Sunday, March 24, 2019

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY 2019 | WEEK 2 MUST-BUYS

It's time for Week 2 of Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty! If you missed last week's post, I shared my favorite beauty and skincare from Week 1 of the sale. For those who are new, here's a recap of the sale, dates, etc.!

If you're not familiar, Ulta runs a sale event a few times a year with tons of amazing high-end beauty products for up to 50% off! We're talking ahhhhmazing products that are things you actually want. The fun part is there are a few different items on sale each day of the event and the sale price only lasts for that day. A lot of times things sell out fast so you have to jump on them either in store or online. I took a peek at the sale and there are so many products this year that I love and am planning to pick up! I feel like this might be the best one they've done yet so I'm sharing a quick post with my favorite items from the second week of the sale and what I want to buy.

21 DAYS OF BEAUTY SALE DATES
MARCH 17th - APRIL 6th


I love sharing my picks with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)


Today's post is all about Week 2 of the sale! Be sure to check back next Sunday on March 31st for Week 3's deals. You can view my picks from Week 1 in this blog post. To make things more organized and easy to follow, everything is in order in the collage above from Day 1-Day 7. I'm also listing them in the same order here!


DAY 1

IT Cosmetics Complexion Powder Brush - IT Cosmetics makes the best face brushes so I was stoked to see a few of them included in the sale! Normally I don't recommend spending a ton of money on a powder brush but I actually have one just like this one from IT Cosmetics and there is a noticeable difference in the quality. The handles are more sturdy and I never experience bristle fall-out like I do with more affordable brands. Since this brush is 50% off and under $20, to me it's a no-brainer and worth buying in the sale!
Regular Price $36, on sale $18

Tarteist PRO Glow & Blush Palette - I tend to wear blushes more in the warmer weather so I love palettes that have a mix of blush, bronzer and highlighter. This one from Tarte is so cute and has four blushes, a bronzer and a highlighter. I also love the magnetic-style packaging!
Regular $45, on sale $22.50

DAY 2 

MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Scents - MAC Fix Plus is one of those must-have essentials. It's nice to have as a primer, setting spray or mist for shadows, etc. These scented ones are full-sized and apart of the sale! My favorite scent is the "Coconut."
Regular $27, on sale $13.50


Lancome La Base Pro Oil Free Primer - I love this primer so if you're looking for a new one, pick this up! It helps to smooth out your skin and makes your makeup look better. I also love that this one comes with a pump unlike most primers.
Regular $42, on sale $21

DAY 3

Ofra NikkieTutorials Highlighting Trio - In last week's post I mentioned that I love trying out new brands when they're on sale. I've never used anything from Ofra before, however people always rave about their lip and face products! This highlighting palette caught my eye and is so pretty! I like the mix of cool and warm tones and the price is amazing.
Regular $29, on sale $14.50 

DAY 4

Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer - I have always loved this primer from Smashbox so I'm really curious about their Photo Finish Primerizer! I remember wanting to try it when it first came out but haven't yet. I like that it's both a primer + moisturizer in one. I always struggle with dryness so I love anything that adds hydration and helps my foundation to go on better!
Regular $42.00, on sale $21

Kopari Coconut Rose Toner - If you're into clean products with better ingredients, Kopari is a great brand. This lippie from them is my favorite so I need to try out the Coconut Rose Toner that's on sale!. I'm not usually big on rose scents but I love coconut so I'm curious to see how this smells. This product is suppose to hydrate and help even skin tone.
Regular $24, on sale $12

Beauty Bakerie HD Flour Setting Powder - Beauty Bakerie has some of the best branding with their products. Everything is so cute and very well packaged/named! This is another brand I've never tried so I'm curious to pick up this HD Flour Setting Powder that's on sale! It comes in 3 shades and has a matte finish.
Regular $24, on sale $12

Persona Cali Glow Highlighter - These Persona highlighters look STUNNING! They also have bomb reviews on Ulta so I expect them to be amazing. There are two shades, I love "Zuma" for my skin tone.
Regular $24, on sale $12

DAY 5

Buxom Full-On Pluming Lip Creams - I'm obsessed with these!!! Hands down the best lip gloss formula ever! If you've never tried, "White Russian" is a must-buy. It's the perfect color that everyone needs. There are a total of 19 shades to choose from and a great selection of neutrals and brights. I love "Mudslide," "Pink Champagne," and "Dolly."
Regular $21, on sale $10.50

DAY 6

Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Loose Setting Powder - Too Faced is one of my favorite eyeshadow brands but I haven't used many of their face products. I thought this powder looked like a good one to try since it's 50% off! It comes in 3 shades.
Regular $33.00, on sale $16.50

Velour Lashes - Lashes are another item I don't love to spend a ton of money on. I think you can find great, affordable options at the drugstore. With the sale price these lashes are only a few dollars more than drugstore ones which makes them worth trying to me! They're faux-mink and come in three styles.
Regular $26, on sale $13

DAY 7

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - This product has been raved about for YEARS. You know it's good since people are STILL talking about it... ;) This drying lotion is a spot treatment for acne that "shrinks spot, on the spot." I'm all about quick ways to get rid of blemishes so for $9 I'm buying. It comes in both a glass bottle or a travel-friendly plastic bottle.
Regular $17, on sale $8.50

Dermablend Setting Powder - This powder is so so good. I like that it's formulated without a lot of harmful ingredients but does a great job. You also get a ton of product which will last for forever! I love the translucent shade but there is also an illuminating banana powder too.
Regular $29, on sale $14.50 

Stila Stay All Day Liner - Alright, guys. THIS IS IT. If you pick up ONE thing from the sale this week, get this liner. I've talked before about how I'm a picky little b*tch when it comes to liquid liner. I've tried a ton and this one is incredible. I've purchased several of these in the past and it's super easy to use, very black and stays on. I'm honestly surprised they put this in the sale 50% off... that makes it only $11! ELEVEN DOLLARS! What??! I'm buying a new one this week!
Regular $22, on sale $11

Thank you guys so much for reading today's post! Let me know if you like when I share sale picks + what you're buying from Ulta. Have a great week!

xx,


Kristen


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Sunday, March 17, 2019

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY 2019 | WEEK 1 MUST-BUYS

It's time for another 21 Days of Beauty at Ulta! I feel like this is starting off like a #sponsored post... it's not, you guys! LOLing cause no one really thought this was sponsored ;) You all know I love makeup + skincare so I'm always really excited when Ulta does their 21 Days of Beauty event! 

If you're not familiar, Ulta runs a sale event a few times a year with tons of amazing high-end beauty products for up to 50% off! We're talking ahhhhmazing products that are things you actually want. The fun part is there are a few different items on sale each day of the event and the sale price only lasts for that day. A lot of times things sell out fast so you have to jump on them either in store or online. I took a peek at the sale and there are so many products this year that I love and am planning to pick up! I feel like this might be the best one they've done yet so I'm sharing a quick post with my favorite items from the first week of the sale and what I want to buy.

21 DAYS OF BEAUTY SALE DATES
MARCH 17th - APRIL 6th

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty 2019


I love sharing my picks with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)


Today's post is all about Week 1 of the sale! I figured I'd share a new post each week with my favorite items from that week's sale. Be sure to check back next Sunday on March 24th for Week 2's deals and March 31st for Week 3. To make things more organized and easy to follow, everything is in order in the collage above from Day 1-Day 7. I'm also listing them in the same order here! 

DAY 1

Lancome Mascara Primer - Lancome makes some of the BEST mascaras in the game. I don't think I've tried one I haven't loved, they just work! Since I love their mascaras (this one + this one are my two favorites), I had to put this lash primer on my list. It's suppose to add volume and length without clumping!
Regular price $26, on sale $13. 

DAY 2 

Dose of Colors Desi x Katy Friendcation Eyeshadow Palette - I really like the Dose of Colors eye duos but have never tried any of their pressed shadows. This palette looks beautiful and has a good mix of neutrals and colors!
Regular price $55, on sale $27.50

Smashbox The Cali Contour Palette - This contour palette looks amazing! I love the idea of this for Spring and Summer because it's an all-in-one face palette. There are contour, highlight and blush shades. The packaging is also beautiful and very beachy.
Regular price $39, on sale $19.50. 

DAY 3

Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub - Mario Badescu is one skincare line I haven't tried. I like to take advantage of sales to try new brands and products and this one intrigued me! It's an exfoliating scrub but is suppose to be more gentle on the skin.... I was like what!!??! Exfoliating products are almost always on the harsh side. I have very sensitive skin so I need to know if it's true! ;)
Regular $26, on sale $13. 

DAY 4

MAC Paint Pots - This might be the product I'm most excited to buy from the sale. I was OBSESSED with these MAC Paint Pots several years ago. My favorite one was always Bare Study so I'm thinking of grabbing it and Painterly. I can't wait to use them again!!
Regular $22, on sale $11. 

Sara Happ Lip Slip Gloss - People have raved about the Sara Happ Lip Slip for years in the beauty community so I was excited to see a product from her in the sale. I like that her products are now in Ulta because they're easier to pick up. This Lip Slip Gloss is suppose to perform like her lip mask but add some glossiness. 
Regular $20, on sale $10. 

Eyeko Eyeliners - I'm always down to try out a new liquid liner and all of the Eyeko liners get bomb reviews. There are five different ones apart of the sale so I'll link them all here. I really like the skinny felt tip of this Black Magic one so I have my eye on her!
Regular $22, on sale $11.  

DAY 5

Becca Backlight + First Light Primer - Eeekkk I feel like the sale just keeps getting better! If you've never tried the Becca Backlight Priming Filter, it's THE BEST. My holy grail face primer. I've never purchased the First Light one before but based on reviews I don't think you can go wrong with either. I'm trying to decide if I should re-purchase the Backlight or try out the First Light! What do you think? 
Regular $39, on sale $19. 

DAY 6

Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Mask - I love a good mask but they can be on the pricey side. It's not something I use everyday so I like when I can try one out on sale. Peter Thomas Roth makes amazing masks so this Hungarian Thermal one caught my eye. It's firming + hydrating.
Regular $58, on sale $29.

DAY 7

Anastasia Brow Wiz - The best brow product ever! I still haven't found one that works better than the Brow Wiz so I'll be picking a new one up. I still have some issues with the packaging but product wise it's THE BEST. Blends easily, is very precise + has a great shade range.
Regular $21, on sale $10.50. 


Alright, you guys! There are so many amazing deals this week I actually want them all. These are all my favorites from the sale but I will link everything that's included below! Be sure to check those out to see if there's anything you might be interested in that I didn't include + let me know what you're picking up! Hope you all have a great week!


xx,

Kristen



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Thursday, March 14, 2019

SPRING DRUGSTORE MAKEUP HAUL

It's been a minute since I've shared a #haul with you guys so today's post is all about some drugstore goodies I just picked up. Every few months or so I like to try out a new foundation and liquid liner. Whenever I run out I almost always purchase something different to try and today I found new ones for both! Very very excited. I also got a little bit carried away by Spring and the warm weather and threw in a new lippie, blush, highlighter, etc., etc... hehe. That's going straight in my basket! Comment below if ya know ;)

Spring Drugstore Makeup Haul, Spring Beauty Releases, New Drugstore Makeup, Spring Makeup

I just went and watched that video for the first time in years so I'm pretty much crying right now. How often do ya'll actually use a basket? I usually just grab what I need but ended up having to use one today. Alright so let's get into this haul. I find myself sticking with the same products for months so it's fun whenever I finally buy something new. I was thinking of filming a first impression or GRWM video using some of these so let me know if that's something you'd like to see. Everything is also from the drugstore and super affordable which I love!

NYX Warm Neutrals Palette, Spring Drugstore Makeup Haul, Spring Beauty Releases, New Drugstore Makeup, Spring Makeup

I love sharing my recent purchases with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty neat, huh? :)

1. Bliss Rose Gold Rescue Soothing Toner Mist - I have been DYING to try this out! I spotted this toner mist in Target a few months back and am so excited it's finally mine! Because it's a toner, it's technically a skincare item but I think it'll make a nice spray to prep my skin before makeup or to freshen up with throughout the day. Brownie points for the packaging! I love. 

2. L'oreal Infallible 24-Hr Fresh Wear Foundation - Foundations at the drugstore are always a little tricky but this one has been calling my name. I love a lot of the ones I try but run into the lighter shades being too dark. I bought the lightest color in "Pearl" which looks pretty pale so we'll see how it goes!

3. Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder - The original Maybelline Fit Me Powder is ahhhmazing so ya girl needed this. I have pretty high hopes for the loose powder version and love that it's under $5.

4. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Loose Highlighting Powder - I'm also amazed at how affordable this highlighter is!! Drugstore pricing has always been lower than high-end products but sometimes they get a little carried away. Add $2 and you're basically shopping at MAC. #RealTalk  This powder is literally less than $7. SEVEN DOLLARS. It also comes in a jar with a sifter AND a screw-on cap. #Blessed  I had to go ahead and swatch this and it's sooooooo good. Super glowy and pigmented. I purchased "I'm So Lit" but want the other colors now too!

5. Milani Rose Powder Blush - I have a few Milani blushes and love them! The rose blushes are super pretty and have great payoff. This one is in the color Blossomtime Rose. Vibrant for Spring but not too bright ;)

6. NYX Warm Neutrals Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette - For some reason there are always slim pickings when it comes to eyeshadow at the drugstore. I feel like there aren't many new releases and the packaging and displays are underwhelming. This palette from NYX caught my eye in the store and is beautiful! Warm neutrals are always a go-to during the warmer months and I love that this one has a mix of mattes + shimmers as well as several colors to work with. It also has great packaging!

7. NYX Matte Liquid Liner - I'm a total snob when it comes to liner. I was in the middle of writing "a bit of a snob" and thought we may as well just be honest here ;) Because I'm super picky I haven't had the best luck with drugstore liners. NYX makes a ton of different ones which caught my eye but I wasn't sure where to begin. I ended up googling them all and decided to go with this matte one. It has the best reviews and is under $6!

8. Wet n Wild Catsuit High-Shine Lipstick - The original liquid lipsticks from Wet n Wild are great so I was excited to find these glossy lipsticks! I'm not sure if this formula is new or not but I picked up the color "Peach Stole My Look." It's a bright, peachy coral that I love for Spring. There are several other colors and they are under $5!

I'm excited to play with all of these! I'd also love to know your must-have products for Spring so let me know in a comment below! 

xx,

Kristen



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Tuesday, March 5, 2019

YOU CAN, YOU WILL | BOOK REVIEW

I have to brag on myself you guys. I finished my second book of the year at 11:55pm on February 28th AGAIN (see January's book post here). They always say it doesn't matter how you start though, just how you finish! If you're new to the blog, one of my New Year's Resolutions for the year is to read one book per month. I started having a bit of a lull in February with my goals so I didn't feel quite as productive but here's to getting back on track in March. I'm also still working towards posting two blog posts a week consistently so please let me know if you have any requests! Today's post is all about You Can, You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner by Joel Osteen.



I love sharing reviews with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty neat, huh? :)

SYNOPSIS


In 8 UNDENIABLE QUALITIES OF A WINNER, Joel Osteen focuses on the irrefutable traits and attributes of highly successful people. These personal qualities are tested through the ages and all types of circumstances. These practical principles guide the lives of champions. 

  • Create bold visions - Dare to dream big dreams.
  • Run your own race - Focus on your unique course and goals.
  • Think positively - Control your thoughts and attitudes.
  • Expect Good things to happen - Anticipate great opportunities.
  • Stay Passionate - Light the fire within and approach life with enthusiasm.
  • Commit to excellence - Do your best and maintain high standards.
  • Keep growing - Deal with your weaknesses and continually improve. 
  • Serve Others - Invest yourself in others.

Available at: Amazon // iTunes // Target // Walmart

Jumping into today's post, I'm excited to share another book review with you guys. I'm focusing a lot on inspirational books this year so I thought it might be helpful to share my thoughts on them. You can read January's book review on You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero in the blog post here.

I started February initially reading Everyday Millionaires by Chris Hogan. I'm excited to pick it back up, but wasn't feeling too inspired to keep reading it in February. I decided to switch gears to a book I purchased a few years ago: You Can, You Will by Joel Osteen. I have always been a big fan of Joel and his sermons so I was excited to read this. When I finished the book, I felt renewed and refreshed again. I feel like it helped to pull me out of the lull/rut I was having in February. If you're looking for some inspiration to succeed and accomplish your goals, I would highly recommend checking the book out as well as some of Joel's sermons online.

This book outlines 8 qualities that winners and successful people encompass. Joel also shares a lot of his personal experiences and success stories of others. If you're familiar with The Secret or the Law of Attraction, there are a lot of similar ideas in this book. Joel of course takes a religious approach to these principles with a basis of faith. I appreciate the reminder of maintaining a positive attitude and believing in your goals. These are seemingly "easy" concepts, however can be challenging to execute. I think we all waver in our faith and are faced with doubts and insecurities at times.

A few of the concepts that I appreciated the most were believing in big dreams and being a person of excellence. Joel encourages having big dreams in life. In order to activate your faith and accomplish your dreams, you have to believe in them. He shares that we are all capable and worthy of succeeding and have to believe in our own worth. Joel also discusses the importance of committing to and being a person of excellence. This means striving to be the best you can be in all areas of life. From your career to how you behave, he discusses ways to be a person of excellence and the importance of doing so for success. You Can, You Will has some great examples of times where you may really not want to do something but should anyways. When you're little you always hear "Do Your Best" but I think it's something we don't really give much thought to as we get older. The book has challenged me to want to be better and do more. There is always room for improvement so going forward, I'm going to be more conscious of doing all things with excellence.

These were some of my favorite takeaways from the book but I think all 8 qualities are valuable tools we can all re-vist and utilize in life. If you need a pick me up and some inspiration that will leave you feeling good, definitely add You Can, You Will by Joel Osteen to your reading list. Whether you have a strong faith or not, I think everyone can benefit from this message. It has left me feeling more inspired and encouraged :)



Let me know if you all have any book recommendations! 



xx,


Kristen