Spring is such a great season – with the birds chirping and the flowers blooming, how does one not get inspired to smile and throw on a cute dress to enjoy the scenery. There’s just so much color outdoors you can’t ignore. The great outdoors during this time of the year can really serve as color inspiration for your nails. Let mother nature be your guide.

I couldn’t decide which  of the 5 colors I wanted to paint my nails the most so I decided I would paint them with every color. I didn’t stop there, I added paint drops of each color on a different colored nail. The more color the better!

Colors used:

Spa Ritutal Nail Laquer in Airhead

Sephora by OPI in Brainiac

Revlon nail Enamel in 917 Plum Seduction

Avon Nailwear in Lagoon

Maybelline Express Finish in 900 Go Go Green

Every month or so I switch out my makeup in my bag to rotate  my products. I try to experiment with different looks because I like to keep things fun. I am not one to stick a particular makeup look because I like being versatile and flexible with my makeup. I do tend to choose a lot of similar products because I know what I like, but I try to mix it up and keep things fresh. I recently lost my makeup bag this past month, the thought it just makes me queasy. But needless to say I had to try to rebuild it. These products are ones that I carry with me everyday. I keep all the rest of my makeup at home, and try to carry key products that can help me create a few different looks.

FACE

• Lorac AquaPRIME – I use this because my skin is acne-prone and this primer doesn’t clog my pores.
• Boots Complexion Refining Liquid Foundation in Nutmeg – I use this liquid foundation first to even out my skin tone. This foundation helps clear skin and absorbs oil and is great for my skin type.
• Bare Minerals Foundation SPF 15 in Medium Beige -  I dust this over my face to get to build my foundation coverage.
• CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder in Medium – This powder sets my foundation and gives my face a matte finish.
• NARS Powder Blush in Gilda – The best peachy orange color ever. And its usage outlasts so many blushes because of its high pigmentation.

EYES

• L’Oreal Double Extend Mascara – This mascara is so good at lengthening lashes, and it was great about it is that the length is buildable. To make them look really long I spend about 2 minutes on each eye.
• L’Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner – The easiest thing to swipe on to add definition.
• L’Oreal HIP Color Rich Eyeliner in Black 905 – My go to eyeliner when wearing shadow.
• Too Faced Shadow Insurance – A mini version to keep my shadow in place.
• Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Pencil in Black Magic - My lower lids love this with mascara on bottom lashes!
• Benefit Boi-ing Eye Bright Duo -  The Boi-ing maks my under eye circles disappear when I’m really tired.
• Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Busy Signal -  This shadow is so easy to apply all you need is your finger.
• Anastasia Perfect Eyebrow Pencil  in Medium Ash – You would think I would be a darker color because my hair is black, but I don’t like my eyebrows to look too dark against my skin.

LIPS

• Rimmel 1000 Kisses Stay On Long Lasting Lip Liner in Wild Clover -  I use this under my lipstick to keep it from bleeding.
• Chanel Rouge Allure in Exquise – This is one of those lipsticks that you can apply without a mirror because its texture and color.
• Revlon Color Stay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick  in Miracle Mauve - I do need a mirror for this one, but I don’t  have to re-apply it.
• Lancôme Lipstick Color Design – I like this red because it’s got an orange tint to it and it’s sheer. I got it some time ago, and unfortunately I don’t have the shade name.
• Stila Lip and Cheek Stain in Pomegranate Crush - This stain is such a pretty berry color, and when paired with lip balm it’s a great low-key lip slight pop of color.
• Sephora Lip Gloss in Bronzed Beauty – A pretty berry color with a hint of gold shimmer.

ESSENTIALS

• Curél Continuous Control Lotion – I like to use this lotion because it doesn’t have a strong fragrance that competes with my fragrance. The travel size is good for your hands after washes.
• Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets – These are practically my life savers. I can’t tell you how many of these I use a day.

After about a month, I will change out my eye and lip products, that way I know I’m not stuck with one look. What can I say I’m a proud beauty chameleon!

Smashbox’s Spring collection just became my new eye candy. As I was on Facebook, I read Smashbox’s update on the release of their new Heartbreaker Eyeshadow palette. What really caught my attention was the artwork on the secondary packaging. The second I laid eyes on this palette I already decided I had to have it. Does that make me impulsive? Maybe. There are few things that can catch my attention and when they do, I know it’s a winner.

The Heartbreaker palette is limited edition and its available in Kiss n’ Tell and Hot Date. Kiss n’ Tell both containing 6 shades. Kiss n’ tell includes black, white, purple, and various shades of pink. Hot Date includes taupe, gold, brown, cream, mint, and a pretty teal. I’m in favor of  Kiss n’ Tell palette, it would be  nice to add pretty pink shadows to my collection. Smashbox’s Heartbreaker palette is available at Ulta and Sephora.

The colors look like they can be used plenty of times for different occasions. It’s important to have colors that are ‘day friendly’ so that you can wear them often. Shadows that can be used for many looks are valuable because you know that you’ll use them more than once. The perfect combination of shades within a palette are those that allow you to take your look from day to evening. Looks like Smashbox knows exactly what they’re doing. I can’t wait to get my hands on this new palette!

I was browsing on Sephora.com and found Urban Decay just came out with a new eyeshadow line called Stardust Eyeshadows! Urban Decay is one of my favorite beauty brands so hearing this is really exciting. (I’m also excited for their Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows to launch.) As part of their Spring collection they have introduced a  new line of eye shadows has 40% more glitter than their most sparkly shadows. The effect is a sheer wash of color with tons of iridescent sparkles. I know what you’re thinking, what about color and glitter fall out? This new shadow claims to have no chunky glitter, no fall out for easy application. The glitter is a pricey ingredient called reflex and that’s what helps the glitter stay adhered to your lids. The wash of shadow is similar to wet snow and  the colors range from neutrals to bright colors that pop. The colors can be blended with other Urban Decay eyeshadows, and Sephora.com suggests pairing it with 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils. The new packing  twice as much product than the other Urban Decay eyeshadows.

I really want to get my hands on a few of these new shadows to try. I’m interested to see how the new formula was made and how it works. The colors I want to try are Atmosphere, Bobby Dazzle, and Void. Atmosphere is a deep turquoise w/iridescent sparkle, Bobby Dazzle  is a white w/iridescent sparkle, and Void which is  a black w/iridescent sparkle. My birthday is coming up at the end of this month, I think I know what to say when people ask me what gift I want this year =).

Can you really say this hasn’t happened to you? You come back home from a party and your completely exhausted. The only thing you want to do is drink a glass of water and jump into bed. You cringe at the thought of washing off your makeup and its the absolute last thing you want to do. So you don’t.

Or maybe you’re at a friend’s house (what kind of friend they are is your business) and you can’t wash your face because you don’t have your facial cleansing products with you. Plus you’re too tired to walk to the bathroom and use your friends stuff. So you don’t.

The next best thing you can do to remove your makeup is keep makeup removing towelettes in your purse. If you’re constantly on the go its best to keep it in your makeup bag. Using towelettes is a super convenient way to take your makeup off can help keep your pores from getting clogged, keep your lashes from breaking off due to sleeping with mascara, and ultimately keep you from looking like Amy Winehouse in the in the morning.

There are some other great uses for makeup removing towelettes. You can use them to clean any eye makeup mistakes, also as a stain remover to release makeup from your clothes. Another great use is to remove excess sweat and oil from your face after a workout even if your not wearing makeup. They’re really multi-purpose!

Drugstore Brands:  Pond’s Clean Sweep  ($6.79 at CVS Pharmacy), Revlon Makeup Remover Towelettes($6.49  at Walgreens) Neutrogena Deep Clean Oil-Free Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes ($7.99 at CVS Pharmacy),  & Clean and Clear Facial Cleansing Wipes ($5.49 at Target)

Prestige Brands: Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes ($12 at Sephora), Korres Pomegrante Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes ($12 at Sephora), Sephora Face 25 Makeup Removing Wipes ($8 at Sephora), Bare Escentuals Makeup Remover Wipes ($10 at Nordstrom)

Whether you choose a drugstore brand or prestige is up to you. There is one thing I am certain about – when you find yourself dreading removing your makeup after a long night, reach for a makeup towelette and you’ll thank yourself in the morning.

I just wanted to share with you the great gifts I got for Christmas that I am just dying to try!

My lovely family got me the Sephora Collector’s Edition palette, and seriously its HUGE. I’ll definitely be using this for my night’s out.

I also got a customized MAC Color Palette, it’s a shadow quad. I can’t wait to see how they look on me!
Sephora’s Facebook fan page is buzzing with what everyone on Facebook has gotten for Christmas from Sephora. If you’ve gotten something super cool from Sephora, post on the Sephora Facebook fan page!

Happy Holidays everyone, stay safe!