2015 Beauty Favorites

It's the new year! Hello 2016! It's nice to see you. Now 2015 might have been a pretty tough year but I have come to respect the challenges given to me even if they were difficult. Of course there were challenges to face but alongside challenges are also glorious triumphs. 

Also, I made lots of new beauty discoveries this past year and I would like to go ahead and share them even though it might be a bit late. Well here we go a 2015 beauty favorites round-up!

The Top Nude Lip : 2015 was the year I discovered the magic of nude lipstick and became increasingly obsessed. I have a post of a collection of nude products I discovered this year ( which you can read here x). However, my top pick by far was MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick. I think in general 2015 was the year of MAC lipstick for me. My collection grew from 0 to now 5 in the past year. However, the winner by far is Velvet Teddy. Its just such a wearable everyday  color for me. I adore MAC's matte formula because it is so comfortable to wear and not overly drying and of course the vanilla scent makes it that much more of a winner. 

The New Holy Grail Concealer : The Urban Decay Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer. Replacing 2014's NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer, ( which is still very good in my book) The one from Urban Decay is just fantastic and is formulated beautifully with a full coverage look but completely weightless feel. Light the name would suggest. The other reason this product is great in my book is its wand applicator, it is designed like a doe-foot but it is actually flat sided and very flexible so you can easily use it on both sides. Simply genius. 

Best Beauty Tools: 1. The Original Beauty Blender. I think if I went around telling people that a little pink sponge changed my life there would be some big raised eyebrows but, I can tell you guys that a little pink sponge changed my life and you would understand. I was initially unsure if I would like it when I bought it but I must have horribly misunderstood this products magic. The Beauty Blender makes putting on base products a complete joy. It blends everything so seamlessly, so effortlessly I honestly don't know how I went so long before trying this product out. I use this tool everyday multi purposely without fail. I know there are many dupes out there on the market. I just don't think the original can be beat in this case and in my opinion. 

2. Morphe 505 Eyeshadow Brush

Now, I love my MAC 217 brush its really great at blending and even some packing too. It's a really nice multipurpose brush. One problem I find with it though, its kinda scratchy. Its not as soft as I think it should be. Thus, the Morphe 505 brush has taken its place for the primary multipurpose blending brush. Its quite a bit fluffier than the 217 but, it is also that much softer as well. I absolutely love this brush and will continue to love it throughout the new year. 

3. Sephora Classic Multitasker Blush Brush #54

For the brush that really helps me do so many things I have loved this Sephora Classic Multitasker Brush all year long. The brush hairs are so so soft and make blending product a dream. Because of the nice angled shape to it I use it for bronzer, blush and the edge of the brush for highlight too. I think its always handy to have a brush like this around that can accomplish multiple tasks. 

Best Base Products : For the year 2015 I continued a series of blog posts I titled "Covering Your Bases" which are essentially in depth reviews of foundations I put to the test. This year was a very successful year for base products, therefore I have a couple to share starting with the Hourglass Hyaluronic Skin Tint which came into my life at a time when none of my foundations that I had before were working correctly anymore. My skin had severe dry patches and was in general very sad looking when I put foundation on. This product made my skin look healthy and luminous again and I was so grateful for it. The next foundation isn't technically a foundation, its a CC Cream but boy does it give a good whopping bit of coverage. I am talking about the IT Cosmetics CC Cream + Illumination. I really loved how this stuff felt on my skin. It felt light and fresh and perfect for summertime especially since it has SPF, definitely worth checking out. My favorite base innovation was the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. Not a foundation precisely but it can become one. I think this product was so incredibly innovative and something the beauty world needed to see. It feels like such a simple idea because this product is pretty much just pigment. But, its so genius because of its multiple uses. You can adjust the shade of a foundation, add extra coverage to an already existing base, use it directly as a concealer, turn your favorite moisturizer into a tinted foundation. The only downside is that I seem to run out of it so quickly. The last foundation I will "cover" here is the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation which I discovered this fall. I think this foundation fully meets the traditional standard. All the rest of the bases I have mentioned don't formally call themselves a "foundation". But, this one does and it does a damn good job. Flawless coverage, great packaging with a pump, not too dewy or matte, long lasting, hydrating for the skin, etc. Really loving this one and I am still loving it now in 2016. 

Read the full "Covering Your Bases" posts here! ( 1, 2, 3) 

Best Glow Factor: In 2015 the whole world blew up for highlighter. Everyone wanted that glow, #dathighlighttho. It quickly became my favorite part of putting on my makeup. Now, to achieve that glow I think the easiest brand go to is Becca Cosmetics. They are well renowned for their Shimmering Skin Perfectors in Liquid, Pressed and Cream form. I have loved the Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal for a while but 2015 had in store a special collaboration that would strike the hearts of many. Makeup Artist/Youtuber Jaclyn Hill's collaboration with Becca to create the limited edition Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade Champagne Pop. I personally went on a frenzy to get this because not only do I love Jaclyn I also was in love with the color. Which is a white gold with peachy undertones. This product is just freaking gorgeous on the cheekbones, on the eyes, all over the body.. ( just kidding) if you are interested please pick Champagne Pop up because it isn't going to be around forever. The other highlight I wanted to mention came late in the game this year and it is Laura Geller's Baked Gelato Highlight in Gilded Honey. This is a straight up gold highlight and if you have been on here for any length of time you might have gathered that I LOVE gold. To the touch it does not feel as creamy as a Becca Highlight might, but it melts into the skin just as beautifully if not better. 

Best Blushes: I have two favorite blushes for this year and a honerable mention as well. More towards the beginning of the year I bought MAC's Ambering Rose Blush which I feel is more of a fall shade but I wore it anyways for a good majority of the year. Its such a pretty rosy shade. Then I discovered Becca's Mineral Blush in Wild Honey, a peachy nude, which won my heart for the remainder of the year. I also wanted to mention The Body Shop's All in One Blush in the shade Amber, another beautiful warm mauve shade, which I also really liked this year. 

Best Bronzer: The Bodyshop's Honey Bronzer ( not pictured - lost it :( ). Loved the Honey Bronzer this year. Its great for those who have fair skin because its not too dark or muddy and its also very build-able so its also good for those who may be novice to bronzer. I will mention even though its very new to me, the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer has been really speaking my language so far. Definitely will land a place in another future favorites post I am sure. 

Best Drugstore Buys: I stuck to a lot of higher end products this year but I don't want to leave out the drugstore faves because there were a few. The first is the NYX Glide On Eyeliner in Golden Bronze which is a beautiful cinnamon color with a hint of gold. This was a staple for the waterline in the autumn to amp up the fall looks. Next, is Maybelline's Creamy Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine. This formula and color blew my mind its so unbelievably gorgeous. Such a rich oxblood color. If you are someone who likes a vampy lip you need this. Go buy it. You're welcome. The last drugstore buy is another NYX product and it is their Liquid Suede ( liquid lipstick) in the shade Sandstorm. I really love the formula of these liquid lipsticks because they do not make my lips feel like the Sahara Desert and they are non patchy upon application. The color Sandstorm is a browny nude,( another thing that I loved in 2015) that just looks cool, it may not be for everyone but I really love it. I really want to try more from this collection because they have such a beautiful range of color. 

Best Eyeshadow Palettes: So...Hi. My name is Allegra and I may be addicted to eyeshadows. Nice to meet you. Whether its a full blown palette or a single eyeshadow I just love to collect them and play around with colors and formulas. It brings so much joy into my life. I wanted to start off with some palettes that I loved a lot in 2015 and then move on to some singles as well. The Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette was probably the most surprising favorite in 2015. I never liked mattes before, I thought they were boring and they just didn't interest me until this palette came along. I was going to resist it, but as I drove home one fateful day with swatches from it on the back of my hand I just kept looking at them. They were so pigmented, so smooth. I needed it. Since then I used this palette SO much, more than I ever thought I would. I love the way the colors are laid out and as I already mentioned the formula of these shadows are just incredible. I learned in 2015 that mattes are good and actually essential to put looks together. Thanks Kat Von D! I also have to give a brief mention to the OG original Naked Palette from Urban Decay because I became a cult follower to this palette. I think this is mostly due to the shade Half Baked ( can you guess?..its a gold shade) because it makes my life feel that much more complete. I can feel the eye-rolls because this palette has been to talked about to death and back but hey, there is a definite reason for it okay! Lastly, I wanted to mention the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette which I got as a lovely birthday gift from my best friend. This palette has a lot of amazing neutrals again, ( I am aware all the palettes I am mentioning are neutral. I'm sorry!) another reason I love this palette is the heavenly scent of cocoa that comes from it. I think that little added touch makes this palette that more special. 

Best Single Eyeshadows: Now, onto single eyeshadows! Probably my most used and best singles are my Makeup Geek foiled eyeshadows. I have talked about these shadows to death I feel so I won't go on and on, but they are amazing. Probably my top shade is Magic Act ( a pale white gold) and I think I will be expanding my collection of Makeup Geek shadows in 2016 because I love them so much. MAC Cranberry (not pictured) eyeshadow still remained a solid favorite in 2015. I also had a brief but strong moment with Burberry's Pale Barely which is a unique but easy to wear taupe color. Kat Von D's Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Doce ( a rich copper) blew my mind. I tried Makeup Forever Artist Shadow's (not pictured) and they were also so amazing. And lastly, Charlotte Tillbury's Eyes To Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadow ( not pictured) in the shade Bette ( a burnished amber gold), swooped in at the last second and stole my heart for the last remainder of the year. Seriously, so many great eyeshadow formulas out there I cannot wait to try out more in 2016! 

Best Brow Products: Alright, we are almost there! I promise! I only have two brow favorites both from Anastasia. The Anastasia Dip Brow being the main favorite. I had no idea how long this stuff would last. I still have half a container and its still going strong. Also, I feel it gives me very "on fleek" brows which is also awesome. The other favorite is the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel. This product helped me when I was in more of a rush and needed to do quicker brows. It keeps the hairs in place while also giving them a hint of color and fullness. I do think the wand is a little too big but, I still like it and used it a bunch. 

Best Mascara: Benefits Roller Lash. I loved Roller Lash so much this year. It gives really nice length and separation and doesn't flake. I also really liked Tarte's Gifted Mascara as well.  

Best Finishing Spray: To finish this post all off I wanted to mention lastly a setting spray. The original MAC Fix + is almost like a makeup godsend. Again, its one of those products that has multiple uses. However, its best use is to mist the face down after all the makeup has been applied to help even more to blend things together, make your face look less powdery and give your face a radiant glow before you head out the door. I also like to use Fix + before makeup to help hydrate and also wake me up if I am just getting out of bed. 

Yay! Made it to the end! ( whew!) A whole year wrapped up in makeup favorites. I really hoped you enjoyed it and also I really hope you all had a wonderful year, holiday and new year as well. I know this post is going up later than I wanted it to but I definitely wanted to put this one up in order to give some closure to 2015. It deserved a send off. Now, you and I can continue on together in 2016 and all it may have to offer us. Blogging is very fun and I am so excited to create more content this year, grow, and hopefully connect with more of you. Please, in the comments tell me : What were some of your favorites of 2015? it doesn't have to be makeup either it can be anything! Favorite memory, accomplishment, etc. Let me know! 

Have a great week guys! I will see you all soon!

- A 

Some Beauty Picks For Autumn

Every year I become enraptured by the beauty of autumn. The swirling colorful leaves, the smells, the textures all around. There is a mood that autumn brings that is purely reflective. Nature makes us stop to look at it. How brilliant it can present itself before it all takes a rest for the winter. I love it all. 

Today, I thought I would share some of the beauty essentials I have used and loved so far this season. 

First of all I have a new foundation in rotation for the fall and winter months; The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation. A full review will be coming very soon! Stay tuned for that however, since it is in a favorites post I am sure you can guess that I like it quite a bit. 
 I have not been able to put down this MAC blush in the shade Ambering Rose. I used it in the last bit of summer as well, but this blush's time to shine is definitely in the fall/winter. It is this beautiful burnished rosy brown shade that just looks beautiful for this season. Moving on to eyeshadows I really had to narrow it down because not only do I love eyeshadow, I am a fiend for warm colors that really look great for this time of year. I am talking warm chocolate browns, burnished reds and coppers, brilliant and bright gold..etc. Two palettes that I have to share with you today is the good ol' Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and the Morphe 35O palette. The Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is a really great classic that is chalk full of neutral, gorgeous shades with some fun shades thrown in there too that really make for a great fall look. Plus it smells heavenly! The other palette I wanted to mention has been immensely popular on the beauty community. And for good reason. For someone who loves warm shades this palette is absolute perfection, the colors are really pigmented and smooth and its also pretty affordable ( when it is available again). Morphe is a wonderfully affordable brand and if this palette is calling your name I would follow them on their social media because they do update when this palette comes back in stock. The other shadows I wanted to mention come from Makeup Geek Cosmetics, this is SUCH a lovely brand and if you haven't checked out their shadows I would highly encourage you to do so. All the shadows I have to mention today are from their foiled collection which are all a unique metallic finish. The first shade I have to share is probably my most favorite and it is called Magic Act and it is the most beautiful, bright white gold shade. This shade looks great in the inner corners of the eyes and as a center color as well. The next shade is called Untamed. I was drawn to it originally because the color reminded me of a jack o lanterns glowing smile. Its described as a bright coppery orange. I think this shade is really great for the fall time because of its warmth and orangey glow. The last shade I have to mention is Flamethrower which is a bright warm copper shade which I have loved throwing into the outer corner of the eyes to spice things up. 
The last product I have to mention for the eyes is a eyeliner pencil from NYX cosmetics, the Slide On Glide On Stay On And Definitely A Turn On Eye Pencil in Golden Bronze that name is sure a mouthful isn't it? but this pencil is a beauty. Stays on the waterline brilliantly and has vivid color. If you have blue eyes especially  you NEED to try out this color in Golden Bronze its beautiful! 
Next, lets move on to two lip favorites, the first being another NYX product. Their recently released Liquid Suede liquid lipsticks have a beautiful range of colors ( even a prussian gray color!) and the formula of these are great. They last a really long time and don't dry out the lips too much. I have the color Sandstorm to share with you which is the ever so popular browny nude color that I can't stay away from no matter what the season. I know not everyone is a fan of this kind of color but it is quite pretty. And the very last product I have to share is a lipstick from Maybelline in their Color Sensational Creamy Matte range. The color Divine Wine is perfect for the fall and also the winter. A true deepened dark vampy red that feels pretty comfortable on the lips and won't break the bank. The Maybelleine Matte range is definitely one to check out if you are into matte lipsticks and want something affordable. 

And thats it! a little variety of favorites that I have been enjoying this fall and will continue to enjoy throughout the winter season. I hope you enjoyed! Let me know of any of your autumn/winter beauty picks down in the comments below I would love to read them. Hope you all are having a great week so far! See you next time! 
- A 

Covering Your Bases // It Cosmetics Illuminating CC Cream Review

Hello everyone! 
 Today I am reviewing It Cosmetics Illuminating CC cream
There are a few of you who remember my last "Covering Your Bases" post which was all about the Hourglass Hyaluronic Skin Tint which I stills holds a top shelf space for foundations. I feel the need to disclaim that even though I might find a foundation that is amazing I am always searching to discover new products. That is what we are set out to do here in these Covering Your Bases posts. 


Disclaimers & Intros aside lets get down to reviewing the foundation/CC cream.. 

There is quite a bit of hype surrounding the original IT Cosmetics CC Cream and I thought about picking up that one. However, the Illumination version was a more recent release and caught my attention just a little bit more. 

Packaging// Design 

I really like the packaging of this product. It looks like just a normal tube but when you take the cap off there is a pump at the end. ( Hooray for pumps!!) Tube packaging can be annoying as you reach the end of the product much like toothpaste you can never seem to get that last drop out!. Why can't toothpaste have pump like packaging? ( Wouldn't that be convenient?) 
The tube has a slightly pink/holographic tinge to it making it look pretty cute and distinguishable from the original CC cream and the type face they used for "illumination" is quite cute, makes it quite appealing to look at.

Color Range // 

I think one of the cons for this product is its color range. Its not very large, only five shades. I had a tough time picking out my ideal shade. Between Fair and Light I ended up going with Light because Fair seemed too pale at the time ( even though I have a complexion of a ghost).
Overall, I find the shade Light to be an okay match for me however I do not know if I am alone on this, but the color almost has a dull/grayish tone to it and not as bright as I would like it.  To remedy this I tend to mix it in with a drop or two of the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops ( I am in the shade G20)  to brighten and make the color suit my skin more which seems to do the trick.

Application // 

This CC cream applies very smoothly onto the skin. You do not need to pump out a lot for the entire face since it spreads out very nicely. 
Much like the Hourglass Skin Tint I am fond of this has a thicker looking consistency but feels very light and weightless on skin. I still prefer using the Beauty Blender ( as my weapon of choice) which blends this product seamlessly into skin and does not take great amounts of effort either. 

Coverage // 

The selling point for me personally for this product is its contrast of "type" and "result". Typically, a CC cream or a BB cream type of base will only provide a sheer amount of coverage rarely reaching a medium coverage. This CC cream stands out from whats on the market because it touts its truthful CC cream name by having a weightlessness texture and improving skin tone, but provides medium to full coverage. Which is amazing to me and I really do appreciate that from this foundation. I really like having a full coverage base when I wear makeup, but its nice to have it not feel like I have a very full coverage sitting on top of my skin. 

Overall Thoughts// 

I am really happy I tried out this CC cream. As I watch all my favorite British youtubers in my subscription feed lately I have been seeing all their US beauty hauls all containing the original It Cosmetics CC cream. Its a very hot item right now and its always exciting to me to actually see what all the hype is about. To recap I really love the packaging for this product. I think the way it was designed makes it really easy to travel with and use daily without much fuss. I also really like the very light lemon scent it has which some people may not like but it does not last once it sets down. I appreciate the high coverage and the very dewy finish that is unique to the "Illumination" version of this product. I have read some complaints of there being glitter in this product but I personally haven't really noticed any excess of glitter and even so I would still like it anyway ( bring on the glitter!). Also, the high SPF factor of 50 ( with UVA and UVB) protection is pretty fantastic of them provide. My only beef with this product is the color selection. I think its pretty slim and difficult because the shades differ very dramatically from each other. I thought the shade Fair would be the one for me but it was so extremely pale and stark. The shade Light, the one I chose, although pretty good has this weird gray/dull tone to it that leads me to mix it with another product to make it match perfectly. Overall, I give this product a B+ it would have gotten an A if not for the color selection. Other than that, I am very pleased with everything about this product and I would recommend it to those who were possibly thinking about giving it a try. 

You can find It Cosmetics at Ulta ( Stores & Online) and also at QVC online. 

It Cosmetics Illumination CC Cream SPF 50++ $38 

I hope you all enjoyed your summer. It has been a very long time since I last posted which I will address more in my next post. I just really wanted to share this review with you all, it has been in my drafted posts for so long ( it was starting to collect dust and cobwebs). I would love to hear what products you are trying/and or loving at the moment in the comments below. 
 I hope you are all having a great week. I will be returning soon with more content. 
Until then! 
- A 

( This post is in no shape or form sponsored. If a post is sponsored or a product is sent to me links to the product will be marked with an *. I strive to always give my most genuine and honest opinion when reviewing products no matter what.) 

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So I don't normally post little life updates. Sometimes, I will stick them into a beginning of a post to help ease into speaking ( or rather in this case typing), but normally they are never their own entity. I will admit, I edit myself sometimes. A little perfectionist in me pulls me away from writing posts like these for fear of not being able to express what I want properly or getting too rambly in the process of sharing what is on my mind. 

So, this might be a bit rambly. ( Just a warning). I am trying to push away perfectionistic Allegra and let myself type freely.

    Recently, I have been feeling very strange. Not quite myself for the past couple of weeks. I have been describing this feeling as "blank minded". Its a little difficult to describe. 
I am someone who thinks a lot about her life, dreams, ambitions, etc. All of a sudden all of that thinking seems to have stopped. When someone I have not seen in a while asks " What am I doing these days, what's going on?" I seem to come at a blank. 
"My life is pretty boring" I respond.  And I don't have much to say after that. I feel like I have nothing interesting to say. 

When doing tasks at work I like to think about things, I am a full fledged daydreamer. However, now I cant make any pleasant thoughts come. Nothing to look forward to. No projects, no goals to work towards. That can sound like depression to some. Which I suffer with, but it doesn't feel the exact same as when I am battling with a bout of depression. I don't feel a lack of motivation to do things I love out of exhaustion or lack of will. I just don't know what to be motivated towards. No ideas, nothing. I guess there is nothing inspiring me or stimulating my mind. 

For someone who also deals with a lot of anxiety. A lack of thoughts can be quite peaceful. Not all thoughts are good ones and can really haunt a person. Having a lack of that could be considered a step in the right direction. However, it doesn't feel right. Because I do not feel positive thoughts/feelings either and I want to. I want to contribute to conversation, have exciting projects or ideas swarming in my head, have interesting activity in my life and in my brain. 
But it feels like there is nothing. I stare off into space trying to think and come up with nothing. 

I am in a very transitory place in my life right now. I feel burnt out by college. I have no direction anymore, no dreams to run down the path towards and college has done nothing to place me in a direction I like. I feel stuck, and the academics have exhausted me to the point of indifference. I intend to take a break this semester. I have been wanting this for a while due to these feelings. I want to take the time to figure myself out again. What is my dream? where do I want to go next? What do I want to try?
I feel very lost when it comes to questions like these. All I hear is preach about the importance of college. How it will help you figure out these questions and how much more troublesome life is without a degree. I know its important which is why I have tried so hard to keep at it, keep going. Its frustrating though, to watch your other friends have a path they want to go down and plans. College is important to them because they have a passion that school helps them with. I thought I had that when I started but all college has done for me is make me feel more displaced and frustrated with myself. Especially since I struggle academically with a learning disability. I am always behind and everything takes twice as long to complete. When I think about going to more classes all I feel is dread and exhaustion. That doesn't mean I hate learning. I love to learn. My brain is driven to learn new things, be stimulated. But with no direction I am running through hoops of academic fire just because. It feels pointless. Sometimes my life feels like :

" Just get through this flaming hoop and then you will feel happy...and then just get through this flaming hoop and then you can live life the way you want etc.." 

But that sense of accomplishment never really comes. I finish a semester, get okay or good grades. But I never feel any more complete or excited to move on..

This is usually the part where I have come up with resolutions or plans to attempt solve this issue. Seem more positive in the conclusion. But I am at a blank..


All I hope is that you all are doing well. I hope you don't mind a post like this instead of something more organized and polished. 

If you have any thoughts that you want to share, please feel free to share them in the comments below. I would feel grateful to read them. Thank you 

- A 

Monday Minute// Kinfolk Magazine Issue 16 " The Essentials"

A little while ago I wrote a Monday Minute post on Kinfolk Magazine. Last time it was their Winter Issue and this time, minus the issue I didn't talk about; ( issue fifteen The Entrepreneurs Issue. An issue which I should talk about at some point because that issue had some amazing articles inside. That I would love to share with you all). Anyway, this issue focuses on "Essentials" and what it means to be an "Essentialist". Now, your probably wondering what that means. "Essentially" it is a divergent of Minimalism but instead of a lifestyle of cutting down to whatever is classified as the "bare bones" now is about the focus on the items or routines, foods you eat, etc that are essential to you. They are the "meat" of yourself, and really show you what is important to you. For example, a piece of paper you found in some special place while on a trip holds significance to you, no one else. 

" Deciding what is essential in our lives isn't about paring back our belongings and forgoing our beloved but unnecessary frivolities: Instead of determining how little we can live with, its about working out what we simply can't live without" 

Some of the articles you will find in issue sixteen include:

- The Essential Non Essentials // Introduction to Essentialism Lifestyle

- A Taste of Home // essay about how sometimes it takes half a continent and an expensive toaster to realize the culinary commodities you hold dear

- The Cloud Appreciation Society // interview with Gavin Pretor Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation society speaks about his mission to rebrand clouds. " There's no need to head to a far flung beach or a cabin in the woods to disconnect: You just need to look up." 

- The Best Medicine // photo essay about the unifying simple joy of laughter

- Traces of Summer // photo essay " There's too much freedom to be embraced on the most successful dog days to fret over cleanliness or perfect presentation, even if that means leaving the house with unmade beds, watermelon rinds piled on the front porch and grass stained clothing."

+ more 

Reading some of these articles made me really think about my own essentials.. every morning I love to have egg and avocado on toast, tea is an essential and also makeup is essential to me because I love to apply it on, also wifi...maybe. 

What are some of your essentials? I am curious to know

If you are interested in Kinfolk I encourage you to check out their website : kinfolk.com

I hope you all are having a great start to your week and I will talk to you all next time.

- A

Getting Back To Health & Fitness

For a while I have been meaning to speak of my ongoing fitness journey. Every time I have gone to write it the post turns into this long rambled mess that loses its meaning. However, its a topic that I really feel passionate talking about. Since last year I have been on a up and down journey with my fitness and health. I had some great success by losing 20lbs. It almost feels mysterious as to how I did it now. Since that initial weight loss my progress slowed down a bit and I have plateaued. Other focuses/obligations popped into my life and distracted me from my healthy goals whenever I went back to make fitness and health goals I found it hard to latch back on. 

Fitness and health are long term goals, in fact I would say they are more life long goals. There are days where I feel very low due to depression or anxiety. I am very hard on myself. I do not tend to eat healthy or want to workout. I just want to lie down and exist. 

Which I think is an overlooked important step to health. 

I wrote breifly in another post " Five Ways to Have a Calmer Week" that its healthy to acknowledge whatever is causing stress or hurt in your life. Do not ignore it. During that time when I was writing that post I myself was feeling quite a bit of pressure and stress in the middle of the school semester. I wrote that post on a very late bus back home from school ( 2 hour journey). It felt cathartic to write that. You see health is not only taking care of the body, but its also taking care of the mind. Because they both affect each other, they are both connected. Your diet and activity will change based on your mental state whether you are feeling good or bad. But I think we tend to overlook rest. Resting the mind, trying to care for ourselves. Sometimes that requires a more purposeful type of rest. Where first we try and take our selves out of as many stressful situations as we can. We isolate and maybe we indulge ourselves with favorite tv programs or whatever helps you to get into a leisurely calm state. Then, we can work towards reflection and solutions towards further combatting that stress instead of pushing it back and onward. That pain will inevitably drag you down. We have to work on our mindsets as much as we try to work our bodies when trying to "get healthy". 

I do not have the healthiest mindset. Again, as I said earlier I am extremely hard on myself, I have a hard time giving myself a break. When my diet takes a dive I am very self critical and I also don't have the best self esteem. So while I am also on this physical fitness journey I am also on a mental fitness journey. 

In the past two weeks I have tried to make some bigger leaps in my fitness regime. I already see a nutritionalist who has helped me tremendously along the way from the very beginning. I have been recording my food which can be a massive pain and sometimes can be detrimental if I focus too much on just the calories, however it is really enlightening to see what I get up to in my diet on a daily basis and see what I can change. I also have been heading back to the gym to get some cardio in. But, if I don't feel like going to the gym I either take out my kettlebell ( which is a great tool by the way since you can kill/three birds with one stone = strength, full body and cardio) or I roll out my mat and hop onto Yoga With Adriene youtube channel . If you have not checked out her channel I would highly recommend that you give it a look. Even if yoga has been or seemed unappealing to you in the past I would highly encourage giving this channel a look at. Adrienne is an amazing teacher, has a calming voice and doesn't focus on making "perfect" or rigid yoga poses. Its all about the practice. Also, yoga is also a great workout for the mind, it has really helped me to focus on my breath and also put my mind at ease when I am feeling particularly stressed or worn out. Thirdly, walking is always great exercise and if its particularly beautiful out, the fresh air and surroundings can be good for the mind.  

Tools + Tea

Now you don't really need any tools to workout, just your body, mind and soul. However, tools can be nice and help you along the way. I have two products that I have been testing out recently. The first is a wearable, which is from the brand called Misfit. Its called the Misfit Shine. This is very much like the Fitbit if you are familiar with those, but if you're not its essentially an activity tracker and also a sleep tracker. All in this beautiful and minimal watch like design ( that comes in multiple colors! mine is in the color Champagne). My close friend has been testing one out for a couple months and has really enjoyed it so I decided to make the investment. I like it so far. The app is a little wonky on my Android phone. Apparently the app works better on Apple devices ( of course..) but, so far I am liking it. By tapping twice on the watch face with your fingertips it will tell you how much progress you have made towards your activity goal by little shining lights, then it will show you the time ( yes, it acts as a watch too which was a huge selling point for me. I like things with multiple functions).  You can then look at the full picture or analytics on the app ( and you can connect other apps to it as well like MyFitnessPal or LoseIt). Its pretty neat stuff. I will update you guys my further thoughts on it once I have spent some more time using it. 

Next, I decided I would try out this "teatox" brand called SkinnyMint. I came across them through late night Instagram scrolling. I have looked into a lot of similar "detox" tea brands and found a lot of negative reviews, and it just didn't sound too promising. However, this brand through some digging around seemed pretty promising to me and I decided: "why the heck not!" and placed an order for their full 28 day program. It comes with a Morning Tea and a Evening Tea ( which seemed simple enough for me, I steer away from programs that are like: " Drink five cups in the morning, a cup before every meal and then two before bed." that is just not sustainable for me). The morning tea is supposed to be fruity, ( which sounded quite appealing), energizing and also help to reduce the appetite. Whereas the evening tea is geared to cleanse the body, reduce bloating and assist digestion. They just arrived in the mail and I really like the taste of both of them. In fact I was quite scared of the Night Cleanse taste but it has a slight minty flavor which I have become very fond of. I will be sure to update you whether I see results or not! 

Mission/Vision Statement

Lastly I wanted to talk about my vision/mission statement. At the beginning of my fitness journey a year ago I was twenty pounds heavier and living a much more sedentary lifestyle. I made my first visit to the nutritionalist and she told me to write a sort of mission/vision statement. A piece of writing only for myself really of what I wanted to accomplish. What kind of results did I visually want to try and achieve. It was quite long and I even drew a illustration cartoon version of myself and what I wanted to work on. They were simple things like: " I wanted my clothes to fit looser on me" or feel more energetic, etc.. I believed even if I never really looked at that vision statement again ( which I probably should have more often than I did, we're are being realistic to real life here) that it was really cathartic putting everything down on paper. Now thinking back on it I have achieved a lot of what I initially set out to do. However, now I am a little older ( a little wiser) and my body has changed, my mind has changed. I have different circumstances laid in front of me and now I have different goals. My most recent visit to the nutritionalist gave me the guided inspiration and motivation to write a new Mission/Vision statement for myself. So that can be further motivation. The reason I am sharing this is because if you are on a fitness journey or a health journey I highly encourage to write down a vision statement. What would you like to achieve ( be reasonable with yourself there are some goals that might take a long time to achieve, they might even be a little unreasonable. But, its good to get that out onto the page as well.) You don't have to share it with anyone, its just for you and you only. I think its good to have physical visualization instead of trying to keep in all in your head. In a year or in a couple months if you are feeling down or unmotivated, take a look at that statement. See how much you have achieved or remind yourself peacefully ( not in a damaging " ugh I still haven't done that" sort of way but "oh maybe I will focus my sights on this goal for now" sort. I think its a good and motivating tool in itself. 

My journey is far from over, but I really wanted to talk about it with you all. Let me know if you want me to share anymore. I certainly can do that. ( I am no expert by any means..) but, I enjoy to write and speak about other things like this on the blog besides just makeup. ( Even though makeup is a huge passion of mine).  Please share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any tips out there I am sure anyone who reads this post would also like to see any further tips I may not provide in the comments. ( Plus, I like to see them too!) I hope that some or a few of you might find this helpful and I really and dearly hope that you all are having a great week so far.

Namast'e 

- A 

Monday Minute// Compartes Chocolatier

Morning all! 
So its quite a bit late for Valentines Day chocolate. Around the time I was planning on posting this Monday Minute. However, its never too late for chocolate! I say, even though we are just about done with February and moving ahead to March (Thanks USPS!)I am still excited to share with you this delicious treat. So if you just want to come with me into this world of "pure imagination"~ lets talk sweets.

Compartes Chocolatier 

"Founded in 1950, Compartes Chocolatier has been a Los Angeles tradition for over 60 years. Pulling together European chocolate techniques, recipes and artistry to the US. Helmed by chocolate prodigy Jonathan Grahm, one of the most prolific chocolatiers in the country. Compartes creates premium gourmet chocolate mixed with unique flavor profiles and artistic packaging all in house, made from scratch daily using all natural ingredients."

After being introduced to the brand through Ingrid Nilsen, ( aka Missglamorazzi on Youtube) I was typing into my google search faster than you could probably even say the word "chocolate". I was mesmerized by all the enticing and interesting sounding flavors. Here are just a few some examples:

Donuts & Coffee - broken up donuts, milk chocolate and organic coffee grounds

California Love- dark chocolate, pretzels 

Cereal Bowl- white chocolate, cornflakes, marshmallows 

The Drive In - milk chocolate, candy corn, kettle corn, and caramelized movie popcorn 

JAPAN- white chocolate, matcha green tea 

ITALY- white chocolate, olive rosemary 

My best friend and I ordered one bar for each of us. I chose the flavor "Biscuits & Honey" which is a limited edition flavor that is a mix of homemade buttermilk biscuits, raw organic honey mixed into a dark chocolate bar. My friend got another limited edition flavor that is since sold out called, "Beach Sprinkles"- white chocolate, mixed with homemade organic butterscotch and rainbow sprinkles. The design on the packaging was in collaboration with artist Gray Malin. That design is actually a photography print which I thought was rather impressive. The sprinkles in the chocolate are supposed to represent the colorful people depicted in the print. Pretty neat huh? 

These chocolates do not come cheap, $9.95 per bar plus shipping and all that jazz. But, they sure are a delectable treat and also a really nice gift for someone. 

Compartes also do homemade custom truffles, and some jam jars including a Salted Caramel Brûlée Sauce ( mmm..don't get me started). 

So is your sweet tooth aching yet? Mine sure is! I might have a little bit of my chocolate after posting this.

I hope you all are having a sweet Monday! 

Treat Yourself? Compartes Chocolatier Website 

*this post is not sponsored 

Monday Minute// MAC Velvet Teddy

Hello Friends!

Last week I arrived back on a plane from a sunny Florida vacation back to chilly Maine. It was such a lovely little break  even though I did suffer with a bad cold the first half of it ( bummer)! Now we are back to business baby! 

During my stay in Florida my mom and I visited this huge mall ( and I mean massive). I got to browse through Anthropolgie and a big H&M they had so many stores including a stand alone MAC store. I didnt buy anything there at that mall that day except for one thing. This lipstick.

. Velvet Teddy  .  

In my entire lipstick collection ( not a big collection, but a growing one). I seem to only own : Reds & Dark Red/Berry colors, nothing else. Never been one for pinks and I never was one for nudes, until now that is. Its not because I was swept up in this "Kylie Jenner Lip" trend that is sweeping the nation, I just simply craved a nude lipstick because I didn't own any. When I told the lady at the MAC store this she seemed kind of surprised. Wearing bold lips all day everyday is difficult to upkeep and it does not always suit the look I am going for. 

So to make a long story short, I had to decide between "Twig" and "Velvet Teddy" ( which has been immensely popular due to Miss Jenner, I got the last tube they had in stock!) I liked both shades on me but decided that I had my heart set on  Velvet Teddy.

MAC lipsticks are very lovely, ( plus I will never get over how good they smell), their matte formula can be a bit drying but I find this shade to be pretty smooth on the lips. I love this color so much ( I never thought I would be saying this about a nude, my how I have changed my ways)! Its so easy to just slap on and wear. Lets just say I have fallen hard for this lipstick and if you're looking for a great "brownish, pinky" nude this lipstick is a great option. 

What are your favorite nude lipsticks? Tell me in the comments below! 

I hope you all are having a great week! 
See you soon!

xoxo
- A 

WED// My Most Used Palette At The Moment

THE NAKED PALETTE// 
Happy "Hump" Day friends.
Its safe to say that the ship has long sailed when it comes to The Naked palette from Urban Decay. Its kinda crazy that Urban Decay has an entire line of Naked branded products : Three eyeshadow palettes, cheek palettes, lip glosses, Naked On The Run, foundation, etc and yet it all started with this little beauty. 
When this first released I was not even into makeup as much as I am today. I thought it was so crazy that there were so many people clamoring for this thing. 

But now I think I know why.. 

Since having it I have been using it non-stop. My other palettes have taken a little break. I took this with me on my recent vacation to Florida and didn't bring any other shadows (that is huge because I love me some eyeshadow). I almost feel as if I don't need to describe how it preforms but I will briefly just in case.

There are twelve shades in total ranging from a champagne color to gunmetal. The pigmentation is wonderful. There is a mix of shimmery shades, glitter and matte shades, they are very smooth on the eye and build up well too. 

I tend to gravitate more towards the left side of the palette with the browns and golds and lighter colors since I don't normally wear a dark smoky eye day to day. I do dip into the shade "Toasted" quite a bit however, which makes me think this pinky purple shade is what helped them devise the also popular Naked 3 palette. My favorite colors in this palette are: Virgin, Naked, Buck, Half Baked and Toasted. 
As far as packaging is concerned I am not too crazy over it. I know I am not alone in disliking the texture of faux velvet (ick). Plus the fact that once this starts collecting dust particles on the top there is little you can do to make it look clean again. 

I know this palette has been talked about to death but I its been a solid favorite for a while and felt like talking about it because I have been using it so much. It was a wonderful investment and if you are considering picking one up I would highly recommend it. 

Now my question for you is..Do you own any of the Naked Palettes? If you do which one is your favorite and why? Let me know in the comments below! I am eager to hear! 

 I hope everyone is doing well and having a great week so far 
See you soon! 

- A