KL Polish

I never used to be that big of a nail-polish girl. I would occasionally get my nails done, but honestly I would typically have bare nails. That was until I got onto KL polish. It is an online only brand and the bottles retail for $8 a piece. I first got onto them because my favorite Youtuber (Kathleenlights... hint KL polish) started the company. I bought a few bottles just to support her but I didn't think I would use them all the time.

Boy was I wrong. I now paint my nails at least once a week. I feel so put together and hers don't chip for at least a week. The brush has an amazing curve to it and it is fat so you can do your whole nail in just about one swipe. They are fully opaque in just two coats and they dry quickly. The handle is matte black which makes it easy to grip. They are also cruelty free and don't contain harmful ingredient.

Her spring line launches tomorrow and the colors are beyond beautiful. I definitely am picking myself up some colors from the spring line. My only complaint is that she doesn't have a top coat. 
Just look at those colors!!! Aren't they beautiful?? Which ones are you thinking of getting?

Going Cruelty Free

I didn't become aware of what was really happening to animals, as far as makeup testing, until about a month ago. I was ignorant to it. I knew it was a thing, but I wasn't truly aware of what was happening. It is not just mice that are being tested on, they also test on dogs (beagles are the most popular type of dog that is tested on). They don't just wipe the makeup on the skin of these animals, they put it in their eyes, they make them swallow it and see how much they can intake before they die.

THIS IS NOT NECESSARY. Every time we purchase makeup, we make the choice. We choose to either hurt an animal or stand against it. Honestly there are so many brands that are cruelty free. It is companies like: Loreal, Estee Lauder, Benefit Cosmetic, Maybelline that DO test.

Companies that DO NOT test: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Nars, Urban Decay, Tarte, Too Faced, Stilla, Hour Glass, Becca, Bareminerals, Cover FX, Milk Makeup, Wet n Wild, Etc.

I personally don't think enhancing my eyelashes or makeup myself look slightly more bronzed is worth the torture and mutilation of these animals. A lot of companies will make it seem like they don't test by saying "yes we are cruelty free", but then they will follow with a statement that says "we only test when necessary." Any company that sells in China IS NOT cruelty free because China requires it by law.

Lets stand up and be a change. Lets STOP buying from these terrible companies.

High End Makeup THAT'S WORTH IT

I think it is pretty obvious by now that I am a bit of a makeup junkie. I have had my fair share of products that I have regret buying. But I feel through trial and error, I have found some products that are WORTH the investment.

Foundation

- Koh Gen Do: This product has medium coverage and looks SO natural. You can build it up to full coverage if you wish. I wear this foundation the most out of all the ones that I have. Great for all skin types.

- Josie Maran Vibrancy: This is a full coverage foundation great for DRY skin. I love this during the winter but I probably won't be pulling it out this summer bc it will feel too greasy on the skin.

- Hourglass Vanish Stick Foundation: THIS FOUNDATION LOOKS SO NATURAL. Make sure to use a moisturizing primer under stick foundations though so that they apply better. Great for dry skin.

Bronzer

- Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel: Yes this product is $50. But it is the most AMAZING cream bronzer and it will last you forever. I wear it without other makeup all the time (to go to the pool). Only negative about this product is they only have one shade and it does not work for deeper skin tones.

Contour Powder

- Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder: love the cool undertone, but it isn't too cool where it looks like a grey stripe on my face. Only negative; LOTS of fallout.

- Make Up Geek Contour Powder: SO WORTH THE PRICE and so underrated. You have to geek this product out (and the brand in general).

Blush

- Tarte Blush: so pretty and stays on my face longer than any other blush that I have!! I love the nude line they just came out with

Mascara

- Benefit Roller Lash: This mascara curls your lashes without much effort. It is a lengthening mascara and doesn't make your lashes clumpy.

Eyeliner

- Kat Von D Tatto Liner in Trooper - This is without a doubt the best liquid liner ever. I store mine in a cup outside down so that it doesn't dry out quickly. I love that it is a brush lip vs felt tip (felt tip liners dry out quicker and have little clumps fall off).

Eye Shadow

- Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette: I use this palette every single day; if I am using another palette or not. It is a holy grail product. You need it.

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance: Yes this palette is hyped. It is so worth it though. Warm tones are flattering on every skin tone.

Setting Powder:

- Hour Glass Powder in Diffused Light: THIS PRODUCT BLURS MY FACE, in the best way possible. I love Hour Glass powders. So worth the money.

Hope you check these out! List your favorite high end makeup that you think is worth it!

You Need THIS Skincare in your Life!

Ole Henriksen - Balance it all

Ole Henriksen just came out with a new skin care line that focuses on giving you oil control while still giving you glow and not robbing your skin of moisture. This is my ideal skincare line. I received all three full-sized products last week (a moisturizer, toner, and cleanser) for free from Influenster and it was love at first use. I've been testing the products every day for the past week and believe me when I say, you need these in your life. You can purchase these products from Sephora or the Ole Henriksen website. So now lets go over the pros and cons of this line:

Pros:
- smells like a spa
- the cleanser doesn't strip my skin
- the toner isn't too harsh
- the moisturizer is moisturizing, but not overly saturating (perfect to apply in the morning as a primer for makeup)
- packaging is adorable
- all three products work like a dream together
- all of the products are squeeze tubes so you aren't sticking your ands into any pots and being unsanitary
- I personally think this is great for all skin types, except for EXTREMELY dry skin types


Cons:
- I prefer spray toners (this one you have to put on a cotton pad and then apply to the face)
- the toner doesn't come with as much product as I would like for the price
- I can only use this moisturizer in the morning (I prefer a thicker moisturizer at night)
- There is no serum in this particular line (which sucks because I love the scent and performance of all of these products)

Cost Break Down:
Cleanser - Ole Henriksen Oil Control Cleanser $25
Toner - Ole Henriksen Oil Control Toner $26
Moisturizer - Ole Henriksen Oil Control Hydrator $34

What is the most worth it???
I say if you don't want to go with all three, go with the moisturizer and cleanser and skip on the toner!

Hope this helps and I hope that you all enjoy my reviews. See you next week.

Drugstore Makeup Products You Need in Your Life

Are you wanting to update your makeup stash without breaking the bank? I have the perfect affordable makeup options for you! These products are AMAZING quality for a killer price. Also, I have personally tried all of this makeup, so it is coming from first hand experience. I'm going to suggest makeup products from all different categories:

Foundation - Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation. This foundation is cruelty free and amazing. I love it as much as some of my high end foundations. It is only $5.99, so even if you try it and don't life it, it will not break the bank. It has a spatula applicator and it is designed with photography so you won't get flash back in photos.

Concealer - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser. I love this product. It is worth the $9.99 price tag. It looks so natural on the skin and I really love the sponge tip applicator. This brand however is not cruelty free, so I will not be repurchasing in the future.

Bronzer - Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. This bronzer is better than any of my expensive high end bronzers. I love it so much. It smells like a tropical drink. It is a little pricey for being at the drugstore, but it will last you forever and I love it so so much.

Blush - Milani Baked Blush (in the shade Luminoso). This blush is amazing. I love the Milani brand. They are cruelty free which is important to me. This blush is $8 and it will last you forever. The color is so beautiful and the formula is amazing.

Liquid Lipstick - Either Colourpop.com or Milani. Colourpop is not technically drugstore, however, it has drugstore prices. They are only $6 and they are amazing quality. Milani is an awesome option as well. 

Eye Shadow - Milani Eye Shadow Palettes. The quality on these is unreal. I don't recommend using the brush. It is not very good. However, the eye shadows themselves rock. They are only $10 for a palette and you get a whole eye look out of that.

Setting Powder - Elf Cosmetics translucent powder. It is only $5 and I use it to set my under eyes and to lightly dust on the rest of my face.

Beauty Sponge - Real Techniques sponge. Only $8. I use a DAMP beauty sponge to apply concealer and foundation to look as natural as possible. 

Hope this suggestions help! I love these products. Let me know if you want to see a high-end version.

Cruelty Free Makeup & Why it is Important to Make the Switch

I hadn't really thought about this issue until lately. Honestly for most things in life, we are purposefully ignorant to how things are made and how they get to us. This includes most of the things we consume. We either pick up our products from the store or have them delivered to our house. In modern America, no one makes everything they consume.

This is especially true in makeup. We just apply our foundation and mascara and don't do the research to see where it comes from or how it came to be.

Makeup companies that test on animals don't need to do it. There are so many successful brands that don't. I guarantee you that if you were to watch an animal being tortured or a child slaving away in another country for you to have your eye shadow, you wouldn't purchase it. At least I wouldn't. There is no need. If we stop buying from these companies they have to stop. Below I have attached a list of some of my favorite makeup brands that are cruelty free (and some are even vegan) and that you should consider purchasing from if you enjoy makeup.

Sonia Kashuk (Target)
Lush (Lush.com)
Anastasia Beverly Hills (Sephora/Ulta)
Kat Von D (Sephora)
Urban Decay (Sephora/Ulta)
Tarte (Sephora/Ulta)
Too Faced (Sephora/Ulta)
Nars (Sephora)
Hour Glass (Sephora)
Wet N Wild (Drug Store)

These brands are awesome and I respect them deeply. Please consider making the cruelty free makeup switch. There is no need to torture animals when we have other AMAZING options.

The Importance of Recycling

Imagine for a second the trash that you produce in one day. Now one week. One month. One year. Could you imagine carrying that trash around with you everywhere you went or having to keep it in your house? Not a very pretty picture. However, we have the luxury to put our trash on the curb and it is out of our life and is no longer a burden to us. This trash has to go somewhere though. And it does. It is going to landfills and various water ways. We think that we can't see the trash that it is no longer affecting us, but we couldn't be more wrong.

By trash going into waterways, it is polluting drinking water and seafood that we eat. Harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses are released from landfills. By recycling, we not only cut down on this pollution but we also conserve resources, save energy, protect our environment, and reduce landfills.

It breaks my heart and I get extremely emotional when people tell me that they don't care about recycling and they think it is a waste of time. What about our future? What about our children? What about the other living beings that inhabit this planet? Are we that selfish of a species to not separate things into different bins? It honestly blows my mind.

So get out there and recycle. Let's take care of our planet and our selves.

The Importance of Sunscreen

Most assignments given in academic careers have strict subject matter. Honestly, this is the first assignment I've had where I can write about what ever I want and not be wrong. It makes me feel more creative and I love the ability to flow and be organic without the fear of being judged. With that being said, let's get into weekly Thoughts from Lauren. 

Lately I have been taking much better care of my body. I've been exercising more, eating healthier/from home more, and taking better care of my skin and teeth. Up until a month ago, I didn't find it important to use a daily SPF. Now, I carry a small bottle of it in my purse. I had no idea the harsh reality of being in the sun every single day has on our skin until I started doing a little research. It needs to be apart of your daily routine for the following reasons: 

1. It is good for all skin types.

Although people with fairer skin do develop skin cancer easier.

2. ANTI-AGING!!!

Who doesn't want 20s skin when they are in their 40s? It prevents premature aging and leaves your skin looking beautiful. 

3. The sun is still strong, even when it is not sunny.

4. Sun damage is cumulative.

"Building" a tan is not a thing. Each time you are exposed to the sun, it is possible to damage at the cellular level. 

5. Shields from harmful UV rays.

While I do believe wearing sunscreen everyday is important, I think you should also be careful not to use too high of an SPF on a daily basis when you will only be in the sun for a short period of time. Doing so will block your intake of Vitamin D, which we need. I say using an SPF 20-30 is sufficient. If you are going to be out in the sun all day, like at the beach or playing sports, you need to use a really high SPF, wear cover-ups, sunglasses and try to stay in a shady spot during the hours of 10-4. 

We need to take care of our skin. It is still possible to bronze your skin a bit while wearing SPF. It is never too late to start amazing skin care and to start the anti-aging process. Love your skin, love your body. 

Beauty Blogging

In the past six months I have slowly transitioned from watching TV to watching Youtube videos. Though I still watch Netflix, I recently canceled my cable subscription because I found it to be inconvenient and I never used it. 

What Youtube videos have began to consume my life? Beauty videos.

I used to be the type of girl that never really wore makeup unless it was a special occasion. Recently I wear makeup generally every other day. I used to think people only wore makeup because they felt poorly about their self-image, or they had a complete lack of confidence. I no longer think this way.

Makeup is a hobby, a passion, and a distraction for me. If I'm sad, I will do my eyeshadow and try to make it has intricate and blended as possible and my mind is off of whatever was upsetting me. There is something rather powerful and oddly beautiful in finding a hobby. Will it ever make me money? No. Will it make me happy and keep me away from the pressures of social media for an hour or two (yes I can spend that long getting lost in the artistry)? Yes. I've felt healthier and happier spending less time on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram comparing myself to others and spending more time working on my art by myself & watching other people's review of products or learning new makeup techniques. 

I'm starting to sound a little cheesy. But the point is I have found something I love and it distracts me and I think its really healthy. I want to find new hobbies that keep me distracted and happy.

Any other makeup-lovers or Youtube watchers out there?

The Joys of Having Your Car Broken into

I had the most amazing MLK holiday weekend. I went on a trip to visit my father in Florida. We went deep sea fishing, to the pool and the beach! It was such a relaxing weekend and I was excited to start my week back at school.
Late Monday night I got off of the plane and was headed back to my car. The parking lot was dark, so I quickly put my suitcase in my trunk and got in my car. To my surprise, I had glass shards all in my legs and upper thighs and it honestly took me a good 30 seconds to figure out what had happened. Some lovely stranger through a rock through my back window and stole a bunch of my personal belongings. I think that I didn't notice the glass because I never considered the possibility of my window being busted in at a place where I was paying $25 a day to park.
The items there were stolen from me include: my back pack, my planner, a memory card for my camera, $200 worth of Victoria's Secret workout gear my mom had just bought me for my weight training class, all of my brand new texts books for class, a bunch of clean laundry (bathing suits, shorts, bathing suit cover-ups, t-shirts, blouses, dresses, pants), a bunch of dirty laundry and my dignity.
Honestly, the stuff being stolen isn't that big of a deal. It can be replaced. I think the worse part of the whole thing was having to drive from Atlanta to Athens with a piece of poorly taped plastic over my window. The noise was so loud, my ears are still ringing. Also, now I don't feel safe. I'm paranoid and I don't feel comfortable having anything in my car, which I worked so hard to pay for (not to mention, I've never been in a car accident in my life and I've taken excellent care of my car).
Moral of the story, I have to pay $300 for a new window and pay to replace all of my stolen stuff because someone else is selfish. I'm going to try to stay positive and hope that whoever stole myself is proudly wearing my petite clothes and using my hipster backpack and Lilly Pulitzer planner, although I'm sure it is in a dumpster somewhere.
In general, I'm a super happy person and I love story telling, so in the future, my blog posts won't be as dark, but today was a terrible day.

xoxo,
Lauren