Noteworthy: Morphe Brushes

I heard about Morphe brand brushes about six months ago and decided to order a few and try them out (I'm always nervous buying a brush if I can't feel it first). I figured I would try just a couple, and since they are so cheap, I wouldn't be too upset if I did not like them. They came in the mail, and I was instantly addicted. The quality is amazing! Even more amazing considering that they are all under $20 and feel better than some $50 brushes. Over the past 6 months both my addiction and my collection have grown.

Look of the Day: Spring Trend-No Makeup Makeup

A huge trend for this Spring is the "No Makeup Makeup" look, which after a winter of dramatic contouring, and bold, vampy lips, is extremely refreshing. A lot of people describe this look as "you, only better", which I think is actually a great way to look at it. You are not trying to change any of your features, you are just enhancing them. You still look like you, just a natural looking, best version of yourself. This look is great for absolutely anyone. For people like me who feel (more?) comfortable with a full face of makeup, this is a refreshing way to look more natural, which is perfect for spring, but still feel like you have enough makeup on to be comfortable. For people who don't wear a lot of makeup (whether that's because you're not comfortable with it, or because you don't like doing it), this look is a great way to not feel overly-done, but still enhance your natural look. It really is a win-win look. I am really comfortable in this look, and I think it is the perfect, fresh look for Spring.

March Favorites

I have been really liking a more natural look lately, and I will be doing a post about the "no makeup makeup" look very soon. I have been wearing relatively the same look all month, which for me means I really like it. That's even weirder because the look has been pretty muted and neutral, and I usually love very bold eyes. I'm not sure what happened to me this month, but I have been consistent with a natural look. To take that look from day to night, or just when I feel like punching it up a bit, I will add a bright lip. Here are the products I have been reaching for on the daily throughout March.

Spring Fever!

So I know I haven't posted in a couple of weeks, and I'll be honest, I was in that February Funk that seems to happen yearly. As I mentioned in my Current Obsession: Coconut Oil post, it has been nothing but cold and dark here. I can handle that most of winter, but toward the beginning of March, I am over it and just feel so blah. However, both the sun and temperatures have finally broken now, I feel like my perky self again, and I am getting super excited for spring! I love this time of year when I start bringing color back into my makeup routine, and move from the deeper, vampy shades (which I do love too) of winter to brighter, sunnier shades of spring. I dug through my makeup and pulled out some of my favorite eye and lip shades (and of course included swatches) to lighten up, brighten up, and look festive for Spring, which does officially start later this week. I know pastels for spring isn't exactly revolutionary, but I get so excited to bring some more colorful, softer hues into my makeup routine this time of year. Here's what I'm excited for at the moment.

Eyes

Review: Too Faced Better Than False Lashes

I had been curious about lash fibers for a while. It seemed like a really easy way to beef up your lashes more than just a mascara primer (which I'm often disappointed in) and not as over the top as most false lashes (which can sometimes just look too fake). It did seem kind of weird to brush hair-like fibers onto your eyelashes. Wouldn't they get in your eye? Finally my curiosity got the best of me one day while I was in Sephora, so I grabbed the Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Extreme and decided to give it a try. I've tried it a few times now to figure out how I really felt about it before I reviewed it for you, and after those few times, I am totally wowed. This stuff is fantastic, gorgeous, amazing, quick, easy, beautiful, noticeable results. Shall I go on? Indeed, I will...

Current Obsession: Coconut Oil

I have been in a serious battle with my skin the last couple of months. It has been below freezing in Michigan for the last couple months solid, and my skin is suffering from it. I just cannot keep up with amount of moisture my skin is craving in these cold, dry days. One ingredient has been a big help, and made a big difference in my daily struggle with dryness, and that miracle is Coconut Oil. I have been rounding up every product I can find which contains Coconut Oil, for my hands, hair, lips, anywhere. These are my favorites out the many Coconut Oil products I have tried lately, and have definitely helped in making a difference in my dryness. I have always liked Coconut products because I love the smell, but lately I have realized how much I also love the oil for it's performance.

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk

I mentioned this is my Best Stying Products for Naturally Curly Hair and I am still loving it. In that post I mentioned it as a product to loosen your natural curls, but now I might say that that's only the case in warmer, humid months. In the dry winter months like now, it gives enough moisture to actually enhance my natural curls and not just make them a dry, frizzy mess. It is a heavier product, so in the warmer, more humid months it can work to elongate natural curls, but lately I've been loving it for moisturizing, smoothing, and adding bounce to my curls.

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

I would have to say almost all of the same about this product as the Curl & Style Milk, but this is even heavier than that one. This one is so thick that it does still elongate or loosen my curls, even in the dry winter weather. Sometimes I want my curls to stretch out into more of beachy waves than to spring up into bouncy curls, and on the days I'm in the mood for waves, this product is so moisturizing and thick that it smooths and elongates my curls no matter how dry the air.

Yes to Coconut Ultra Moisture Conditioner

When I first used this, I looked at in my hand and thought "this is so thin, it's never going to be enough moisture", but I was so, so wrong. It is oil based, with the Coconut oil, so it does not need to be super thick and feel like paste, but it is still amazingly moisturizing. My hair feels so moisturized and soft the second I rinse it out. I have gone through several of these already and I am totally hooked.

Yes To Coconut Coconut Oil Body Wash

I mentioned in my Winter Skin Savers that I love washing my face with oils in the drier months, so it seemed only natural to try washing my body with an oil as well. This isn't strictly a Cleansing Oil like the face wash I mentioned, but more of a shower gel mixed with Coconut Oil. It does lather, unlike a Cleansing Oil, but it does leave a smooth, super moisturized feel the second your rinse off, much like a Cleansing Oil.

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter

This is a body butter with an amazing scent and long lasting moisture. I like that it comes in a squeezable tube which makes it more portable. I tend to apply the Trader Joe's butter in the morning, and then keep this one in my bag with me to reapply as needed throughout the day when I start to feel dry again.

The Body Shop Coconut Lip Butter 

This lip butter is so light feeling and so smooth and non-sticky, but so moisturizing at the same time. It is like the best of both worlds. The only downfall is that it does leave a white tint on your lips, which especially in the winter can make me look almost postmortem so I tend to only wear it at home, but I do apply it frequently while I'm there.

EOS Visibly Soft Coconut Milk Lip Balm

I love the texture of all EOS lip balms, and this feels very similar, but even smoother. It's like you can feel the Coconut Oil in this one if you've used their other products. This one does apply clear and feels so soothing on my lips. I keep one on my desk at work and almost compulsively reapply it all day long.

Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter

This stuff is the bomb. It is much thicker and more moisturizing than the Pacifica, which is why I like to apply this one at home and then use that on top of it as needed. I love how thick but smooth this formula is. It is super moisturizing and thick, but doesn't feel greasy. I love The Body Shop's Coconut Body Butter, and have gone through many of those, but since using this one, I actually like this one even better, and it's cheaper, a win-win.

Look of the Day: Cool Tone Smokey Eye

Color is one of those things I think a lot of people are intimidated by, but it can actually be very fun and very wearable. This look used cool tones, blue, purple, and teal to be exact, but it will look good on all eye colors and skin tones. You can also use this same technique with any 3 colors you want. You just need a deep shade, and mid shade, and a bright, and you can can recreate several versions of this look. I will list all the products I used below if you want to recreate this exact look, but definitely pick any three shades of your own, use the same technique, and have fun creating new combinations!