FAVORITES| August 2013 ❤

So this is my first ever Favorites ♡ but I’m very excited for it! All of these products are those that have been loved for quite a while now (though it doesn’t look like it).

More: I use mascara every day. I feel that it gives me a wide-awake effect because it lifts my lashes up and out. It also gives me definition when I don’t have time for eyeliner. Covergirl’sClump Crusher has been one of my favorite mascaras for a while now because it really gives me length, some volume and doesn’t clump! At first, I was weirded out by the plastic brush but I find that it really separates my lashes and makes them look longer. I like the effect it gives because when I don’t wear a lot of makeup, I just like to make my eyes look nicer. I use the water-resistant version and while it doesn’t give me raccoon eyes, it does smudge an itsy bitsy bit when I yawn (I tear up a lot when I yawn). Now that it’s nearing the end of its lifecycle, it gives me more of a natural look rather than a dramatic length look, which isn’t what I like, but it’s okay. It does leave me tiny black specks under my eyes at the end of the day but it didn’t do that when I first started using it.  This is my every day mascara because it fulfills all my needs. Overall, I still really love it! An in-depth review can be found here!

More: Another recent favorite of my is Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara. This is only the second high-end mascara I’ve tried and I can see why it’s so popular! The brush has long bristles that separate the lashes very well and has bristles on the tip so you can reach the corner and the inner lashes. This is one of my favorites for sure! It is amazing at giving me awesome lashes with my barely there lashes, so I think it would be even more amazing on someone with great lashes. It does smudge a bit when I tear up, so it is most definitely not water-resistant. However, it is just so nice that I might just keep it for special occasions where I know I’m not going to be sleepy, sweaty, or crying. Ulta is currently having a sale where you get the deluxe sample size for free with a purchase of a full size!

More: I’ve been using the Skinfood Dark Circle Salmon ConcealerCream every day since I’ve gotten it! It gives me enough coverage for my under eyes on days that I don’t get enough sleep. Its creamy and hydrating yet doesn’t slip and slide around my face. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn’t really stay on all day. I notice that my circles start showing up again after about 4-6 hours, depending on how hot or active I’ve been that day. That’s not to say the coverage is completely gone, but it doesn’t stay put and look as nice as when I first applied it. I just apply with my clean fingers because it’s the fastest way to blend and apply it. I do have a full review here!

Meh:I’ve been using Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Beige all summer. I don’t really see it working any different from any other powders but I like using it to set my concealer and all over my face to prevent oiliness. I don't really see it making a difference in my oiliness; when I don't wear it, I get oily within a couple hours and on days I do wear it, I still get oily within a couple hours as well. I have it in Creamy Beige but I don’t really see any extra coverage using it. I use a powder brush and tap my brush into it a couple of times so maybe I need a denser brush or sponge to get some coverage. It is pretty cheap and easily found so I really like it for that.

More: Since it’s really sunny where I live, I’m constantly using products with SPF to protect my skin. I’ve really loved the Hawaiian TropicSilk Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 50.  I used to hate wearing sunscreen on my body because I hate the sticky feeling and the chemical smell but this smells like coconut. I usually don’t like sweet scents, but this one is really nice. It is pretty strong though so I don’t use perfume if I’m applying this. It doesn’t contain any glitters or shimmers but it gives my skin a nice sheen. It isn’t as moisturizing as I thought but I usually use moisturizer before I put this on. It doesn’t collect in weird places or give me a white cast or anything. It came with a nice white and beige ribbon design but that’s gone now since I use it so much! If you let it sit there for a while, the formula separates so just give it a good shake before you use! I really love this and will probably continue to use it year round.

More: Benefit’s Benetint came in a set that I got at Sephora and I have really loved it. It has mixed reviews and I can see why but personally, I love it! It gives me a cherry Popsicle stained effect that looks really healthy and natural.  It is very liquidy so you have to be careful with application to not tilt the bottle or anything. It comes in packaging that is reminiscent of a nail polish bottle but the outer packaging has changed a bit. I find that it is best applied to bare lips. If you apply lip balm before this stain, it will come off a lot faster. You do have to exfoliate before if you want even color and long lasting wear. I find that it wears off evenly, so you don't have weird patches. It isn't moisturizing (being a liquid stain) so I like to apply lip balm on top, which doesn't cause the color to come off. With one swipe, you get a natural look but with three swipes, you get va-va-voom! red lips!

More: Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched is my current favorite scent. I used to be a Chapstick and Blistex fanatic (had almost all of the flavors at one point!) but I’ve been finding they don’t moisturize as well for me anymore. I really like products with SPF in it and this balm has SPF 20, which is nice. It’s clear so it’s perfect for layering over lipstains or by itself. It has a scent that reminds me of Fruit Loops in the tube but once applied, it fades. I have the Baby Lips in a couple of other colors and am planning to get two others :)

So that’s it for this post! I didn’t have many Favorites ♡ but I really love them and will probably be repurchasing forever!

 XOXO,

MWAH ♡

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Disclosure Statement: All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above and was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Links are not affiliate links and are provided for the readers' convenience. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were either given to me as a sample or gift with purchase or given to me by my friends and family.