Makeup Geek Eyeshadows: Swatches & Review

Hey loves! Today I am bringing you my thoughts on the Makeup Geek eyeshadows that I own. When choosing single eyeshadows to purchase, I like to think about what shades I don't already own, and which shadows would be nice to have in my collection. (Which is quite tough, since I love palettes!) However, Makeup Geek shadows have continued to amaze me with their pigmentation, creamy texture, and uniqueness in shade range. While I am always drawn to warm neutrals, these particular shadows are much different than any shadows in any of the Naked palettes or even the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty palette. I own 10 individual shadows from Makeup Geek and have thoroughly been enjoying them all. Take a peek...

Beautiful pigmentation

Unique shade range of gorgeous neutrals

Shimmer & matte shades are equally creamy

Left to right: Shimma Shimma, Cosmopolitan, Homecoming, Moondust, Prom Night,
Peach Smoothie, Creme Brûlée, Frappe, Taupe Notch, Last Dance

Beautiful, right? Marlena has done an amazing job formulating these shadows. She has over 60 exclusive shades, each of which are very unique. Not to mention, the price point is amazing. These are MAC quality eye shadows (if not better) but sold for a fraction of the price. ($15 vs. $5.99) You can purchase these shadows from Makeup Geek. They are sold in pan or compact form. I chose to put mine in a Z Palette, which can also be purchased from Makeup Geek's website. I highly recommend these shadows!

Have you checked out Makeup Geek yet? What shades are your favorite?

XO, Carrie

[editors note: these photos are taken with my new camera. i finally am a proud owner of a Nikon DSLR camera!]

Currently Craving

It's mid summer. And currently the best time to shop...in my opinion. Summer sales have hit stores in attempt to make room for new fall items to fill the shelves. I'm a sucker for a good deal & rarely pay full price for clothing & accessories. However, I still like to window shop and see all the new goodies.

Here are the items I currently have my eye on...

Boohoo Tropical Playsuit // in love with rompers and playsuits lately. this print is playful, yet has a polished structure

Fossil Sydney Satchel // i can see this purse being the perfect transition piece for summer to fall

Jessica Simpson 'Minti' Bootie // loving this stacked heel + peep toe combo

Gap Contrast Sleeve Sweater // i have this in the cream & find it to be the perfect summer sweater

Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings  // 'mother of pearl' pairs perfectly with so many looks

Billabong Dress // breezy & easy 

Free People Mercury Sunglasses // fun karen walker look-a-likes for a great price

What things are you currently craving?

XO, Carrie 

A Week in Photos...

Hello & welcome back. It has been about a week since I blogged last, but with good reason! It was a holiday weekend, as you know, and I spent it with friends and family at the lake. We had such a great [long] weekend that I was sad to see it leave. Following the weekend, I headed back to DM for a school event. It was so nice to be back in my little apartment for a few days and shop do the things I like to do in Des Moines. I had dinner with a good friend & got to hang out with my older brother too! Over all, it has been a very busy and enjoyable week. Here's a peek inside...

Although we are unsure of our date, we are calling this our "anniversary month" :)

This may have happened... When in Rome, right?

I finally got to see my bestie!

Burke & me keeping things festive on the 4th

Burke's cousin is a pilot & landed this plane on the lake.
It got an insane amount of attention!

Oh how I missed my little apartment!
The chair is such an eyesore.. But the room is still a work in progress. 

Typical "getting hair done" selfie... ;)
I tried out a new salon really close to my apartment.  I enjoyed my visit and found it to be VERY affordable!
Check out Estilo if you are in the West Des Moines area. 

I'm heading out of town for a bachelorette party this weekend. The attire is LBD so a new pair of heels was in order.
I picked these up at DSW for a whopping $19. I must say, I was feeling rather thrifty.
[Now let's hope they are comfortable.]

Via recommendation of Alex Garza, I picked up these Joico shampoo and conditioners at Ulta.
Color therapy can never hurt & K-PAK means it contains keratin. Which also can't hurt, right?
She says she has used it for 3 years, and it helped her grow her hair long and strong!

I popped into VS to check out their self tanners that I have heard so much about.
Just my luck- they were offering all tanning products for $10 each. They normally are $15 and up.
I picked up the Self Tan tinted spray and the Exfoliate body prep smoothing scrub.
I have already tried both & am in LOVE! Is it bad if I like this better than my [more expensive] St. Tropez? NO.

A few other things...

I wore this outfit a while back & have been wanting to wear it again and again.
I paired a cream, lightweight summer sweater with denim cutoffs, gladiator sandals, and a fun chain necklace.
Easy as that!

I have been drooling over these Sweet Tea Jewels bangles.
You can find them on Facebook & place your order there. 

I am a crazy huge fan of Honey We're Home & Honey We're Healthy. Both written by the lovely Megan.
She recently competed in a NPC bikini competition & has been inspiring so many of her readers.
She is a beautiful, humble woman of God, and was not shy to share her secrets along the way.
I loved following her journey, but especially loved her food prep/meal guide posts.
pic via her instagram

Last but not least,  of course I have to share a picture of Miss Sidney. What a joy in our life!

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Thank you all so much for your support & your generous comments! I appreciate all of you taking the time to read!

XO, Carrie

June Favorites

Happy Monday, loves! Today, I wanted to share with you my beauty favorites from the month of June. I honestly feel like I just made my May favorites last week. It makes me sad seeing the summer fly so quickly. This month, I made a point to start focusing a little more on the condition of my hair. While I do take pretty good care of it, I wanted to kick my haircare up a notch. (It's a constant battle to want sunny blonde highlights AND healthy hair!) I also have been experimenting with new makeup techniques and applications. So therefore, I think it was a great month! ;) Here are things that I have been reaching for!

fun colors, am I right? 

DermOrganic Intensive Hair Repair Masque // Ulta // I wanted to purchase the Macadamia Oil Masque, but my Ulta was out of stock. I decided to pick this up & have been loving it! It makes my hair feel very conditioned and strong-- which is great for blondes like me!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in1 Styling Treatment // Ulta // I bought this in the set I linked. You can buy the cream individually, however, I wanted to give it a shot in the travel size before committing to the full size price. So far, I have really been enjoying it. It gives my hair a sleek & moisturized finish after blow drying.

Chanel Blush in Rose Initial // Nordstrom // This shade of pink is the perfect flush of color for spring & summer. If I am not wearing NARS Madly blush, this is my other go-to. And the smell. Wow! There's nothing like the scent of a Chanel blush. 

Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation brush // Sephora // I got this brush a few years back in a featured set from QVC. I really didn't use it much when I first got it. But after seeing Brianna Stanko use hers in a recent video, I decided to whip mine out again. I love it for when I'm in a hurry. It quickly distributes all the product and basically does all the work for you. I highly recommend this brush to someone who want to use liquid foundation, but doesn't want anything fussy.

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dani // Sephora // These glosses are great. I have several of them, and you can't go wrong. I have been obsessed with this soft lilac-y pink color & it pairs perfectly over nude & baby doll pink lipsticks.

MAC Lipstick in Shanghai Spice // Macys // I love this color for everyday. I can pop this lipstick on without a mirror and know it looks great. It's a soft peach pink that is very wearable. I highly recommend this to any one who is looking to get into MAC lipsticks.

Maybelline Fit Me concealer // Ulta // I was recommended this concealer from a friend, and am so happy I tried it out. The price tag is great and the consistency is just right. It covers my under eye area without being too thick. Be sure to set this, and it won't crease! 

Loreal True Match foundation // Ulta // I love this foundation because it contains no oil, fragrances, or pore clogging components. It has great build able coverage and it a great option for those seeking a  less costly liquid foundation. 

What things did you reach for this month? I'd love to hear your favorites!

XO, Carrie

Buying Guide: 24 Products for the Beauty Obsessed

THE TRUTH

I can't hardly begin to tell you how many times I have been asked what my all time favorite       is when it comes to beauty products. "What item of makeup could you never live without?" Unfortunately, there is never one magical, gleaming answer that will leave any given person feeling satisfied, as if they have been lead on to some big secret. Honestly, no product is "one size fits all" or a product that would be "holy grail" for each and every single one of us. So today I am here to give you advice for purchasing makeup & forming an appropriate makeup collection suitable to YOU!

This list breaks down the 24 things I think all beauty obsessed gals should be able to find in their makeup bag. These things will allow you to create any given makeup look, any day of the week, at any hour without carrying a 20 lb. trunk of supplies. This guide is to help budget and help decipher what is essential and what is not. 

THE LIST 

1. Moisturizer- suitable to your skins needs
2. Foundation- liquid or powder- with a finish and coverage that you enjoy on a day to day basis
3. Powder- translucent to set all of your foundation and concealer
4. Under eye concealer- in a shade or two lighter than your skin to brighten and color correct
5. Blemish concealer- in a shade that matches your skin to cover acne marks and discoloration
6. Bronzer- a matte powder that can double as an all-over bronzer and a contour shade
7. Blush- in a wearable, everyday shade (i.e. NARS Madly)
8. Eyebrow pencil- a shade or two lighter than your eyebrow hairs
9. Eyeshadow primer- somethings your shadow can stick to
10. Versatile eyeshadow palette- a shade range that can give you any look, day & night
11. Eyeliner- liquid or pencil- black or brown
12. Mascara- buildable, volumizing formula in black or brown black
13. Chapstick or lip conditioner- essential for locking in moisture
14. Lipstick- for whatever mood you are feeling
15. Lip gloss- a shade that looks good with any look
16. Foundation brush or sponge- for an even, flawless application 
17. Powder brush- large and fluffy to lightly and evenly distribute product
18. Bronzer brush- medium sized and somewhat dense to sweep color onto key places of the face
19. Blush brush- angled and soft to give your cheeks a flush of color
20. Eyeshadow brush(es)- you choose how many you need for each function
21. Tweezer- you never know when you might want to get rid of a stray hair
22. Small scissors- this will come in handy for than you know
23. Spooly- for combing out brows and lashes
24. Eyelash curler (optional)- curling your lashes help to open your eyes

BUYING TIPS

TIP #1: Every time you watch a YT video or skim a magazine and see something you might be interested in, type it down in your phone. Over time, your list will grow, often times, leading to duplicates of things you might like to try. If you continually see you want to try a coral lip and a golden highlighter, those are the perfect things for you to eventually purchase. This will help prevent you from purchasing too many products you might not need in your collection. (For those who aren't beauty hoarders anyway.) 

TIP #2: Go with your gut! I once was on the hunt for the perfect rose lipstick. There was a perfect shade by NARS that put a smile on my face when I applied it. But, I opted to seek a cheaper alternative and came home with, what I thought was a dupe, from the drugstore for about $7. I soon found it wasn't what I wanted and went on the hunt for other dupes. After several purchases, I realized I had already spend as much as the perfect option from NARS would have cost me. Lesson learned. 

TIP #3: If you have a large collection of makeup, learn to rotate the products you are using frequently. This will help you to use up more product and also help you preserve those coveted items you have, rather than using them up right away. It can be fun to save certain items for "special occasions"!


XO, Carrie

picture via pinterest

Natural Bronze Makeup Look

Welcome back! Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite makeup looks for summer. This is a wearable, and easy to achieve look. Most of you probably know that when it comes to makeup, for me, I love a really natural & fresh look that is still very put together. I don't like to look like I am wearing a ton of makeup, or that I spent forever doing it. That can easily be achieved by good technique and product knowledge. 

Here is the look that I created...

Soft bronzy eyes

Thin winged eye liner for a touch of drama

Subtle contour and a flush of color on the cheeks

& va-va-voom lashes, of course!

Products used:
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + foundation (#40)
Bare Minerals correcting concealer (Light 2)
MAC Pro Longwear concealer (NW20)
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder (#1)
Make Up For Ever HD Powder
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer 
NARS Madly Blush
MAC Lip Conditioner
Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer
It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Palette (shades Warmth, Soulful, Sunset)
Maybelline Eyestudio quad in Copper Chic (rose & bronze shades used)
Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade (Blonde)
Benefit Gimme Brow (Light/Medium)
Jordana 12 HR Eyeshadow stick in Continuous Almond
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (Trooper)
Covergirl Lash Blast mascara
Loreal Color Riche lipstick in Julianna's Nude (from Collection Privee)

Thanks for reading!

XO, Carrie

Fight Oily Skin

In the past, I have talked many a time about skincare and makeup routines to combat oily skin. (You can read those here & here.) Because being an oily girl myself, I am always on the hunt for products that will keep the shine away all day. Today, I am sharing with you my current favorite skincare products that have helped me beat the summer heat. The products that I have found and combined together have been the best to date. They also do a great job of keeping my skin clear!

Lately, I have been gravitating toward a gel cleanser. (I still like to use my Proactiv + exfoliating cleanser a few times a week. It is a great option, because it contains benzoyl peroxide which will help with acne.) I have always heard good things about CeraVe and that many dermatologists recommend it to their clients. I chose the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. Whats great about this cleanser is that it gets my face squeaky clean, yet it contains hyaluronic acid which moisturizes your skin, rather than stripping it dry. This is a great option for people with oily skin looking for a thorough cleanser. 

I am not sure how I ever lived without this stuff. I use this Lush Tea Tree toner water directly after I cleanse. I spray a few sprays onto my face and let it soak in completely before continuing with my regime. I think this has been the key to fighting off oil. I use this morning and night! (It is alcohol free so it will not irritate your skin.)

Following the toner, I treat my skin with this Proactiv + Pore Targeting Treatment. This is step 2 from the Proactiv + system. This gel/serum contains benzoyl peroxide which is great for targeting acne prone skin. I have noticed it to really help my hormonal acne each month. It does a great job of keeping my pores clear of oil too. 

After treating my skin, I moisturize. In the morning, I prefer to use a moisturizer with SPF. My go-to this summer has been the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier. While the lotion is quite thick, I have found that it really absorbs into my skin and allows it to retain the oiliness. This acts as a great primer for foundation too! 

In the evening, I use the corresponding Proactiv + Moisturizer or the CeraVe PM lotion. These are both great options for oily skinned gals!

I recently tried a generous sample of the Kate Somerville Oil-Free Moisturizer and loved the way it made my skin feel. I would love to purchase it, however, it has a hefty price tag. We will see...


Have you tried any of these products? If so, what are your thoughts? 

I hope that this was helpful & that you too have a shine-free summer! :)


XO, Carrie