Seriously Springy! New Season + Luvocracy + Giveaway!

I am SO HAPPY to announce that IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

We made it, you guys.

For those that don't know, I am a ping pong ball. I've moved from Ohio to Florida and back twice - I just landed back here in December, as Mr. Doctor received a lovely fellowship for university. My inner islander was quite cranky to come back to snow, let me tell you! So finally, finally seeing longer days and warmer weather is FANTASTIC!

In celebration of SPRING SPRING SPRING, and fully embracing the fact that I'm a bit of a closet beauty addict, I'm going to share my Spring Essentials! Some are things I use every day that I think will translate to a nice fresh Spring look, and some are things that look so perfect for the season that I might just *have* to order them…and maybe you will, too! I'm including images from my Luvocracy collection for Spring, Seriously Springy - more on that below, be sure to make it to the bottom for a surprrriiiseeee! :D
 
BEAUTY!

I love a fast, fresh face for my everyday look. My skin staples don't change much, but my current look works great for Spring. I use Nars Orgasm, a super flattering peachy pink blush, on my eyelids and the apples of my cheeks. I use shimmery brown shades in my crease and to line my upper lid - like those in the Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay. Then I take a creamy black liner, and tightline the inside of my upper eyelid. It doesn't weigh your eyes down - and it makes you look instantly more awake! Finally, finish with a moisturizing balm and a fun pink gloss.

 

BODY!

Scents. Good, happy, bright scents that make you feel energetic and lovely. I am loving Bath and Body Work's Pink Chiffon Body Spray, I use a spritz every day out of the shower and sometimes at night to refresh myself - sometimes I even put it with my perfume. It's light, and delicious. 

It's also important to stay moisturized as you'll be revealing more skin as the months go on - a great lotion, like Lush's Karma Kream (splurge!) will make sure your skin stays smooth and sexy. Bonus: It's scented amazingly well - I always, always get compliments when I wear it (from men AND women!) And I notice an improved skin tone when I use it, too!

FASHION!

LAYERING is the name of the game! Ohio can be Hawaii one second, and Alaska the next. Or close to it. So light layering options are the way to go - and it works for most climates! I am loving kimono style cardigans in light fabrics, and skirts. I'd recommend splurging on a chic floral print, and a good staple color like black and navy for either of these styles. Mix and match them, try dressing them up for work or dressing them down with a boyfriend tee for errands and hanging out. This look is from H&M - the Jersey skirt is $5.99! I prefer a little longer, but what a steal!

Lastly, round out your Spring Wardrobe by refreshing your jewelry box with a little new bling - find a statement piece of costume jewelry that you ABSOLUTELY love, and incorporate it into your daily looks for an instant sunny pick me up.

You can find the products I mentioned below in my Luvocracy "Seriously Springy" collection, along with a few other items that I'm currently loving. Check out my Luvocracy Profile to see the items I Luv, including those in this collection. If you've never used Luvocracy, it's a site where you can share fashion and beauty favorites (among other amazing products!) AND easily purchase them. Luvocracy will find the lowest price for you, making it super easy.

AND! HERE'S THE MOST EXCITING PART! Luvocracy has partnered with me for a little cheeky giveaway - they're offering a chance to win a $10 Credit to my readers! The giveaway ends Mon, March 24. Winners will be notified via email on Tuesday, April 1. See the Giveaway Rules for more details, and good luck!

What are your Spring staples? Share with me below! + Be sure to comment if you join the giveaway!

Thanks, everyone, and HAPPY SPRING!

Makeup Review - L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte Lipcolor

I'm a lipgloss / balm kind of girl. Anything more opaque than that makes me feel like a kid wearing Mommy's makeup. But I've been trying to bust out of my makeup rut, to try new products and amp up my look a little bit. So when I saw this on clearance at Target, I had to snatch it up.

Matte lip formulas are a great way to add some drama to your look for Fall - they look chic and strong without being too shiny or over the top. IN THEORY. The color I picked up is number 408 - She's So Matte - and the package color is the most PERFECT salmony-watermelon mix.

...which would be a pretty color, but a horrible paté.

The product is housed in a thin barrel, and you can twist the top to expose more lipcolor. There's decent color payoff, for sure, and it's a pretty smooth feeling formula. Given how strong the color is, there's plenty of product - though, let's be fair, the barrel length is a bit deceiving.

As with any matte formula, you want to be sure that your lips are smooth and moisturized before applying. A sugar scrub or a light exfoliation with a really soft toothbrush is a good way to keep your lips soft, and a nice lip balm will make sure they feel moisturized. 

If you skip these steps, you might end up with zombie Kool-aid mouth. And unless you're a zombie in a Kool-Aid commercial, I don't recommend that look. 

Work it, girl. Decomp diva, right here.

On a moisturized lip, the color applies very smoothly and feels lovely. It has a nice satiny feel. If you neglect balm before applying, the color feels like it is drying your lips out very quickly (logical for a matte product to not be as slick and pleasantly moisturizing as a gloss to some extent, but many matte finish lipsticks feel moisturizing for some time on the lips). Also, the color of the product is not quite that of the packaging - at least in this instance. It's more of a very shockingly vibrant berry than the melon color I expected. I had a little trouble capturing the difference in a proof photo...

As you can see. "BABY LOOK PRETTY NOW, MOMMY?" < / Maria Bamford stand-up routine >

Above, it's bled at the edges - the lip balm I used was probably a little too decadent, and the color slipped around. An EOS balm would do the trick nicely, I'd think - my current go to is Vanilla Carmex (love love love), and it's a bit less waxy. The PRODUCT seems to dry/fade somewhat easily, but the COLOR lasts really well - almost like a stain. I couldn't get it off before work!

I feel like this would be a great product for a fun night out - maybe where you weren't going to be doing a lot of eating or kissing. I think it's too drying of a matte to comfortably wear for a busy day look, unless you're in to frequent touch ups to keep your lips from feeling too dry. But that could just be me still getting used to mattes! If it weren't for the color, I wouldn't regret the purchase a bit - but I don't know that I love it enough to buy another.

If you tried this product, or their lacquer line, let me know what you thought! If you want to see more zombies, let me know that, too!

BRAAAAIIIIINS.

BENEEEEFITTTT.

BAREEEEE MINERALLSSS.

MOISTURIZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

...BRAIIIIINS.

The product above was bought with my sad little wallet, and the opinions are my honest (albeit rambling and confusing) thoughts on the product and are in no way endorsed by the brand.

P.S.

Guys. What should I name my sexy undead "makeup don't!" zombie lady? Kimm Corpsedashian. The Corpse "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a-" Bride. Give me your zingers, I think she needs to stick around. She's wearing the featured lipcolor. What a sport!

P.P.S.

The above-quoted Maria Bamford stand-up bit. Get that voice in your head, and repeat it at your mirror every time you finish getting ready. Bonus points for faces. Bonus bonus points if you can cross your eyes, I can't. Seriously, it's a problem. Language warning...which really, you should be prepared for any time you come here. I used to be a sailor.

...hello, sailor. < / Graham Chapman >

I've completely lost the point of this post. Zombies, Stand-up and Monty Python...all necessary components in the beauty biz, really. Later days!

Sexy Face Mask Sunday - Que Bella Relaxing Aromatherapy Mask

Say it with me now:

SEXY FACE MASK SUNDAY! WOOHOO!

Today's skin treat was another one from Que Bella, the Relaxing Aromatherapy mask. It's described as a "lavender day mask", and its lavender essential oil is supposed to make you feel "refreshed, revitalised and relaxed". It comes in the familiar 15g/0.5 Fl Oz. size foil pack, and feels quite like a mud mask when applied.

Also? It's FANTASTIC. Look at how relaxed I was! I'm a fantastic actress, folks, but that was REAL.

Sometimes natural lavender products can be too strong. This has a soothing, light scent. It's a pale colored mask with a clay consistency. At the same time, it's very smooth - it doesn't feel gritty or drying as some mud masks do. I genuinely felt myself relaxing and enjoying the mask. It stung a tiny bit around the nose as it dried, but otherwise it was comfortable.




My skin felt very moisturized and happy after using this mask....I will definitely get it again! It's my favorite of the line thus far.

Now for the bad news: I don't see it listed on their website,  OR on Amazon.com. Hopefully they keep carrying this one! I bought mine last week at Target. Like all their masks, it sells for between $2-3 dollars. This is the perfect thing to accompany a nice long soak in the tub on a relaxing day off.

Orrrrrr those five minutes of stolen peace on a hectic morning...like mine today :D!

Sexy Face Mask Sunday - Que Bella Pomegranate Peel-Off Mask

It's that time again, sparklesaurs! SEXY FACE MASK SUNDAY!

This week, I tried Que Bella's "Refreshing Pomegranate Peel-Off Mask". Like the other masks in their line I found it at Target in the familiar foil packet. It's 15g/0/5 fl oz., and was a low price. Unlike the other masks, I hated it.

The package states, in part, "Refresh tired skin with this fresh-scented mask...will leave your skin with a great, refreshed feeling".

If you're unfamiliar with peel-off masks, they are usually of a transparent, gel-like consistency. You smear them on your face awkwardly, and after they dry you peel off a thin layer of something akin to stretchy Elmer's glue as you peeled it off your fingers in first grade. Afterward, your skin feels somewhat more refreshed - usually due to a magic, skin feeding ingredient that makes your life better.

This mask wasn't exactly gel-like. More like Jelly.

K.Y. Jelly. 

Um. Nice to meet you too, over-excited spa lady. How refreshing?

I think the formula separated somewhat in the pack...there was a lot of liquid, making application messy. Oddly enough, the gel portion was semi-tacky already - like it had already started to dry. So. wrong on two counts. The mask got uncomfortably itchy quite quickly...mostly around the nose, where I was probably crinkling it in distaste. It peeled off in small, spiderweb-like sections - not the satisfying peel of other masks. I ended up washing most of it off under the tap. The scent was somewhat fruity, but in an almost alcohol way - like really cheap, fruit vodka. I didn't notice it as much as it started to dry.

The one positive thing I noted about this mask was that my skin looked less red after using it on some areas where I had temporary discoloration from a breakout. My skin doesn't feel like it's horribly dry, it does feel cleaner and like oil was removed - but I do have the urge to go slather on moisturizer, my cheeks and forehead feel too tight when I move.

So, not the worst thing that's ever been on my face - story for another day! - but I won't be repurchasing it.

 Image from Amazon

Try Queen Helene's Grape Seed Extract Peel-Off mask instead, if you want to jump on the peel-off train - it too promises to remove impurities, is low-cost, and shockingly leaves your skin feeling BETTER after you use it.

Find it on Amazon, or the "Skin Treats" collection of my brand sparking new Luvocracy.

...have you tried Luvocracy? It's like Pinterest, for products you can then buy. It looks pretty amazing. Comment below to show me yours, and let me know how you like it! I'm thinking of using it to list items used in tutorials or comparison reviews.

That's all for this masky madness, until next time!

<3

Sexy Face Mask Sunday - Que Bela Purifying Mud Mask

SEXY FACE MASK SUNDAY!

...I need some better lighting. BUT! Not a better mask! Plug! Just kidding. I get the "Que Bella" masks whenever I stop at Target for groceries (aka just to be at Target, because it's my shiny and clean happy place) and I've been very happy with them as a little weekend pick-me-up skin treat. The mud style masks come in a good-sized foil pouch containing 15g/0.5 fl oz of product, and the product is so thick that you can use it a few times. I've been sealing the pouch in a ziploc in the fridge to finish later in the week. 

This week I used the Purifying Tea Tree and Witch Hazel mud mask. The package describes the mask as "a tingly treat", stating "The cleansing action of the mask naturally draws out impurities and eliminates excess oil, leaving your skin revived and wonderfully clear". Target.com says it has a peppermint scent, but I get more of a tea tree aroma - not overly chemical or mineral, with just a hint of mint. It reminds me of something from when I was young, maybe an old Avon mask my Mom would use.

This mask had a nice tingle, not too caustic - just enough to feel like a good cleanse was going on. My pores had a party! It was a teensy bit uncomfortable at the end, as some masks can be, but a thicker application may have made it feel less so. I was pretty light handed today. My skin felt smoother after using it, and I did notice less oil on my makeup-free face at the end of the day though my skin didn't feel irritated or dry.

These masks usually run between $2-3 at Target, and for a once a week face treat (with more to spare, for a friend/roomie/relative/your metro-man/the you of tomorrow) I'm sold. Repeatedly.

The products mentioned above were purchased with my own sad little wallet, and I am in no way affiliated with Que Bella Beauty or Target. Though their website shows they carry body butters and bath syrups - somebody's gonna be hearing from me soon if they don't pop up in the Target beauty aisle! Hello! Toffee Apple? Come to mama! I wanna smell like delicious fair food, without rolling around in elephant ears. Why'd you think I chose the tea tree oil mask in the first place? Oil! This is all made up. I just get lonely, guys. YAY, FIRST REVIEW! Maybe I'll take a real product photo next time. SKY'S THE LIMIT!

Sexy Face Mask Sunday

Because it bears repeating:

 

SEXY FACE MASK SUNDAY!

Ooooooo, yeah. Because this week has been stressful. Stress stress STRESSSSS!
*singing, off-key, partially on-purpose*

I've NOT been taking very good care of me, or anyone, lately. I've been stressed, anxious, and detached. I spend so much time around people at my job that I don't WANT to see people, or even leave the house, on my day off. Especially when I only have one day, and it's the day after a 12 hour shift, and the day before another week doing things I don't want to be doing. Dwell. Stew. Plot.

BUT TODAY. On my day off. I'm going to make myself leave the house - eventually - and get some sunshine. Maybe. And in the mean time, rather than stressing on things I can't quite make happen all at once anyway, I'm going to do ME stuff.  Treat-Yourself-Stuff. Like wear a sexy face mask. Oh, yeah, internet. It's allllll for you. Want me to take it off? Yea? Me too. It's getting itchy.

Anyway, find some way to relax today. Take ten minutes for you, and then do something - however small - to make your life better. Do something you've been avoiding. Then do something to make someone ELSE'S life better!

…or at least go take that shower. And fold your damn laundry, you toddler, it's been days.

That was not positive self-talk, but if you could hear what was IN my head, you would be damned proud. And so am I. I think.