February 2014 Glam bag

Even despite the snow up here in the northeast, I was still able to get my Glam bag right on time- yay! Didn't really have any expectations for how this month was going to be, but I do want to touch on last month's bag (check that post out here). I didn't really feel strongly about any of the products, but I do use the Epice Purifying Exfoliant with my Clarisonic. But enough about that, let me get to this month.

This month, quite obviously, had a pink theme. The bag, as you can see, is also pink and has a pink and white cheetah pattern on the inside. I'm not a huge fan of pink, so I can't say that this bag is one of my favorites. Now onto the products...

The first product shown is the Eyetini Cordial Cream Shadow + Base In One in Ambrosia, which is a taupe that leans towards plum/purple. It has a nice consistency and is very easy to apply. It also leaves a stain and I didn't find it creasing on the eye. This kind of reminds me of the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint, which I have reviewed (click here for that).

Next is the IPKIN NY Moist & Firm BB in the shade Light. Let me start off saying, this is not light. You can see from the swatch that this is too dark for me, so I'm going to have to play around a bit (possibly fake tan) so I can pull off this shade. I will keep you updated. 

The middle product, and possibly my favorite, is the City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon. First of all, this blush is huge...maybe it's the packaging that is deceiving. Now I have to mention, it is matte, it is pigmented, it applies easily, the color is beautiful. What else can I say?! I love it. I have recently been liking those orange/melon tones, so I was excited to add a new blush to my collection.

The fourth product shown is the pop Beauty Plump Pout Mini in Peony Petal. This gloss has a pretty strong plastic vanilla scent, that reminds me of something but I cannot put my finger on it. It does have a lot of color and doesn't feel very sticky, so it might be something I just have to get over. I do enjoy the shade, it is bright but at the same time very wearable from day to day- probably because it has those tones from your natural lip color.

The last product is a Zoya Nail Polish in Dot, which is a milky pink. I really enjoy these nail polishes (can I say it enough times), so I don't doubt that this one will be equally as pretty!

I was quite impressed with this month's bag. Minus the BB cream I really feel like I will get a lot of use out of these products...in fact I am going to paint my nails right now!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

trash talk: episode 8

Since the end of November I have used up a few other products and wanted to share them with you (so I can finally throw them out LOL)! I added a few more than usual because they were just accumulating in my drawer, so let's get started.

I used up two mascaras...well I used up as much as I could, but they started to get old and smell so I knew it was time for them to get chucked out. The first in the picture is the Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara. I used this mainly as a layering mascara because the formula is way too wet for my thin lashes. The brush is pear shaped and has lots of rubber "combs" that work well when paired with volumizing mascaras (this separates your lashes well). I don't think I would buy this again...on the other hand, the Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara is one I'd repurchase over and over. It has a very traditional brush but the formula just adds so much to the lashes. I didn't notice any flaking or smudging with this mascara, and that says a lot since I usually do about 5 to 6 coats.

The third pictured product is the HSI Professional Argan Oil Leave-In Hair Treatment that came in November's Glam bag (click here to view that post). I was really surprised at how long this took me to use up. I generally wash my hair 2 to 3 times per week and it took about two and a half months to finish it- so a little goes a long way! This was so moisturizing in my hair and made it feel very soft, even after blow-drying. It has a great warm smell with a hint of vanilla and goes onto the hair very easily. The only down-side is the price...so even though this works a bit better than the CHI Silk Infusion, it is way more affordable and does the job almost just as well.

The next product I want to mention is the Victoria's Secret Merry Merry Pink Body Lotion. I got this as a Christmas gift about two years ago from my friend, Nancy. This has an amazing scent, like the Victoria's Secret Tease Perfume but it can be a bit overpowering and compete with any perfume you want to add later. It soaks in very quickly but leaves the skin moisturized without feeling greasy. It leaves a fairly thin layer of moisture but couldn't really quench the needs of dry skin.

The last two products are ones that I already have back-ups of. First is the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15, which is what I use for my morning moisturizer. This leaves my oily skin with enough moisture to keep it from getting dry, but does not make it oily either. It also has an SPF which I feel is very important in my skin care routine. It has that typical sunscreen scent, which I love! I will continue to use this because it does exactly what I need it to.

The final product, that I also already repurchased, is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. This is the best brow gel I have yet tried. It holds my crazy brows in place and stays all day. I definitely think it is worth the money, especially if you buy it as part of a kit. This can make your brows feel a bit "crunchy" but I don't mind that.

Those are all the makeup related products I used up the past couple of months. There may be some products that I don't mention just because I have already done reviews about them or because they are inaccessible in the US. I hope you found this helpful and look for some Valentine's tutorials this week!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

makeup intevention

Let's face it...buying makeup can be an obsession. Sometimes I just feel the drive to go to Sephora, Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, etc. to "look" at new products- I generally don't have an intention of buying anything, but we both know I don't leave empty handed. Even though I have plenty of eyeshadows, foundations, brow products, blushes, bronzers and on and on, I still feel the need to get something. Sometimes it is the rush of getting a new item and other times, the fear of missing out...but when I put things in perspective, that lipstick collection that I missed out on isn't going to be the end of my life!

So in hopes of finishing some of the products I already have in my collection and creating new spending habits, I decided to have a makeup intervention with myself. This was mainly inspired by Christine, from pinksofoxy. (If you want to know more about her spending restrictions for the year of 2013, watch this video.) Christine ended up doing this for a whole year, but I think my story is a bit different. I do have a larger makeup collection than the average female, but when compared to some of the beauty bloggers on YouTube, my collection looks minimal. My goal is to really get use out of and enjoy the products I already have, and not running out to get the newest thing.

So let me tell you what the rules of my intervention are. I am placing a spending restriction on myself for 6 months- February 1, 2014 to August 1, 2014. During those 6 months, I will only be allowed to purchase 5 makeup/beauty related products. This will not include any of my normal skin care products (I do not find myself over-indulging in this area). My Glam bag will not count towards these 5 products, since that is a monthly subscription service. Also, not to mention that my birthday is in July, so I will be having many temptations to spoil myself...but I will try my best!

I wanted to post it onto my blog to keep me more accountable, and also to encourage any of you other makeup indulgers to take a look at the makeup you already have in your collection and rediscover some lost favorites.

Let me know if you have any money saving resolutions for this year and if you have any plans on reducing your makeup collection!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Sample Saturday: masks, masks, masks

It seems like something I've been getting tons of samples for are different types of masks. Masks for face, masks for hair, with loads of different of ingredients and somewhat unbelievable claims. Let me give you a run down of what masks I've sampled and how they worked for me.

The first mask I tried is one for face, and it is the WEI Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask. I have to say, I really liked this one! It had kind of a soapy smell with a whiff of herbs mixed in there. It had a pretty good consistency for application- not too thick, yet not runny- and also removed quite easily (with both a wash cloth and just warm water). Because it is a mud mask, it "dried" but not to a cracking point or where your face feels really stiff. After I washed it off, it left my skin feeling really soft and not dry, and it also helped reduce the redness of my blemishes. However, this mask is quite expensive...I will have an internal debate about whether it's worth it.

The next product I tried is not quite a mask, but more of a leave-in treatment for hair. The Phyto Subtil Elixir Intense Nutrition Shine Oil is exactly what it says, a leave-in hair oil. This claims to be for dry to ultra-dry hair...I'm not sure about that. I left it in longer than the recommended time and my hair did not feel any different than before. Also, I had to shampoo twice because the mask felt like it didn't really come out of my hair. This is not for me.

Another face mask that I tried is the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask. This mask has a gel consistency and an herbal smell, which is probably due to the natural ingredients in it. Once applied to the face it doesn't tingle, but it does feel a bit tight after it dries. After I washed it off, it left my skin feeling very clean, soft and smooth but not tight or dry. I thought it was pretty mediocre and made for more of an older skin.

Lastly, a product that I used up that came with my January Glam bag, is the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. This is another natural product, that has kind of a floral and licorice smell. It was nice going on- thick consistency and felt like it was soaking into the hair. As for what it did...basically nothing, honestly my hair felt the same as before. Even some of my conditioners work better than this did. Can't say I would buy this.

Let me know if you have tried any of these masks and whether you liked them or not! 

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Tarte be MATTEnificent Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette

I don't know about you, but on some days when I'm bored I like to go through the Sephora website and check out any new products that have come out that I may have missed, or not heard about...and what did I happen to stumble upon- the Tarte be MATTEnificent Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette. This is an all matte eyeshadow and blush palette that features new shades. I thought I would review this palette since I haven't really seen many people talk about it!

I have to admit, the outer packaging is something that really caught my eye- even through a website! Plus, it looks so compact and travel friendly.

This palette comes with a blush shade, 6 shadows, 2 deeper shadows that are specified for liner (however, they are powders) and a dual ended brush. Before I get to the shadows, I have to mention that the brush is completely usable. One end is an eyeshadow brush that would be good for getting color onto the lid and layering it, as well. The other end is a blending-type brush, that is a bit smaller than what I usually use. However, I do think this would be good for getting color a little bit more precisely into the crease or even blending out the lower lash line. Both sides are very soft, and I do think you could create a complete look with just this brush if you were really pressed for space.

Now, onto the good part (swatched in the same order as shown in the palette)! Starting with the blush, this is in the shade Elevated. It has a beautiful soft texture and creates a very natural flushed look that blends in flawlessly with any type of look- it has those mauve tones with a hint of rose.

Moving to the first row of shadows, you can see Sand Out from the Crowd (a creamy off-white with a bit of peach), Peach for the Stars (a medium brown with some peach) and Two Plums Up (a deep violet plum). In the second row is Pink Outside the Box (a very light pink rose), Rose to the Occasion (a medium mauve with rose) and View from the Taupe (a taupe mauve). Below those are the two liner shades, which are Dream in Chocolate (a deep chocolate brown) and Don't Stand Black (a deep charcoal black).

As I mentioned before, these are all powder products but their consistency feels almost creamy. These products blend effortlessly, yet are still very pigmented. I do like the variety of dark to light in this palette, including blending shades, which I feel like can create plenty of looks for any occasion. If you are looking to try out some Tarte products, I feel this palette is really worth getting- between the beautiful blush and the great consistency of the shadows, PLUS the fact that they are matte, creates for one great deal. Also, I must mention that these are basic shadows that can supplement other palettes that possibly lack these simple, yet necessary shades.

At $36 I really think this is a great purchase. Between the packaging, a very usable brush and the matte cheek and eye powders, you can't go wrong. The large sized mirror and compact-ness of the palette also make it very travel friendly.

I hope this helped any of you who had their eye on this palette. Let me know if you are planning out and getting it!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

January 2014 Glam bag

Of course you know what time it is- my Glam bag came again! I actually kind of forgot about it because I had gotten so many goodies recently between Christmas and end-of-the-year sales. But before I get into this month's bag, I want to do a little recap on my thoughts from last month (view last month's bag here). None of the products stood out to me that much, now that I think of it. Although I did use all of them and will continue to get use from them, yes, even the Copper lipstick, I didn't find myself reaching for these over other products I typically use. Enough of that- let's get to the contents of January's bag!

I have to say, the first thing I noticed about this bag is the smell...kind of like a mixture of plastic and moth balls, and then it ended up making all the products smell like that. I wasn't too fond of the bag but like I have said in previous posts, these make great gift bags! Now, on to the products.

The first pictured product is the yaby Liquid Foundation in Buff. This is supposed to give you a natural flawless finish, but I didn't find that to be true. It was a matte finish on my face, but then after about an hour I got oily in the center of my face. It does have a very thin and airy consistency and I say it gives about light to light-medium coverage. Also, even though it can be built up to a medium-heavy coverage but it does start to get a bit cakey. In the swatches you can see a dollop of it straight from the tube and then how it looks a bit more blended.

The second product pictured, which is also swtached, is the MicaBeauty Tinted Lip Balm in Natural. The hand swatch is probably the most accurate and I would say this is the typical "your lips but better" shade. I really think this is what my lips would look like if they were very pigmented. I truly do enjoy the shade, but the feel is kind of awkward. It's called a balm, but feels more like a very thin lipstick. It doesn't have that moisturizing feel that I associate with balms and chapsticks.

The middle product you see are the Proactive+ Mark Fading Pads. You get four samples of these and although I haven't tried them, I can't imagine four uses making a big difference. I will definitely give them a try...but I am a bit weary. Also, I have tried Proactive before and personally it did not do much to prevent breakouts on my skin.

The final two products I received are the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask and the Epice Purifying Exfoliant. I quite enjoy both these products, the hair mask because it uses natural ingredients and leaves my hair feeling soft and nourished and the exfoliant because it is gritty enough to get all my dry skin- I even used it with my Clarisonic!

Before I conclude this post, I want to do a little comparison to last year's January bag (which that post, here). I do feel that last year's bag was a bit better. Lately, I have been becoming disappointed when I actually receive my Glam bag because I had hopes of different products...whereas last year, everyone received the same products. I do personally still enjoy getting my Glam bag, even just for the fun of trying different products, but I do sometimes question whether spending $120 on it is worth it? Just my thoughts...

With that aside, let me know what you got in your Glam bag or if you have tried any of the products I mentioned above! Have a great week, and for everyone in the northeast, stay warm and cozy through this blizzard!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Makeup Geek eyeshadows

If anyone who doesn't know who "Makeup Geek" is on YouTube, you really need to check her out (click here)! If you do know Marlena, then you know she has recently come out with some of her own makeup products- and you can tell through her videos that she dedicates so much time and effort to producing high quality, yet affordable, products. I had been meaning to try some of her eyeshadows for a while and I finally got around to it!

So when you get the shadows, they come in this adorable sleeve (when I ordered them, only the pans were available...but I believe they now come in compacts). The packaging is so cute, but not over the top. When choosing what shadow shades I should get, I wanted to get colors that I knew I would use but that I didn't yet have in my collection. I chose the shades Creme Brulee and Cocoa Bear, which you can see swatched to the right, respectively.

I can't say enough good things about these shadows. First, they are very pigmented- not that I expected anything less from someone who makes YouTube videos for a living! Second, they have a great texture and are very easy to blend. And finally, they barely have any fallout and aren't powdery. Sometimes more pigmented shadows can run into this problem, along with deeper or more colorful shades. I did not experience this at all with these shadows!

Above you can see a look I created using these two shades. I really recommend these for anyone's makeup collection because they are neutral and can be worn in so many ways. At $5.99 a piece, these shadows are absolutely worth it and rival many higher end brands! If you are interested in purchasing any Makeup Geek products, you can find them here.

I hope this gives anyone who has been interested in Makeup Geek products more motivation to go out and try them! And if you haven't checked out Marlena on YouTube, yet, you should go do that too!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

beauty blender vs. all its "dupes"

Oh, the controversial Beauty Blender! There has been so much talk about this sponge and whether it really is that much better than all the others...and I am here to give you the scoop.

The first sponge I tried was the Ulta Super Blender Sponge. It was very hard and didn't really absorb any water...so it kind of got pushed to the back of my drawer. I ended up throwing it out when I moved from college back to home, in hopes of cleaning up my makeup collection a bit.

Next came the Beauty Pro Revive Makeup Blending Applicator, which I found at TJ Maxx, and I thought this was great. I did like how it blended out my concealer, but didn't find myself using it for foundation really. Although it was still a bit hard it did absorb some water and grow. I did include this in my current must haves of November 2013, which I will link here.

Then Christmas came around and my sister kept asking what she should get me. I personally hate spending money on brushes and sponges, so I thought the Beauty Blender would be a great present for her to get me. I did not have super high hopes for this sponge, but I thought, what the heck...

I can honestly say, the Beauty Blender is the best makeup related gift I have gotten yet! Don't get me wrong, I love my palettes and foundations and concealers, but this sponge makes my makeup look amazing! I'd like to give you some comparisons of what makes this sponge better than the others.

Pictures above are both sponges dry- excuse the makeup residue on it! You can see the Beauty Blender is a bit bigger and you can see that it is more porous. In the pictures on the right, you can see how much "spongier" the BB is...it is not as hard and absorbs much more water. A lot of people I see on YouTube use the word "pounce" when referring to how this sponge applies makeup, but that's exactly how I would describe it, as well. The BB pounces the makeup on so flawlessly, every foundation looks airbrushed.

Also, because it is so porous, I think it applies foundation without getting too much on your face, all the while providing your skin with some hydration. I have also used this to apply thick foundations and concealers and the blending work it does is beautiful and effortless. I have noticed this especially with the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer.

Above, you can see both sponges when they have been wet and then squeezed dry through a towel. In this picture you can really see how hard the Revive sponge is in comparison to the BB. I have also used the BB to apply powder and it puts enough powder on your face without looking cakey or heavy.

So in terms of how I use the BB, I first dot foundation onto my face with my fingers and then pounce the foundation onto my face. I do this for concealer, as well. For powder, I just dip the BB in loose powder or swipe it across pressed powder and then, again, pounce it in the areas I want powdered. To clean it, I just use a soft soap that I would use to clean my brushes.

I cannot say enough about it, the Beauty Blender is just awesome! Every day, even when I'm breaking out, I look at my foundation and admire how beautiful it looks- I don't even want to use a brush! Even at about $20, this is worth every penny!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

let's get Naked!: rose ombre

Finally, I have gotten my hands on the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, so of course I had to do a look using it! I really enjoy this palette a lot- possibly more than any of the others, if I dare say. Thanks to my mom for getting me this palette and feeding my makeup addiction (even though she doesn't like it sometimes)! So let's get to the look.

I started this look by priming my eyes using the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base to keep the eyeshadow on my eyes all night, since I do have oily eye lids. Then to give even more of a colored base, I used the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint in Chestnut Taupe.

Moving on to the eyeshadows, I used only the Naked 3 Palette. I started off with the shade Dust, which is a light very shimmery pink (first swatch in middle), and placed that in my inner corner as a highlight. Then I took Strange, a matte white, and placed that under the brow to highlight that area, as well. I then took the first crease shade, Limit (a light mauve that is matte), and put that in the upper crease. I took this a bit higher than I would a normal look because I really wanted the ombre effect to be more visible. Next, I took the shade Nooner, which is a darker version of limit, and placed this all over the lid and into the crease. I did this a few times to deepen the color a bit. I also brought this shade onto the lower lash line very lightly to create a smokey look. Then taking Factory, a deep plum shimmer (second to last swatch), I placed this very close to the lash line and then faded it up a bit- but only half way up the lid. I also took this shade very close to the lower lash line and made it quite deep to line the eyes.

I then lined my upper and lower water line, along with my upper lash line and created a wing, using the Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx. Taking a pencil brush, I traced along the lower lash line to fade that black, we just put on the lower water line, onto the roots of the lashes. As a last step, I used Blackheart (a black with pink glitter) from the Naked 3 Palette and smudged the pencil liner out on the top first, and then I took whatever remained on the brush and gently ran that along the lower lash line. To complete the look, just add your favorite mascara!

I really liked how this look turned out and I have been using the "ombre" technique on my eyes quite often lately. I've been wondering if I should make a separate post on this- let me know if that would interest you. I pretty much explained my technique here, but I could make a pic-torial! I got some new palettes, including the just-released Tarte Be MATTEnificent Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette, so look for possible tutorials/reviews!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

drugstore discovery: Maybelline "The Buffs", e.l.f.

There have been so many new products coming out this January from all different makeup brands- great for my makeup addiction, bad for my wallet! As I was scouring the drugstore one day, I came across two new lip products that I really wanted to try.

First I found a new collection that Maybelline came out with. These lipsticks are called the Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs and I got the shade Nude Lust 920. I guess the "purpose" of these lipsticks is to be neutral, and they range from pale to a bit deeper. These lipsticks have a great creamy consistency and are not drying. This color in particular is not cool or warm, but very neutral. It does match my current skin tone so I have to apply a bit of a darker lip liner to separate my lips from my face.

I wouldn't call this an absolute must have, but I do like it. I tend to lean more towards pink-nudes so that may be a reason I don't reach for it as much as others. If you want to check out the collection I do encourage you to get one because Maybelline makes great lipsticks!

Another product I have been meaning to grab, but could only find online until I ran across it at Harmon, is the e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator. This looks like a lipstick but is a lip scrub in bullet form. I have used this several times and I do think it works well. However mine broke already when I was using it- you can barely turn the product up when using it or else it will snap in half. I'm not sure how long this will last, but I will keep you updated!

Let me know what new products you have discovered at the drugstore- or even high end, I'd love to hear your suggestions! I hope this gave a little snippet of info if any of these have caught your eye.

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

2013 beauty smackdown: best in beauty

Where has 2013 gone?! I cannot believe a whole year has passed, it feels like just a few months ago I was telling you about my 2013 resolutions! Because I don't really do monthly favorite videos, I wanted to do an end of the year type of thing to let you know my favorite products in each category. I tried my hardest to narrow it down to my absolute favorites, but for some of them I really just didn't have one or I had too many so I just included all my favorites.

Starting off with face products:

• primer- L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream
• foundation- L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light
• concealer- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15
• powder- Coastal Scents 6 Contour Blush Palette (white shade)
• blush- MAC Powder Blush in Blushbaby
• bronzer- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder
• highlight- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond

Moving on to eye products:

• eye primer- Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• eye shadow single- Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow Single in Nutty
• eye shadow trios/quads/etc.- L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quad in Cuppa Joe, CoverGirl Eye Enhancer 3-Kit Shadow in Shimmering Sands
• eye shadow palette- I can't just pick one...I LOVE THEM ALL!
• brow product- Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel, e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Ash

And last, but never least, lip products:

• lip balm/chapstick- Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
• lipstick- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Primrose, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink 7
• lip gloss- Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly, Nars Lipgloss in Turkish Delight

So those are my favorites for the year! I know I didn't include some categories, but that's because I haven't found products that I love yet (so...obvously I am looking for your suggestions)! Let me know what your favorites for the month of December and 2013 were in the comment section below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

best of Glam bag 2013

Yesterday I told you about my least favorite products of this year's Glam bag subscription, and today it's all about the best! Unlike yesterday's post, today's was pretty difficult. I found myself going back and forth on which products I really loved, because there were just so many. But I have narrowed it down to my favorite five!

In my first ever Glam bag I received the Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Bloody Mary. This is just the perfect red shade for my skin tone. The polish itself is also very nice. It has a great consistency and glides on easily. You can get away with one coat- but I usually do two for good measure. Also, it has kind of a shiny finish already so you could skip going with a top coat which can save some time if you're in a hurry! Definitely a great polish!

My next favorite product came in the March Glam bag and it is the GLAMRX Mini Freestyle Palette. This is a perfect travel kit for single eyeshadows and ones that you use every day. I raved about this for a while and I still get so much use out of it. I currently have four shadows in mine so you can fit a whole look in the palette. I would definitely rank this as the top product I have gotten the entire year!

In the July Glam bag I got the pop Pouty Pop Crayon in Rose Romance. This is such a great pink nude color for every day wear. I wore this just about every time I did my makeup in the summer because it really just complemented any look. It does get a bit harder to wear the more tan I am, but I think it looks great even if you have to sheer it out a bit or layer with another lipstick.

The last two products that I have loved came from the October Glam bag. First is the Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel. This is great for creating volume throughout my limp hair. I only put this in my roots and then blow dry my hair upside down. Another great thing is that a little goes a long way, so I see this sample lasting quite a while! This is definitely something that I have to use in my hair routine or else my hair will be laying flat against my head.

Last but not least, is the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly. This is not only a great color, but the formula is amazing as well. Although this gloss doesn't have opaque pigmentation it gives some color without being sticky. It also has a tingly feeling and smells somewhat minty, which I personally love!

So those were my absolute favorite products from the 2013 Glam bag subscription. I did have some other favorites, but I really wanted to narrow it down. If you've been following along with my Glam bag posts, you'll know I definitely think this is worth the money because of the variety, quality and size of the products they send you. I encourage everyone to check it out!

I hope everyone from the northeast made it through this blizzard alive and that y'all from other parts are staying warm! Look out for my favorite products of 2013 coming soon!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

2013 Glam bag fails

As promised, I wanted to let you know about the 2013 Glam bag products that I loved and disliked...and of course, I had to start off with the ones I didn't like. Surprisingly (or not), I didn't find many products that I completely considered a fail- just a few. So let's jump right into it!

The first product didn't come until the July bag, and that is the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray. I did not speak highly of this in my initial impression and throughout using this my opinion didn't change much. It left my hair feeling crunch and dry- and I'm talking just bleached your hair five times in a row dry- and the kicker...it didn't even give me "beachy" waves. I have wavy hair and I thought this would just enhance those, yeah...no. I just wanted to wash my hair right away because my ends looked FRIED. Not a fan!

The next two products are mascaras, one from the September bag and the other from the November bag. I know I generally say that you can make any mascara work with a primer, but honestly all the mascaras I have received from the Glam bags have been one-of-a-kind horrible. In the September bag came the Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara which just left me looking like I had 2 lashes. It did nothing in terms of volumizing and doesn't live up to the claim that it's name makes. The November bag had the em Lash Gallery Lengthening Mascara in Brown. Mainly the color is what turned me off. I have absolutely no use for a brown mascara because my lashes are so light already. Of all the things I want, even in a natural look, are dark lashes. My sister, however, who has dark lashes likes this for natural makeup.

A product that is not pictured because I gave it to a friend is the be Delectable Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream, which came from the October bag. The product wasn't necessarily bad, but the smell was too much for me to handle. It was so intense! I sometimes can get a headache when scents are too strong so I didn't want to push it.

The final fail of Glam bag came in the December bag. It was the Starrily Nail Polish in Bzzzz Bzzzz, mainly because of the colors and the how it applied. I'm personally not a Steelers fan so I don't wear black and yellow nail polish, plus the glitter applied so sparsely. If that's the look you're going for then you might like it, but it's not my cup of tea.

I hope this was helpful and informative in some way. It also allowed me to reflect back on the Glam bags I received to see if they were really worth it- which I believe they are! And most of the products I didn't like were given to a friend who could get some use out of them. I hope you had an amazing and enjoyable new year's and are ready for an awesome year!

Happy 2014!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

drugstore discovery: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint

One of my favorite things to do is scope out new products at the drugstore- if you haven't noticed yet! However, lately all my drugstore have been displaying holiday gift bags and boxes so I didn't really notice any new displays. Then I went to Harmon (my local beauty store) and woah baby! I found a couple new products, but I wanted to focus on the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint first.

This product claims to be a long wear liquid eye shadow that lasts all day, and I got it in the shade Chestnut Taupe. This is a taupe shade that leans more towards purple (it is more purple than the swatch shows). On the left you can see the "paint" a little more sheered out and the right is a full on swatch.

This has a pretty thin consistency and does blend easily. It takes a minute to set and after that won't budge. This can definitely be layered to create a deeper or more subtle effect. As you can somewhat see in the swatch, this product is super metallic and shines.

There are quite a few shades in this line, but I was attracted to this one the most. I did see some highlight-like colors but I don't really like to put these types of products in my inner rim, as they tend to make that area a bit itchy. I would definitely check these out if they are displayed at your drugstore! I kind of see these as the more liquid version of the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoos- both great additions to any collection!

So this was just my head's up to you about a new product I found. Look for more of these coming soon because I have noticed a lot of new collections coming out recently. Let me know if you have tried any of the other shades in this line and which are your favorites!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

the 5: a quick smokey eye

One thing I love doing is challenging myself, especially in the realm of makeup. I have gone from never wearing eyeshadow to switching up my eye look every day, and it's so fun! Something I really wanted to tackle is how to create a smokey eye including eyebrows using only five products...and I have triumphed and lived to talk about it! So without further ado, let me get started on what you need for this look!

First, I would suggest some kind primer and in this case I chose the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (swatched top, left). This product, specifically, will not only keep your shadows from creasing but also provide you with a bit of color on the lid. The next product, which also happens to be the star of this tutorial, is the Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes (swatched in the order they will be used). This is a great, very universal quad with two shimmery and two matte shades that is practically necessary in anyone's makeup collection. You will also need a blending brush, and mine happens to be the Coastal Scents Classic Blender Natural- so very affordable! You will also need a brow pencil or powder to fill in your brows and the one I use is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown. And finally, you will need a mascara, of course! I use the L'Oreal Double Extend Carbon Black Mascara because it includes both the primer and black mascara to give you beautiful, thick lashes. Okay, so now that we have gone through what we need, let's get on with the pictorial!

Start off with a clean eye and apply the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the lid and also the lower lash line. You do not want to take this past your crease. Then use the taupe shade (top left) from the Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes and apply that all over the lid using the applicator provided in the palette.

Using that same applicator, take the bronze shade (below the taupe shade) from the quad and pat that into the outer corner taking it a bit into the crease and also on the lower lash line. Now it's time to blend, so using the Coastal Scents Classic Blender Natural I blended the crease out and also the lower lash line a bit. Now use your fingers to get a concentrated application of the cream shade from the quad and place that in the inner corner and under the brow bone.

Again using the tip of the applicator provided in the quad, take the deep matte brown and apply it as a liner. Obviously you can use a liquid or gel liner if you prefer, but I think lining the lash line with shadow makes it more wearable during the day. I then filled in my brows using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown and finished off the look by applying the L'Oreal Double Extend Carbon Black Mascara.

This look is affordable and with some practice can become quite easy and not very time consuming! It's also very versatile, as it can be worn during the day or deepened a little for a night out! I hope you enjoyed this look and I wish you success in recreating it.

Also, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and got everything you wished for! And if you don't celebrate, well then I hope you had a great day :D

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Glam bag update: part 3

It is time to update you on the final batch of Glam bags, which includes the months of October, November and December. Like in the other ones (check out part 1 and part 2) I will only mention the products I really enjoyed, unless I didn't really have any favorites. I do plan on doing a "top Glam bag products" and "Glam bag fails"- possibly by different names- so look out for that soon! Now let's get started with October.

October 2013 Glam bag

Products I liked:

• Zoya Nail Polish in Mason- I love the formula of Zoya polishes and the color is beautiful, as well. It is a great metallic cranberry magenta and looks perfect for fall and winter.
• Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly- this berry mauve with golden shimmer is the perfect natural shade with a kick to it! It tingles and applies so smoothly, giving you luscious pouty lips. I have really enjoyed this gloss!

November 2013 Glam bag

Products I liked:

• Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Amethyst- this silvery lilac pencil liner makes an amazing glittery base. I like layering shadow over it because it tones down the shimmer a bit, but still allows it to peek through. I did do a look with it but the pictures weren't really showing the beauty of the pencil...so annoying.
• pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched- I didn't speak too highly of this product at first, but I decided to use it as a contour and surprisingly it worked great. I use this on days when I want a subtle contour because it is so light, and no, the shimmer does not show.
• HSI Professional Argan Oil Leave-In Hair Treatment- this is so nice. It is a hair oil that leaves my hair feeling silky and healthy. I use this on my wet hair, but it would also be lovely to tame any flyaways and frizzies.

December 2013 Glam bag

• I wasn't super crazy about any product this month. I have yet to try the Andrea Strip Lashes in 33 but I have no doubt they will look gorgeous. The pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin' Hot is nice and pretty pigmented but they aren't shades I really find myself reaching for that often. 

So that's my update on how I felt about the Glam bag products. Let me know what your favorites were for the months of October, November and December- I'd love to know! Have a lovely Christmas Eve and Day, I hope you get everything you wished for and that you can see all your favorite relatives and friends! Love you all :)

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Stila kitten set

I remember trying a sample of the Stila In the Light Palette, click here for an impression on that, and really enjoying the shade Kitten. Well I appeared not to be the only one, because Stila came out with a whole range of products modeled around the Kitten shade. One of my favorite things to do on Sephora.com and Ulta.com is to look at the sale section...and what did I see? A kit that had some of the Kitten-colored products, and at $25, I thought it was a steal! So of course my inner makeup junkie coerced me to get it.

So the kit comes in this cute little tin (I took the plastic insert out and put some extra mascaras in there). You end up getting four full sized products, Eye Shadow, All Over Shimmer Duo, Silk Shimmer Luxe Gloss and Lip Glaze- all, of course, in the shade Kitten.

Starting off with the eyeshadow, this is a beautiful champagne shade with lots of shimmer. I have so many of these but none seem to be exactly like this one. It really just opens up the eye and provides the most beautiful hint of glow. The eyeshadow itself has a pretty creamy texture and is very pigmented. One of my favorite things to do with the shadow (besides highlight the inner corner and under the brow) is to tap it in the center of my lid after my eye look is completed- it really is such a lovely effect!

Next to that is the All Over Shimmer Duo which comes with a sort of watered down version of Kitten and a bit of a deeper more bronze version of Kitten. Both are shimmery and feel like the eyeshadow. These both provide such a glowing effect on the top of the cheekbones. 

The final two products are the gloss and lip glaze. The gloss is very thick and I feel is meant more to highlight the lips over another lip product. It doesn't have very much color on its own but provides a lot of shimmer, not in a tacky way though. Even though there are visible glitter particles, it really doesn't show up that way on the lips. As for the gloss, this is a bit more pigmented (even than the picture lets on). It is kind of a bronzy nude, again, with those glitter particles that do not really show up on the lips. This also has a pretty thick consistency, but I wouldn't consider either of them uncomfortable. I think they are a bit sticky, but nothing too terrible.

If you like this shade but don't feel like dishing out the $18 for the single shadow, I really encourage you to get this kit (click here). I do see myself using some of these products more often, i.e. the shadow and highlight, but in the end it is worth it to me! Let me know if you own this shadow and what's your favorite way to wear it!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

December 2013 Glam bag

Already time for another Glam bag- I can't believe it...but I love it! So as you may know, I was so excited last month for what I was going to get and then I was kind of let down, so I tried not to have any expectations for December. And I guess that paid off, because I was actually very happy and surprised with this month's products!

Okay, first I want to talk about the bag. I just adore it! It's so cute and black (I love black) with a kind of quilted diamond pattern. The inside is blood red, making it that much more beautiful- maybe ipsy heard my complaints from last month and decided to step it up a notch. Now let's get to the products.

The first pictured product is the Be a Bombshell The One Stick in Flustered. I think this is supposed to be a product you can use on your lips and cheeks, and I got a red shade. This has a very creamy texture and seems to be very thin. I think this would be a beautiful blush color when blended out- I will definitely mention this in another post!

Next is the pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin' Hot. I would consider this a classic smokey eye palette because it provides you with a very light silvery shade, a medium silver grey and a deep, almost black charcoal. All three shades have shimmer and are fairly pigmented. There is a bit of fallout but I think that is mainly due to the shimmer particles. This is definitely a handy trio to have!

The NYX Round Lipsticks are great products because of their shade variety and texture, and I happened to get the shade Apollo. This is literally a shimmery copper. I can't say I would ever wear this shade alone- it made me look like I was sick- but I do imagine this looking gorgeous in the center of a red lip. Time for some experimentation!

The fourth product I received is the Starrily Nail Polish in Bzzz Bzzz. This is a black and gold chunky glitter with a clear base. I haven't really tried this polish yet because I'm not quite sure what color to pair it with- suggestions anyone?

Last product, and possibly my favorite, is a pair of Ardell Strip Lashes in 33. These lashes are very full all the way around and will look gorgeous with a deep smokey eye for those extra special occasions...I'm thinking New Year's! It almost looks as if they are two sets of lashes on top of each other and are pretty much the same length the full way around. 

So if you couldn't tell through this post, I'm back to loving the Glam bag. We go through ups and downs but when it comes down to it, in the end I'll always know how I really feel about it. What did you get in your Glam bag? Let me know below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina