non-stop November: sample Saturday: Ren, YSL, Ojon

I finished a few more samples that I wanted to share with you. Some of these I was able to use a few times, so I formed a bit more of a complete opinion.

One of the samples that I got with one of my Sephora orders is the Ren Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk. This is a cleanser with a thin consistency. It has a scent to it that I can't place- it reminds me of something you would smell in a hospital or at the doctor. However the scent doesn't linger long or isn't very potent. It removes your makeup including any eye makeup, but I can't confirm whether it removes waterproof mascara because I don't use it. After you have cleansed it does leave your skin feeling very soft and as if you just applied moisturizer. Also, it does remove all the makeup on your face. I think this would be great for people with very inflamed and dry skin, because of the way it soothes. Not something I would personally purchase because I didn't feel it worked any better than what I am doing right now.

A sample my friend gave me is the Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation. I have been wanting to try this for a while, so I was really excited! This foundation has a very thin, runny consistency and a fruity/floral scent. I placed this all over my face with my fingers and then used a buffing brush to blend it. I noticed that it can stick a bit to dry patches but it isn't too drying. It has medium coverage and gives you a natural finish. It doesn't really "dry" so I would set it with a light powder to get rid of that tacky feeling.

As for staying power, it does pretty well. I only noticed a bit of oil in the t-zone, but like I mentioned before, I would set this with a powder. In the pictures you can see my bare face (top left), and then my face with the foundation as well as a close up. I don't think I will purchase this foundation because the coverage is a little too much for me- I like to have more of a light coverage foundation. Also, I don't like how it stays tacky.

My last sample is the Ojon Color Sustain Pro Fade Fighter. I'm not quite sure what this is supposed to be...a conditioner, a treatment? I really don't know, but I used it as a conditioner. This has a runny consistency and a musky perfume smell. I had to use a lot to to feel like I got my hair coated completely. Once I washed it out, it didn't leave my hair feeling soft like a normal conditioner would. However, when I blow dried my hair it did feel relatively soft. As for the claim that it protects your hair color- I can't really comment on that because I didn't use it long enough. Can't say I would buy this again.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and enjoyed all my non-stop November posts! I can't believe the month is already over! Look for more posts coming soon.

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: black Friday haul

I don't know about you, but I love going black Friday shopping. I mean, of course, there are great deals going on, but mostly I like to see the crazy people. Some of them are just NUTS! So every year my sister, her best friend and I go to the mall to check out the deals (and the people). I think this year I scored some sweet items, so I wanted to show you what I got!

Our first stop was Walmart, where unfortunately people got a little bit too crazy and police had to get involved- yikes. Luckily, we went after all that happened, just to check it out. I didn't end up getting anything there so off to the mall we went!

First stop, can you guess...Sephora! They had a bunch of $10 deals that I wanted to check out and I ended up getting the The Art of Shaving The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Kit as a present for my dad, as well as the philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes (pictured, center). They had a lot of other cool kits, but none that I really felt I needed.

Next we stopped at Express. Here I got the Sexy Stretch Leggings in black and camo (pictured, center) and the Reversible V-Neck Racerback Cami in a blush and taupe-grey color (pictured, right). Everything was 50% off here, so I could've gone absolutely crazy but these were pieces that I wanted to add to my closet.

Our last stop was Old Navy, where everything was 50% off as well. We also came here again around noon today, so this is what I got on both trips. On the left you can see two Boyfriend V-Neck Cardis in a hunter green and a beige. I also got a pair of round crystal earrings and a Performance Fleece 1/2-Zip Pullover in a grey and aqua split, which you can see in the top right.

I'm excited to wear my purchases out and happy that black Friday is over. All that shopping, and standing in line, made me so tired! Let me know what deals you scored this year!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: L'Oreal Miracle Blur

For about a half a year now, the L'Oreal RevitaLift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream has been the talk of the town. I heard many good things about it, but at like $25 for a little bit more than an ounce I wasn't convinced by just reviews. Then one day, as I was walking around Walgreens scoping out new beauty products, I came across a mini version of this for only $7...so my immediate thought was "yes! I gotta try this".

This product has many claims so I want to mention some of those and then tell you how truthful I think L'Oreal is being.

• blends in seamlessly to create a perfectly smooth surface
• diffuses light on skin for a soft-focus blurring effect
• erases lines, wrinkles and reduces pore size visibility
• defend against future signs of aging
• and protect against sun rays.

So, let's crack down on this supposed miracle worker. When you first squeeze the product out of the tube it has a white tint and is very thick. When you rub it in it has a bit of a silicon feeling to it and is very easy to spread. It dries to a matte finish and doesn't feel sticky or anything, just like your skin. L'Oreal suggests to put this on after you cleanse and use your day cream, and you can use it under your makeup or alone. It does have a tiny hint of that typical sunscreen scent but it is basically unscented.

When I first got this, I just didn't believe it would "blur" your skin and make you look photo ready...but I can say with confidence that THAT is exactly what it does. In the top left picture, you can see a close up of my skin with only moisturizer. You can tell that my pores are visible and I have some redness going on, as well as some blemishes. The bottom left, is a close up of the Miracle Blur applied. You can see the pores are not as visible and the redness is toned down. In the picture on the right, I show you a side by side comparison- the left side has the Miracle Blur applied to it and the right does not. Also, the left side looks more matte. I was really just amazed (I had to ask my mom and sister to make sure I wasn't imagining things, lol!).

As for lines and wrinkles, that is not something I really struggle with but you can notice that the wrinkles under my eye on the left side are not as noticeable. The SPF 30 definitely helps with protection against sun rays, but I can't yet say if I feel that it defends against future signs of aging.

This picture shows the product applied to both sides, and I really like how it looks. I think if you want to go bare-faced but struggle with pores, redness and lines, you can slap this on and feel more confident walking out the door. Under makeup, it looks beautiful as well. Also, you can concentrate this on only certain areas to "blur" your problem sections. I think blending with your fingers suffices and to really fill in pores, use tapping motions.

As for staying power, this doesn't really make your makeup last any longer (not that it claims to). The packaging says to reapply every 2 hours if this is your main sunscreen- which for me, it is not.

I really do think this product is worth every penny, because it actually lives up to it's claims. I usually use very low coverage foundations to begin with but I wouldn't mind walking out of the house with this on and some mascara (I wouldn't mind walking out of the house completely bare either, but even just mascara gives you a boost of confidence). If you are weary, try the smaller size...$7 stand between you and perfectly blurred skin!

I hope you all had a lovely and safe Thanksgiving with your families, and got to enjoy a beautiful meal with each other!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: light matte smokey eye

I am a huge fan of dark shimmery smokey eyes, but sometimes I just want to take it down a notch and do something light and matte. Generally I don't like how a complete matte looks on me, but I really thought this looked beautiful!

To start off this look I primed my eyes with the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. This will help the look stay put all day. Then I took the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and put that all over my lid. A white primer will help the white eye shadow look brighter and stand out more. I blended that out a little bit with my fingers to make it even.

For shadows, I first used the Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette and took the shade Matt Malloy in the same places I applied this jumbo eye pencil as well as in the inner corner. I used patting motions to apply this shade because it will create the most opaque color. Then I took the L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow in Cuppa Joe and applied the top color in the crease to act as a guideline. 

Next going back to the Balm palette, I took the shades Matt Garcia and Matt Wood and applied those in my crease with a fluffy brush VERY VERY lightly. These shadows are very pigmented, so lightly tap the tip of your brush in them and go back for more if the look needs it. Then I took those same two colors onto the lower lash line using a pencil brush. Again, you want this to be pretty light.

For liner, I used the Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian to create a general shape and then a black matte shadow to perfect the line. This gives the look some smokey-ness without looking too intense- I have really been loving this technique lately! I also lined my water line with the Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude to brighten the eyes up even further.

To complete the look I applied my mascara and also decided to go with falsies! I used the Revlon Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Eyelashes in the style Flirty. These are only a little bit longer than my natural lashes and are practically even in the middle and the outer corner. A style like this is a little bit more appropriate for daytime.

I hope you enjoyed this look, it was definitely a little something different for me. I do see myself wearing this look again though because it is daytime appropriate but still nice for "fancier" occasions!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: trash talk: episode 7

Today I am bringing you another episode of "trash talk"- or more commonly known as an empties/used up products post! A lot of these are deluxe sized samples that became part of my every day routine and really did take a while to finish.

The first product I finished- that was not part of my every day routine- is the Big Sexy Hair Powder Play which I got in my April Glam bag (you can see that post here). This is one of those volumizing powders that also gives your hair some texture. These types of products have become huge and I must say I didn't enjoy this one. The Got 2b POWDER'ful Volumizing Styling Powder works much better at give your hair some boost and volume.

Next is the H2O Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment that I got from my October Glam bag (click here to see that post). This deluxe sample lasted me about a month, so quite a good amount of time. I only used this at night since it claims to be hydrating, but I didn't notice any of that. This has a gel consistency that feels tacky on the face after application. It also takes a while to dry. I can't say I would repurchase this because I don't think this is moisturizing or hydrating at all.

In the center you can see the Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Like the name suggests this is a sugar scrub for your lips that has a minty taste and smell. It is not overpowering and the scent doesn't linger after you use it. I think I mentioned this as a favorite at one point but after some consideration, my opinion kind of changed. The pot packaging makes this kind of unsanitary because you have to stick your finger in it every time you want to use it. I also feel that too much product goes to waste because the consistency is kind of dry. The pot will last you quite a while, even with every day use, which is nice. I do find using a toothbrush much more effective at removing all the dead skin, though.

The fourth product I have used up is the bareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation. I also used up the Original formula of this, so I wanted to compare them to each other. I do think both of these mineral foundations apply very nicely and give a light to medium coverage. They both have a natural finish immediately after application, however the Original formula would get wayyyy too dewy on my oily skin throughout the day whereas the Matte formula kept my skin natural looking. I only had a little bit of oil in the t-zone with that one. I did notice that both of these can cake up in your wrinkles (in my case it happened to be between the brows) and they do emphasize dry skin/patches. The shades are very forgiving, even if they aren't a perfect match for your skin tone at the moment which was nice going from winter into spring. I did enjoy the Matte Foundation a lot and can see myself purchasing that again.

The next product is the pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer which I got in my February Glam bag (view that post here). Like I mentioned there, this primer doesn't have that silicone feel- it feels like a regular moisturizer. After using several application methods...patting, buffing, rubbing...this did nothing. My pores looked the same size they always do, my makeup didn't last any longer or apply nicer. I can't even say that it was moisturizing because I definitely would not use this without one. Honestly, it was just a flop.

Last, but not least, is the e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark. I don't even have to worry about finishing it because I have backups! I mentioned this in my favorite e.l.f. products post, click here, and continue to love it. It is a great lipstick formula that gives you the benefits of a gloss, as well, and not to mention this perfect color- I can't get enough!

I hope this gave you some insight as to what products I enjoy and others that are maybe not so suitable for me. Have you tried any of these products and loved or hated them? Please let me know, I love to hear how products work on other people...who knows, maybe I'm doing something wrong!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: 2 shadow look: neutral shimmer

Today I wanted to share with you another two shadow look. This one is very neutral, using two of my favorite drugstore palettes- which makes this look super affordable! Plus, these are shadows (and palettes) that are basically essentials in anyone's collection.

To get this look, I started off by priming my lids up to the brows with the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and then to give some extra staying power, as well as color, I used the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Constant Copper.

Now let's get to shadows! I started off the ever popular CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Eyeshadow in Shimmering Sands, using the lightest shade all over my lid and also putting that in the inner corner to brighten up the eye. To give the crease some definition and also add dimension to the look, I used the darkest shade from the L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow in Cuppa Joe. I also added this shade to the lower lash line.

To finish this look I used the Lorac Front of the Line Pro to create a winged liner and then lined my lower water line with the Rimmer ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude (not pictured). This opens up the eyes and makes you look wider awake. On my lips I am wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink 7 to give myself a nude-pink pout!

Like I mentioned above, these shadows are great for any collection because they can be paired with anything...and I think you can never have too many neutral shades- at least that's what I keep telling myself and using as justification to buy more ;)!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: warm & cozy OOTD

I apologize for not posting yesterday, but I was just a little too busy. My family and I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC- which was very cute and fun to see! I wanted to post my outfit for the night because it's putting together some pieces from a haul I did from Forever 21.

Top- boyfriend sweater from Forever 21
Bottoms- faux leather leggings from Forever 21
Shoes- black buckle boots from JustFab (last year)
Jewelry- bow earrings (not shown) from Charming Charlie's

You can find the links to the Forever 21 items, here. I couldn't believe how warm and comfy the sweater was, and not scratchy at all- I can't deal with scratchy! I think the pairing of a baggy sweater with the faux leather leggings dresses up the sweater and dresses down the leggings. Also the leggings gives the whole outfit some shape

I hope this gives you some insight as to how you can dress up an oversized sweater! Let me know how you pair leather leggings or baggy sweaters in the comments below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: let's get Naked!: silver sparkle

With the release of the new Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette I decided to start a new series! This is going to be tutorials using the eyeshadows featured only in the Naked palettes. Some may be quick and simple, while others more intricate, but you will be able to create them using only the Naked palettes. So today I'm featuring a look using the Naked 2 Palette along with some other products. Let's get started!

I started off my look using the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, putting that all over my lid up to the brow bone. This will ensure that your shadows won't crease- but to give it some extra staying power, I used the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Constant Copper but you can use any champagne colored base (or none at all).

Now, starting with the shadows- as I mentioned before I used only the Naked 2 Palette! Starting with the shade Tease (a mid-toned mauve) and blended that lightly in the crease. This gives the look some balance because it is matte. Next I took Verve (a light silver with shimmer) and packed that on the inner half of the lid and also the inner corner. Then I took Pistol (a mid-toned grey with shimmer) and put that in the outer half of the lid and also blended it up in to the crease a bit. I also blended this onto the lower lash line to give some definition there and create a bit of a shadow.

Lastly, I used the Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian and drew a winged liner on. To set this and define the liner more I used Blackout (a matte black). And that's it! I love doing this light smokey eye because it can be appropriate for day or night- depending on how deep you make it!

On my lips I am wearing the CoverGirl Queen Collection Lip Color in Penelope Pink, which is just an adorable baby pink shade- I absolutely love it! Look for more posts in the series soon and have a lovely Saturday evening!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: back to basics: mixing foundations

Lately, one of my biggest makeup obsessions has been mixing my foundations. I know, I know...this sounds messy and like a big hassle- but it's really not! I think mixing your foundations can give you the exact coverage and finish you are looking for without having to trial hundreds of them to find the "perfect" one. Because in the end, isn't that what we all want? The foundation that will shrink our pores, make our skin look matte or glowing and youthful and hide all our flaws, but at the same time not look cakey (that's expecting quite a lot from a liquid!).

This is great if you are, say, more of an oily person but you want to use a dewy foundation or vice versa. Also, let's say you love a foundation but the shade is too deep or light for you- you can mix it with one that is lighter or darker to get the perfect shade! So let me show you what foundations I love mixing.

Pictured above are three matte full coverage foundations and then a dewy light to medium coverage one. Mixing a matte foundation with a dewy one allows me to wear a dewy foundation without looking or becoming too oily. Also, this thins out the coverage a little and can sometimes make full coverage foundations easier to work with. The three full coverage foundations I really enjoy are the Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin, CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation and Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup. The dewy foundation I usually  mix them with is the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup.

Here I have the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in shade W1-2 on the left and the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 810 Classic Ivory on the right. In the middle you can see these foundations mixed together- which you can do on your hands or by dotting the foundation on your face and then blending with a stipple or buffing brush.

You can tell a bit that one foundation is a little more yellow in undertone while the other leans more pink- mixing them can give you more of a neutral undertone, which is great for foundations that only come in one or the other.

The next set of foundations that I mix all have light to medium coverage but are either too light or too dark for me right now. The L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup and Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation are both a light-medium coverage foundation that are a little too pale for me at this moment (not for long though), whereas the L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup and Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream are a few shades too deep.

On the right I have the Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in N117 and mixed that (middle swatch) with the Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream in Light/Medium on the right. This give me a little bit of a lighter coverage, but also allows me to wear both foundations even though you can see one is clearly too light and the other too dark.

I personally do not like putting foundation on the back of my hand- too messy for my liking- so I generally just dot each foundation on my face with my fingers. Like I mentioned above, I then usually stipple the foundation so the colors start to mix together with a buffing or stipple brush and then blend it all together in circular motions.

I hope this gave you some courage to mix a couple of your foundations. I would have never thought to do this before, but lately, it's giving me the perfect look! I could not be more satisfied!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: UD Naked 3!

Did you really think they would end it with the Naked 2?! Of course not- the phenomenon must go on! I'm talking about the highly anticipated Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. Urban Decay posted a picture on instagram about 3 hours ago stating the availability of the new palette...and of course it has sold out already. Darn.

Photo courtesy of urbandecay.com

Urban Decay states that this palette has "12 never before-seen (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals". They range from light to dark and shimmery to matte shades, but definitely more shimmery ones. Just do a simple google search to see more pictures and soon enough, swatches.

I don't know about you but I wanted this palette the moment I heard they were creating it! Yes, I know I have a lot of neutrals already, but I have the Naked and Naked 2...so why skip this one?! I like that everything fits neatly into one palette, and you can create a lot of looks with these because both mattes and shimmers are included.

So naturally, I am on the waiting list to get this palette- we shall see how long it takes to restock! Are you going to get this palette or skipping out on the fad? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: 2 shadow look: brown & grey

Eyeshadow was not something I usually wore on a daily basis, but lately, I can see how much of a difference it really makes to your whole completed look. Putting on a little bit of eye shadow can make you look like you spent a whole lot of time on your makeup- when you really didn't! Today I wanted to show you this affordable brown and grey look I did, using only two eyeshadow shades!

Take any primer you want, I used the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, and apply that all over your lid and up to the brow bone (I'm trying to use this one up). I then took the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Bikini-tini and applied that on the lid, stopping at the crease. I used this to give extra staying power to my primer- I have very oily eyelids. You can also use the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow in Barely Branded for a cheaper version, or any light champagne cream product that you may have at home!

Now, let's get to shadows. Like I mentioned above and the title implies, all you need is two eyeshadows to get this look! First I used the e.l.f. Essentials Brightening Eye Color in Brownstone (the lighter middle shade) and applied this lightly in the crease using a fluffy brush. This is a satin/shimmery taupe shade that adds definition in your crease without looking too sparkly. Next, I took the e.l.f. Essentials Brightening Eye Color in Drama (again, the lighter middle shade) and patted this all over my lid using a dense shadow brush. This does have some specks of glitter, but I do not recommend wetting the shadow because it becomes too dark for daytime. I then went back in with the shade from the Brownstone quad to deepen the crease a little and blend out the edges from the grey shade.

This is so easy to do and really gives you a completed eye look! You can add liquid liner if you'd like to- I used the Lorac Front of the Line Pro to create a winged eyeliner- or you can just apply mascara and you're good to go!

I will be doing more of these 2 shadow looks so keep an eye out for those! I hope this gave you some ideas of how to do your makeup if you're in a rush in the morning!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: drugstore discovery: Revlon Colorburst Balms

I don't know if you have looked around your local drugstore lately, but there are a bunch of new products out! Some that I REALLY wanted to try included the Revlon Colorburst Balms, and after much searching, I was able to get my hands on a couple!

In an effort to keep my makeup collection at a reasonable amount...well, reasonable to me, haha...I only picked up two shades. They have come out with two formulas, a shiny one that they describe as a lacquer and a matte version. I have the shades Demure 105 and Standout 250, respectively.

So let me talk about the first shade, Demure- this is the lacquer formula. (Sorry for switching the lip swatches, but I think it is pretty obvious which swatch is which :P.) This is a very neutral light pink with golden shimmer particles, that are noticeable close up but not from a distance. It also has somewhat of a "glossy" finish. This glides on the lips really easily and if you are an experienced lipstick applicator you will probably be able to apply a shade like this without a mirror. It does feel a tad bit gritty after application, due to the shimmer.

As for staying power, this didn't do that amazingly (not that it claims to). The shine went away after about an hour of normal daily activities. There was some color left but that went away completely at approximately the 2 hour mark. Like I mentioned above though, this can be applied without a mirror since it is a lighter shade.

The other shade I got is Standout, and this is part of the matte collection. This is a deep berry red, a little deeper than the swatches show- perfect for the holiday season! This goes on so smoothly and although the tip is kind of large, I do find that I have a lot of control, even applying such a dark color. This is very pigmented and like the name implies, matte. Because of that is does feel a little bit drying after application, but nothing you couldn't expect from any other matte lip product.

Compared to the lacque balm, this has a much longer staying power. After application you can blot the lips or go about your day-to-day activities with only a little bit of residue rubbing off. When it wears, it does so from the inside of your lips first and leaves a stain on the outside of the lips. I assume that this is only because it is one of the darker shades in the matte collection.

Both of these have a minty smell like the other Revlon balm products. When compared to the L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte and La Laque lines, I would say the matte ones are similar though the Revlon has a bit of a thinner consistency. The lacquer balms though are not really comparable- the L'Oreal has a much longer staying power and keeps its shine the whole time, while the Revlon has a thinner consistency and doesn't stay on for as long.

I think these are definitely worth trying, even if you only pick up one color! I kind of prefer the matte ones, but I'm excited to see if they will come out with new colors (word is that this is going to be part of their permanent collection)! Let me know if you have tried these and what shades you enjoy!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: hot cocoa eye look

I was playing around this morning and realized that I have been seriously neglecting my Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Palette, which was a holiday palette from last year. So I wanted to try a simple look with it that would be appropriate for work!

I started the look off with priming my eye lids up to the brow bone using the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. To make the look last even longer, I used the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Lasting Taupe (swatched top left). I put this all over the lid and also dragged a little up into the crease. I reviewed these in another post, which you can check out here.

I do realize that the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Palette was limited edition, but I included swatches so you can find shades that are similar in your collection or even dupes. First, taking Hot Cocoa, a warm mid-tone satin brown, I patted this all over the lid and then used a fluffy brush to blend out any harsh edges. You can blend this qutie high up in to the crease to act as a "border" for the darker shade. 

Next taking Lovey Dovey, a dark brown shimmer, I placed this in the outer corner and blended up in to the crease using that same fluffy brush. Take your time blending here because you want this to be very faded out. I also dragged a little of this color on my lower lash line, but only on the outer third. Using too much shadow on the lower lash line can make the look too smokey and not as well suited for a work environment. I then used Vanilla, a creamy matte white, to highlight the brown bone and blend out the Lovey Dovey shade even further. 

Lastly, I took the CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadow in Shimmering Sands and applied the lightest shade to my inner corner. Apply some liquid liner- I used the Lorac Front of the Line Pro- in any shape that you want.

I absolutely love how this look turned out! I think this would look absolutely gorgeous with blue and brown eyes, and because the shades can be blended so easily they can look appropriate for any occasion, by making the shadows darker or blending them out more. The brown with the light inner corner reminds me hot cocoa with marshmallows- a perfect winter treat! On my lips I used the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Demure 105 (I will be doing a review on these shortly!).

I hope you enjoyed this look- it was really nice to get in to using this palette again. I know not everyone probably got this palette when it was out last year, but the shades are very dupe-able! I will be back with another post tomorrow!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: "Johnny Cash" OOTD

I don't know about you, but I love wearing all black. I think it's so cool to pair different black fabrics together to create a great outfit...and that is exactly what I did! 

Top- Rock & Republic Tee from Kohl's (find them here!)
Bottoms- faux leather leggings from Forever 21
Shoes- Apt. 9 Peep-Toe Booties from Kohl's (several years ago)
Jewelry- hoop earrings and pendant from Forever 21

I also wore a bebe Blazer that my friend let me borrow, since it did get a little chilly at night. As for my makeup, I decided to go with a deep smokey eye with nude lips. I'm not sure it ended up coming out the way I had pictured it, but I did really enjoy the final look. I will have a talk-through of how I got the look in a later post- so look for that coming soon!

Let me know how you rock your all black outfits! Or is it not for you?

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: sample Saturday: Lancome, Eve Lom, Guerlain

I wanted to start the "sample Saturday" series to give my thoughts about sample products that I get through beauty orders. I feel like with samples you can only get a basic idea of how you like a product, so basically I'm telling you to take these with a grain of salt.

One product I received as a sample was the Lancome Tresor Perfume. This has a very floral scent with a hint of muskyness. It borders the "old lady" type of smell so it's not something I would purchase. It does last very long and a little bit goes a long way! Personally I love trying perfume samples because I could possibly find my new favorite- and it's nice to change it up from the usual every once in a while!

The next sample is the Eve Lom Cleanser and Muslin Cloth (not shown). This was a very thick cleanser that warmed up on the skin as I smoothed it over my face, which is what the directions said to do. It has kind of a pumpkin smell which I didn't really enjoy...it wasn't horrible but not something I would prefer my cleanser to smell like. It did leave my skin feeling very soft, but other than that I really didn't notice much of a difference. I'll stick with my usual facial cleanser.

The last sample shown is the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Invisible Skin-Fusion Foundation with Sunscreen in 02 Beige Clair. This looked gorgeous on the skin! I do think it was a little too pink-toned for my liking (and a little too dark), but the natural finish gave me medium coverage and ended up looking flawless. You can layer this foundation to get a little more coverage without it looking heavy or cakey. It has a very thin consistency, which makes it easy to blend, and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. It does have a perfume-y scent, which I can deal with, but you'll have to decide on your own.

As for staying power, it does last all day. It could use a little bit of blotting, even with just a tissue, throughout the t-zone, but I didn't notice it breaking down much. The pictures above were taken right after application and you can see how natural, yet flawless my skin looks. I even gave a close up shot (don't judge my pores) to show you how thin it looks.

This foundation is quite expensive and the shade range is pretty limited, so I'm not sure if it is one I'll purchase- but if it's in your budget...I say go for it! I think I might go to a Sephora and see if I can get a larger sample of this because it's just lovely.

Like I mentioned at the beginning, my opinions on these products can change, but these are more of a first impression. Let me know if you use any of these products and what you think!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: November 2013 Glam bag

It's that time of the month again, my Glam bag came in! But before I go into what I got this month I just wanted to tell you my thoughts on some of my favorite products last month. I have really been enjoying the Zoya Nail Polish in Mason- not only is it a great formula, but the shade is beautiful as well! I also really liked the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly and the Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel. But now let's get on to this month!

The bag itself feels pretty cheap...it's like a plastic-type material on the outside with a pink lining. The products were a little less than satisfying as well. 

The first product I got is the Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Amethyst. This is so beautiful and creamy and the color is absolutely gorgeous! This is a taupey silver/lilac liner that I would use for the inner corner, as a base and even the lower lash line.

Next is the Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in Hot Damn. This is a matte tomato red. It does go on pretty pigmented, but two coats are necessary for full color. It is not super drying but not as creamy as other lipsticks. 

The third product is the pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched. I am not quite sure what this product is supposed to be...it's too shimmery and pink to be a contouring product. I could possibly use this as a blush? Also, I have to mention that the whole thing fell out of the pan as I was opening the cap...

Next to that is the Nailtini Mini Bar in Caviar Cocktail. This is a gunmetal shade with shimmer. I love the Bloody Mary shade that I got a while back so I don't think this will be disappointing. I also ended up getting the HSI Professional Argan Oil Leave-In Hair Treatment. This feels very moisturizing on my fingers so I can only imagine what it will do to my hair!

The last product I got is the em Lash Gallery Lengthening Mascara in Brown. Why...why brown?! I don't even want to try this because I already know brown mascara does nothing for me.

I was so excited to get this bag and maybe I had too high hopes? I'm not sure, but when I opened the products I wasn't that impressed. I do still think the bag was worth it this month but just a little bit of disappointment. I hope you received a better Glam bag than me and let me know what products you love!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: 7 deadly sins of beauty

This tag has been going around for quite a while and I kept forgetting about it- well today is my lucky day, because I needed something fun to post for today and I finally remembered! 

GREED- what is your most expensive beauty item?

My most expensive beauty item is the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink 7. I do have more expensive products, but in terms of value, this comes in at number one. However, I did recently mention this in my top 5 high-end products- which you can find here- so you know it's a great one for the money!

WRATH- what product do you have a love/hate relationship with?

Hands down, face primers. There isn't one specific brand, but more the whole category in general. One day I love it, the next day I don't think it does anything for me...I just can't seem to make up my mind! Maybe I just haven't found the perfect one or maybe I don't have the right skin for primers? I don't know, but I flip flop on this all the time!

GLUTTONY- what is your most delicious beauty product?

I don't really have any products that are edible, but in my mind, delicious can be in terms of scent as well. I no doubt would have to go with Calvin Klein Euphoria Perfume. The scent is sexy and sultry- it just makes me feel amazing. It is an instant pick me up on those days when I feel kind of blah.

SLOTH- what product do you neglect due to laziness?

There are some people that would not even imagine stepping out of the house without curling their eyelashes...and I am just not one of those. For me, curling my eyelashes is tedious, wastes time and really isn't necessary. I don't think I have super amazingly curls lashes but they aren't straight either, so, curling my lashes just isn't a priority. I know for some people it makes a huge difference, but it's just not my thing.

PRIDE- what beauty product gives you the most self-confidence?

This is so easy for me to answer, and you probably all have guessed what I'm about to type. MASCARA. Nothing else can do to your eyes what mascara does. My face goes through breakouts and even though foundation covers it, I still know that they're there. With my mascara, I never have a problem. I know exactly how to apply it so I get the look I want! 

LUST- what attributes do you find most attractive in men?

I think the first thing I see in a man is his smile. Some men have that smile that twinkles in their eyes and pulls at your heart-strings! Also, a man with a nice butt would be great too ;)

ENVY- what item would you like to receive as a gift?

image courtesy of nordstrom.com

This would probably have to be the Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Cocoa Mirage. But at a whopping $78 I'm really going to have to weigh my pro's and con's for a while. I haven't yet gotten the chance to try this in person but plan on doing that soon. Who knows, maybe Santa will drop this off under the Christmas tree?!

I thought this was a really cute and fun tag! I tag all of you to do it and would love to see your answers in the comments or in your own blogs and videos! Look for another post tomorrow!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: Clarisonic Mia 2 review

I know recently I have been talking a lot about my Clarisonic, and I finally wanted to get a review up! This device has been talked about so much in the beauty community, and after lusting for a long time, I finally decided to purchase one myself!

Picture courtesy of: www.dillards.com

I purchased my Clarisonic Mia 2 in Key Lime at Ulta for $150, however you can also purchase this online. Before I discuss, in detail, my opinions, I want to give all those who have never heard of this tool some information. This is a tool that deep cleanses your face and neck. It has two speeds (delicate and normal), as well as a one-minute pulsing timer. There are other models that have more or less options- depending on what you are looking for specifically. When you purchase the Mia 2, it comes with the Sensitive Brush Head (plus cap), Protective Travel Case, Universal Voltage pLink Charger and a Sample Size Cleanser.

According to the Clarisonic website, it cleanses six times better than hands alone. It can also make your skin softer and more radiant, along with increase your absorption of vitamin C by 61%. You can use it up to two times daily, however the instructions suggest that you start off with once or twice a week and build your way up, if your skin can handle it.

So, as I mentioned above, it has a pulsing timer. You move the Clarisonic in circular motions for 20 seconds on your chin area, 20 seconds on your forehead and then 10 seconds on each cheek. The device pulses when you should move on to the next area, which makes it easy to use and takes away the hassle of counting or using a timer.

Okay, now let me tell you about my experience. I purchased this in May and used it about 3 times a week in the summer, however I was not very rigid with it and would go a week sometimes without using it. I also didn't want to exfoliate my tan away, which was another reason for my inconsistency...but, as September rolled around I decided to really give this a try. I now use the Clarisonic every other day (about 85% of the time, sometimes I go every third day) and have noticed a drastic difference.

My skin feels much softer and looks clearer. I do still break out, however they are not as severe or as often- usually only hormonal, nearing "that" time of the month. I feel like I don't have as much redness, which allows me to wear lesser coverage foundations- in turn, allowing my skin to breathe more. Dry skin is flaked away much easier, which is a big help to me right now, as the seasons are changing.

I don't have much negative to say about it, besides the price. But I do think in the end it is worth it. Will this cure your acne? No, but I do think it can help. Using the Clarisonic just makes my skin feel cleaner than it ever has before, and I don't plan on changing my routine in the slightest!

I really encourage you to look up your own information on this cleansing tool! Yes, it is pricey, but your skin is something that you have to live with forever, and I think, why not have the best skin you can- which is what the Clarisonic does for you!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: back to basics: essential eye brushes

You don't need a huge collection of brushes to get the look you want- in my opinion all you need is a few that all have different purposes, but can be multi-tasking. I wanted to let you know what brushes I think are necessary when doing any type of eye look!

The first brush, and maybe the most important, is a fluffy blending brush. The one I'm showing is the Coastal Scents Classic Blender Natural. You can find this here- it is very affordable and great quality for the price. This type of brush is key for blending out any shadow lines, as well as placing color into the crease area. This leaves a wash of color in the areas you put it, rather than a shadow brush, which densely packs the color. This also happens to be the next brush I want to discuss. The e.l.f. Essentials Eye Shadow Brush is great for packing color into the areas you want. Generally it is used all over the lid and can also "flick" the color up in to the crease. This brush is very dense and typically rounded, but flat.

The third essential brush is a pointed pencil brush. This one is part of the Essential Tools Hi-Def Deluxe Eye Duo Set, but any small pointed brush would work. There are so many uses for this brush- you can highlight your inner corner and brow bone, define your lower lash line, darken the crease, create a smudgy liner look- it really is limitless. This brush is great for more detailed work that elaborate smokey eyes usually require.

The last brush I think you absolutely need is an angled liner brush. This also happens to be part of the Essential Tools Hi-Def Deluxe Eye Duo Set. An angled liner brush can be used to create a winged or normal liner, as well as liner the upper and lower water lines. This is also a great brush to use for filling in your brows.

Although those four brushes are essential ones for me, there are a few others that I think would aid you in creating those eye looks that require a little more work. A large fluffy brush, like this one from the Essential Tools Hi-Def Deluxe Eye Duo Set, can help blur and fade out the edges of your shadows, to get that seamless blend. A brush like this is also great for adding in a base crease color to give yourself a guideline of how high towards the brow you want to take your shadows. Next is a small domed brush- this one happens to be the e.l.f. Essentials Eye Crease Brush. This is great for placing shadows directly where you want them, while blending at the same time. It allows a little more blending and less precision than the pencil brush. Last is a small detail brush. This e.l.f. Studio Small Precision Brush is great for packing color in the inner corner and also smudging out your lower lash line.

I know some people think their sponge-tip applicators can do the job, and I partially agree. However, I do think for more complicated looks, brushes are necessary. I wanted to include drugstore only brushes because that's really all I use- I would rather spend my money on a cool high-end eye shadow palette rather than brushes. I think a great kit to get is the Essential Tools Hi-Def Deluxe Eye Duo Set (can I mention it any more times in this post?) from Walmart, because they are very affordable and basically packs everything you need in to three double ended brushes. You can see my full review on those brushes here.

I hope this is helpful to all you beginners in the makeup world, but also to the more advanced artists- sometimes going back to basics is just what you need! 

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina