get them done! #stressed

3 Quick Nanny Tips

If I'm not blogging, you can find me at my day job as a nanny. I take care of a 5 (and three quarters, very important, you know) year old and her baby sister. I recently celebrated my 5th anniversary of working for them! And over the years of being a nanny, I have figured out a few tricks. Here are 3 of them:

1: 1-2-3-Recipes

Kids LOVE to help you. But they are super impatient and have short attention spans. Knock out all 3 of these by using 1-2-3 recipes--these are recipes that have 3 ingredients or fewer. Think banana+egg=pancakes, frozen banana+blender=ice cream, and cake/cupcake/etc in a mug. Kids will learn skills such as teamwork, leadership, patience, and following directions, just to name a few. And if they get messy, that's part of the fun.

2: Shout^® Wipe & Go For The New Generation of Stains

Kids are messy, messy, messy (and adorable) humans beings. One of my jobs is to help with the girls' laundry. Kid clothes can be pricey, given how fast they grow, so you want them to look nice and last--a must if the clothes will be passed down to siblings.

Growing up, we had clothing stains like grass, ketchup, or clay. But today, it is totally different. Kids of this generation have those too, but they also have new types of stains like organic baby food (purple carrots with ancient grains anyone?), pressed juices, and kale everything. Luckily, I am a big believer in Shout® to help me out. Shout® is a trusted stain remover and is the only brand I rely on to pre-treat stains and treat stains on the go. The stains disappear and I feel confident I can handle any new stain that comes my way. When I'm out and about with the kids, I keep a stash of Shout® Wipe & Go wipes in my nanny bag.

3: Scrubs

Kids, especially babies, have accidents. The Shout^® Wipes are excellent for that. And they somehow always seem to have accidents ON YOU. This is where a pair of scrubs (like you'd see at a doctor's office) come in. Get a cheap pair and keep them in your car for such occasions.  I swear by this tip. Put on your scrubs, pre-treat your clothes with Shout® and throw them in the wash. You do not want to wear wet or soiled clothes for the rest of your work day. Trust me on this one. Shout^® gives kids the freedom to have fun and get messy, and it gives parents peace of mind knowing that stains will be gone with a few sprays. 

Visit Shout.com and check out Shout® on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information! #ShoutItOut

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Top 14 Beauty Products of 2014

Hey you! I can't believe the year is almost over! I swear it was just Christmas January the other day. As is my annual tradition, I am sharing my top beauty products for the year. Now when I made this list I might have had 39 products, ok, more like 42, but who's counting? I blame it on being a Libra. Anyway, I present to you a much more manageable list of 14. Check 'em out:

1-Creamy Coconut Mask--My "secret" moisturizing mask that is the cheapest beauty product around. Perfect for post NYE, just saying. Get it at Walmart.

2- OPI My Voice is a Little Norse--Choosing one polish was impossible, so I picked my favorite glitter one, and this is it. You saw it on my NYE Makeup, Hair, Nails post.

3-L'Oreal Butterfly Mascara--I want the longest, biggest lashes (and the biggest wand apparently) so I was drawn to this (as I am all L'Oreal mascaras).

4-Revlon Lip Balm Stains--This wins year after year because I love the ease of lip crayons. I prefer the original and matte versions of this. See more lip crayon reviews here.

5-Garnier BB Cream--Not everyone's fave, but this is my list and this is my favorite drugstore BB cream, and I've tried just about all of them. See drugstore reviews here and high end reviews here.

6-MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show in Strange Journey--So I have a thing for red lipsticks, and this one is a bright orange red. It's my fave red and it's sold out everywhere. Officially on dupe hunting alert!

7-Neutrogena Triple Repair Mask--In the winter and in the summer, I turn to this hair mask. If I really need extra help, I'll pop on a shower cap over my masked-hair and leave on 30 min. #doublemask

8-Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipsticks--I LOVE these lipsticks--give me any color. If you have found matte lipsticks too drying (aka MAC Ruby Woo, another fave red) try these in any shade.

9-Tarte Pin Up Blush--So this was a limited edition palette, with a blush for everyone, but don't fret: all Tarte Amazonian blushes are stellar.

10-Bare Minerals Bare Skin Brightening Serum Foundation--If you have dry or normal skin, give this a try. You can use a drop or more depending on the coverage you seek. This looks great on camera, fellow bloggers. I was given samples but ended up buying more because I loved it. See my review here.

11-Lorac Mega Pro--This is hands-down my favorite eye shadow palette, but since it's sold out, try the original Lorac Pro or the Pro 2. All are very, very good.

12-Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner--Because sometimes I need a quick clean or disinfection for my brushes...this is fast, easy, and leaves your brushes smelling amazing. Love this stuff.

13-Sigma E40--Every single eye tutorial of mine uses this. It's what I use to blend out my shadows. My favorite eye brush.

14-NuMe Wand--How do I get those waves? I use this wand (loose waves tutorial here). I prefer the larger size and still use it in my much shorter hair.

Which products are your faves for 2014?

My New Bag Essential!

Sometimes you will find me carrying around a six month old. Sometimes you will find me running after a four year old. Other times, I will have both of them. These cuties can be quite the handful! And when I'm taking care of them, my bag of kids' supplies is always close by. You name it, it's in there.

My latest addition to my bag is officially my must-have essential: Puffs SoftPack. Um, where have these been all my life? Anyone who has or takes care of kids knows the need for tissues. We go through so many of these a day. A tissue in my pocket just won't cut it, am I right? So I've even tried grabbing a handful and stuffing them in my bag, only to find they'd get dirty, ripped, or that I still didn't have enough. But with the Puffs SoftPack, I can throw them in my bag, boom, done.

My Fave Things! 100th Video, $50 Ulta Giveaway, Neutrogena Giveaway

Hey you! Today I reached a milestone on my Youtube channel--100 videos! I cannot believe it. I used to be so nervous and shy when I first started, and it gets easier with each video. When I asked what y'all wanted to see, my fave beauty products topped the list. I hope you enjoy!

Check out our attempt to take a family pic!
View video here!

Video highlights:

• Hair care products and tools
• Brushes
• Foundations
• Perfumes
• Lipsticks
• Eyeshadows
• Blushes
• Nail polishes
• Mascaras
• Extras
• Surprise special guest! And he's wearing a sombrero!

Tell me your favorite beauty products 
or my fave video of yours in the comments!

To thank you, I'm giving away one $50 Ulta Gift Card. Enter using the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is for US residents, and end September 1st, 2014.
Winner will be contacted via email provided.

I also have a second giveaway! I'm giving away the Neutrogena Pores No More kit. I had a chance to take the #PoresNoMore challenge, where for one week I used the products above to help clean out and minimize the appearance of pores. To enter this giveaway, leave your name and email in the comments below. If you're worried about spammers, you may spell it out like this: yourname (at) gmail (dot) com. Open to US residents and ends September 1, 2014. Winner contacted via email provided. Good luck!!

July's Top 5 Beauty Faves

Hey you! I cannot believe it's the end of July--summer is flying by for me! Is it for you? In honor of the end of the month, I thought I'd share my Top 5 Faves--beauty products that I loved in July. Enjoy and let me know your faves, too!

1--Mirabella Cheeky Blush: I received this in my awesome gift bag from the SBS conference I attended. You simply swipe the blush on and blend. It is so easy, is a beautiful color, and is perfect for travel. mirabellabeauty.com

2--Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara: I rarely splurge on mascara, but returned to this past fave when I was in Sephora earlier this month. I love the length it gives. You can see it in yesterday's post.

3--Em Cosmetics Lipstick in Cuddle Up Pink : If I'm not wearing a bright red or coral lip, I've been turning to pink. And this one is so pretty and wearable. I wore it in yesterday's post. emcosmetics.com

4--Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Escape to Panarea (c/o): I know scents are very personal, and therefore I don't share any on here unless I LOVE them. This opens with a "burst of Calabrian Bergamot and Pear, a contrast that blooms alongside the nocturnal Jasmine and Orange blossoms that define the heart notes. Base notes root the fragrance with an accord of Ambergris, Patchouli, Tonka Beans, and Warm Musky accords." It gives me a serious case of wanderlust and doesn't give me a headache. I'll be sharing this again on here soon. This is limited edition, so be sure to look for Escape to Panarea on the bottle. The men's fragrance smells amazing as well. neimanmarcus.com

5--Montagne Jennesse Creamy Coconut Masque: Okay, so the other products are surprisingly not drugstore this month, but this one is! I am in the midst of a nasty cold, and taking decongestants has dried out my skin! When I'm sick, I'm not usually in the mood to whip up my own masques, so I keep a stack of these on the ready. They hydrate, temporarily hide fine lines, are super cheap, and smell like coconuts. Yes, please! Available at drugstores and Walmart.

What are your favorite products this month?

7 Beauty Tools You Need To Try!

I loveee my beauty tools, like brushes, my Clarisonic, etc, but I feel like that's been done so many times. I wanted to share the other tools I use every single day. I've got some unusual tools (and some unusual uses for things you already have). Please watch the video below for more in-depth descriptions on these tools (and hear my crazy Southern accent/awkward personality...I like to pretend it's endearing. I wish).

Try viewing here.

1. Orangewood Stick--Originally used for nails, I use this to open packaging, like palettes, compacts, or flip tops. My fingertips bruise easily (so weird) so I rely on these. If you do your nails and don't want to mess them up, you'll like this. Purchase online and at beauty supply stores.

2. Every Drop Makeup Spatula--Originally shared here, I use this to get out that last bit of product or to transfer product to a different container (like for travel). I like this for dispensing product onto a clean sponge or surface (instead of using my fingers). Online and at drugstores.

3. Eyebrow Razor--Yes, are great for quickly grooming brows, but I use it for dermaplaning, grooming those missed leg hairs (hey, it happens, y'all!), and to remove pills from my shirts and sweaters in a pinch. Online and in stores. These come in a variety of sizes and prices.

4. Pill Container--I use these to store false lashes! This came out of necessity--I was traveling and needed to store my false lashes, and it's how I've done it ever since. Provided the container is clean and sanitized, I've used these to store that last little bit of makeup/concealer/lipstick, and when traveling. I just tape them and store in Ziploc bags.

5. Spoolie & Interdental Brushes--A spoolie is a mascara wand. I use these to groom my brows, remove clumps from mascara, and to remove stray mascara. The interdental brushes are used originally for cleaning braces, but I use them just like a spoolie. See more uses for interdental brushes, here.

6. Portable Humidifier--Random! But if you have dry skin and/or allergies, you need one! I take this with me when I travel. Even in the car. LOVE. I originally shared it here and here. Try Amazon or Ebay.

7. Hot Iron Holster & Lil Holster--I was sent these to try and they've become a permanent fave! The Hot Iron Holster holds your hair tools while they are hot (up to 500 degrees), while they cool down (great for travel), and for storage. And it's all via a silicone pocket with a sticky back, that can be placed just about anywhere. The Lil Holster is heat resistant up to 250 degrees, and is perfect for storing practically anything. I'm not joking when I say I have over 50 uses for it. These come in different sizes and colors, making them an awesome tool. Use them at your sink, your shower, bedside, the mirror, your vanity or like I have below, as a mini mani station:

I use my Lil Holster to also store my glasses, remote, keys, jewelry, razor, toothbrush, contacts, sponge, soap, dirty eye/face brushes, and more. Seriously! I use my Flat Iron Holster to store any of my hair tools, like hot irons, curling irons, curling wands, hair dryers, or brushes. It keeps everything right out of the way. And I can use the flat surface to place my tools on if needed.

If you are traveling, or have a small space, or just don't like clutter, you need to try these! Highly recommended. I use mine every single day! I go into more details in the video. Available in many stores and online at http://hotironholster and lilholster.com

What random beauty tools do you love?

I'm giving away lots of fun stuff on the blog because I love ya:

• $500 C. Wonder--ends May 9 FRIDAY
• Win a pair of Reebok Skyscape shoes--pick the color!--ends May 18
• $75 Sephora Gift Card + 2 more prizes--ends May 14
• All-Day Beauty Tools from NEUTROGENA--ends May 18
• $100 Target Giftcard from Sonia Kashuk for Target--ends 6-30

ENTER TODAY!

Elle's Essentials: Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Jergens BB Body Cream through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Jergens BB Body Cream, all opinions are my own.

Okay, y'all: I have found THE product you need for spring for your skin.  I'm serious. Go ahead and write this product name down because you're going to be just as obsessed as I am. It's officially earned a spot on my Elle's Essentials list. I've gotten everyone hooked on it, and I was using this and loving it for months before I was even approached to talk about it. It's that good! I'm already on my 2nd tube!

What is this must-have? 

It's Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream. It is AWESOME! It's your skin, but better.

So what does it do?

Think of this as a BB Cream for your body, as it shares many of the same characteristics. It comes in 2 types: light and medium-deep. I prefer the medium-deep version.

Jergens BB Cream:

• hydrates--instantly
• illuminates--instantly
• blurs imperfections--in 5 days
• improves look of skin tone--5 days
• firms--5 days

Why do you need it?

• it works immediately
• it gives you flawless-looking skin
• it's sheer
• it won't rub off on clothes
• it dries quickly
• it moisturizes

Enough of the small talk! Show us a demo!

Now y'all know I don't highly recommend a product unless I love it, and I'm so crazy about this product that I did a thorough video review (originally cut down from 11 minutes to 3. Let's just say I am a little enthusiastic). Check out my review of Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream below:

Can't see the video? Click here.

Have you tried Jergens BB Body Cream?

How I Store My Makeup

Hey you! Did you have a good weekend? Did you watch the Oscars? Every year when I watch the red carpet, I head straight to my Beauty Room (aka the bathroom), and immediately start playing around with my makeup to recreate those looks. The other day on Instagram, I shared a peek into my Beauty Room:

And it has been my most-liked pic! Now, I have more makeup than some but not nearly as much as others, but since my blog is my job, I have accumulated a collection. This system works well for me, my makeup, and the space I have to work with.

Since I had so many questions about my storage, I thought I would share more info today. I chose acrylic because it is very easy to clean. I also like seeing what I have so I will be sure to use it, and so I can locate products easily. And for those who are curious, I plan on making an in-depth video of my collection soon. Everything is linked below! Enjoy.

one--I keep my lip crayons, lip glosses, and other products in these Muji 5-drawer boxes. These can be stacked and they are good for the price.

two--My single and small shadow palettes, highlighters, primers, BB & CC creams, and more are stored in my Beauty Cube. It is pricey, but amazing quality.

three--I have one drawer in my bathroom, so I use drawer organizers for lipsticks, bronzers, concealers, eyeliners, mascaras, blushes, and more.

four--This is random, but I store my false lashes in these pill containers. This is one of those delightful happy-accidents. I was traveling, didn't want to throw out my used-once lashes, and so I popped them in there out of necessity. And that's what I've done ever since. Try it!

five--I've used letter organizers in the past for my palettes, but as my collection grew, I wanted something bigger and more durable. Enter this desktop mail organizer from the Container Store. I keep my makeup sponges and Beauty Blenders in there too!

six--I store my eye and face brushes in empty candle containers--something I shared over two years ago on the blog. To keep the brushes upright, inside each container are filler beads--these are found in the floral department at craft stores.

13 Favorite Beauty Products of 2013! Video!

Happy Monday to you! I hope you're staying warm where ever you are. As per my annual tradition, I'm once again sharing some of my favorite beauty products of the year.  And I made a really short video as well! I hope you enjoy.

Can't view the video? Click here.

• Revlon Lip Balm Stain in Smitten--I wore this very wearable shade but love many other shades as well as the new matte ones. For more lip crayon reviews, click here.
• Walgreens Revo Lip Balm in Sugar Cookies--I have other scents as well, but this is the one I grabbed the most. So moisturizing! I love it way more than EOS.
• Milani 3D Lip Glitsy Glamour Gloss in Designer Label--A nude peach with pink and gold sparkles that looks great over any color. I really love it on a red lip.

• Sally Hansen Twinkle Toes-ty--This is just a perfect glitter polish. Every time I wear this, I get asked what it is. Gorgeous.
• Essie First Timer--I was expecting pink since I have the most of those, but I wore this one so much! My favorite green shade of polish! I've tried for years to make my own shade of this and so glad it exists now!

• L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm--For when I'm too lazy to whip up my own mask and want something that works--soft hair in a hurry!
• Suave Shine Mask--My super cheap (under $5) secret for getting shine back into hair

• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara--For gorgeous bombshell lashes
• Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara--I love the wand for those tiny bottom lashes. And the formula for the top lashes makes them extra long. I get compliments on my lashes every time I wear it. Skip the waterproof!

To see what's inside these palettes, be sure to watch the video!

• Lorac Unzipped--A neutral palette full of rose-gold tones that's different from the usual browns
• NARS Guy Bourdin Blush Palette--This LE palette is full of gorgeous blushes, a highlighter, and a bronzer. It's an all-in-one! 

• Nova White Teeth Whitening Kit--Originally shared here, this is one of the best at-home kits I've ever used.

• Sigma E40 Blending Brush--This brush is the icing on the cake when it comes to blending out shadows. I've used others and nothing gave me the look I wanted until I started using this. I've got a code on the left for 10% off, if interested.

Don't forget to watch the video!

What were your favorite products of the past year?