Fab or Drab: Volume 2

Due to the fact that I am still trying to sort out my pictures, etc. from my computer crash (see post below). I figured I would do a "Fab or Drab". I find things like this very fun to read on other people's blogs so hopefully you find it fun on mine as well :D

FAB:

Christmas Collections/Makeup Gift Sets: Its that time of year where all of the makeup companies are releasing their Christmas collections and gift sets! I love holiday makeup with its rich reds and shimmery golds! I also find gift sets very exciting as they are usually a good deal and they allow you to try things you wouldn't necessarily buy full sized right off the bat.

Sleek Palettes: These palettes are only $11.75 each (although when I ordered mine they were only $10 each) and they are beautifully packaged and very high quality eyeshadows. Expect a review and swatches coming very soon!

Hot Chocolate: Brr its getting cold here and nothing is a better treat to me right now than a nice hot mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows on top. I like it best made on the stovetop from scratch :)

Ankle Boots: I have a great pair that I bought in California. They have about a 2-3 inch heel so I can walk in them for days and they look good with so many things: leggings, skinny jeans, dresses, you name it! I am currently on the prowl for another pair because they are so dang versatile and cute!

DRAB:

Computer Crashes: Need I say more? Nothing frustrates me more than technical difficulties because I usually don't have the computer geek skills to fix them. Thankfully my boyfriend does and that is the reason why I am sitting here typing this to you :)

Dry Skin: Sooooo annoying! Every night before bed I slather my lips in lip balm and coat my hands with body butter and every morning I wake up to cracked lips and dry skin :( I live in a very dry area and once the cold weather rolls in its a constant battle with dry skin! I'm sincerely jealous of all you girls who live in warm, humid climates!

Midterms: I'm sure all of my fellow students agree with me on this one! Its crunch time and studying for 25 hours a day doesn't leave much time for pampering :(

I hope you enjoyed hearing about what I think is Fab or Drab at the moment. As always I tried to be positive and put more "Fab" than "Drab" because its very easy to complain but its nice to take a minute to enjoy the good things in life :)

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

FTC: All products mentioned were purchased by me. I am not being compensated for this post.

Why I have been MIA

Just a quick message letting you know why I have not posted anything on here or on youtube for a while. My computer crashed, like literally "couldn't turn it on" kind of crashed and I had to delete everything currently on my computer in order to fix it :(

That included all my video and photo editting software, stock photos, FOTD and makeup photos I had taken, the intro that I use for my videos, etc, etc I could go on and on. I am currently working very hard to get everything up and running again.

But for some good news: I have lots of fun posts and videos in the works including a review and tutorial using my new *favorite* foundation, some reviews of some inexpensive but awesome new eyeshadows I bought, and some colorful eye looks.

I will try to have these things up as soon as possible (providing I don't run into anymore technical difficulties LOL). Stay tuned for more Cosmetic Confessions!

XOXO, Caitlin

Skin Care 101

This thoroughly exaustive post is meant to complement the skin care video that I put up on my youtube channel. You can check that out by clicking here!

This is going to be quite a long (somewhat text book style) post because I am VERY passionate about skin care! This post should give a bit more in-depth information about skin care products and their uses for those of you who are interested! So lets get started!

The first thing that I wanted to mention was that I switched to an all-natural skin care regimen about 4 months ago and it is working wonders for my skin! Although I do not suffer from acne, I have always had issues with sensitivity, redness, and irritation. Since eliminating all of the products containing irritating (and potentially carcinogenic) ingredients from my skin care regimen I have seen a great improvement! Some of the things that I try to avoid include parabens, pthalates, sulfates and petroleum by-products.

Now, moving on to the actual skin care products and why they are important:

Cleanser removes dirt and impurities from the face and prevents clogged pores. I recommend using a milky cleanser if you have dry skin or a foaming cleanser if you have oily skin.

Toner restores the skin's ideal pH. Cleanser is basic but the skin functions best at an acidic pH of about 4.5-5.5. Toner converts the skin's pH back to its ideal acidic pH. It also removes any residue left behind from cleansing and reduces pores. Toner should not be applied to the eye area. I also recommend avoiding toners that contain large amounts of alcohol or witch hazel as these are very harsh/drying on the skin.

Moisturizer helps to hydrate the skin. If you have dry skin try a moisturizer that has more moisturizing properties but if you have oily skin look for an oil-free moisturizer. I recommend using a thinner moisturizer for the day time and a richer moisturizer for overnight.

Eye cream moisturizes the delicate eye area. Eye creams often contain anti-aging or brightening ingredients in them. I like to use an eye cream at night for moisture and an eye gel in the day under my makeup. It is actually necessary to wear eye cream in addition to regular facial moisturizer because the molecules in facial moisturizer are too large to be absorbed by the skin in the eye area.

Sunscreen is very important! If you want more info about sun protection, check out the post I did a while back.

Exfoliators/scrubs remove any dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. They can improve the complexion, making it smoother and brighter looking. Avoid exfoliators that are too rough as they can damage or irritate the skin. I recommend using exfoliators with microbeads in them, as they do the job but they aren't too harsh!

There are many different types of facial masks available, including moisturizing masks, clarifying masks, and exfoliating masks. I like to use masks containing clay, as the clay extracts your pores by sucking all the stuff out of them. Sounds gross but it works!

Acne treatments often contain salicylic or benzoic acid to kill acne-causing bacteria.

Serums usually contain high concentrations of anti-aging ingredients or vitamins to nourish the skin. I don't think that serums are necessary for everybody (I don't use one!) but they can be useful if you are having issues with your skin or if you want to fight wrinkles!

I know that was very long but I hope it was helpful! Check out my skin care video as well for my product recommendations and skin care routine! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

I'm Pleasantly Surprised with Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles

Mention of the brand Wet n Wild takes me back to my days of being a broke 13 year old on the verge of becoming makeup obsessed! Wet n Wild was pretty much the only makeup I could afford back then and even though the quality wasn't the greatest it made me happy (I remember that the lipglosses smelled like rocket candies hehe). Flash forward seven years and, while my makeup budget has grown exponentially, it seems as though Wet 'n Wild products can still make me happy!

That's where Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow singles come in. At around $2 a pop these single shadows are nothing short of impressive. I found them to be richly pigmented, blendable and comparable to shadows that cost ten times as much!

The Color Icon eyeshadow singles come in seven shades: Sugar, Brulee, Nutty, Penny, Lagoon, Envy, and Kitten. They all looked very beautiful but I opted for the Lagoon, Envy, and Kitten which are vibrant jewel toned shades.

As you can see the packaging is nothing special, just a clear plastic case, but it does the job. I had no issues opening the durable case, and it is nice that you can see the eyeshadow color when the case is closed without having to open it or check the label.

I found that these shadows were soft enough to be pigmented and nicely blendable but they did not stir up a lot of powder so I did not experience much (if any) fallout. When applied over an eyeshadow base they lasted all day without any fading, creasing, or smudging. I found that Envy applied the smoothest while Kitten was the least smooth and pigmented, but I suspect that this is due to the beautiful gold sparkly shimmers that Kitten has.



From left to right: Envy, Lagoon, and Kitten

The only possible con I can think of for these shadows is that the limited shade range may make it difficult to do an entire eye look with only these shadows, but I'm sure that this isn't a problem for all of you makeup-obsessed girls out there who probably have a ton of other shades that could be used to make a look along with these ones. Overall, I found the quality of these shadows to be very impressive and the fact that they are so inexpensive makes me really happy (who doesn't love a good deal!). I am most definitely going to be buying the rest of the shades that I didn't get and I'm going to have to try some of the other new Wet n Wild products as well!

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! If there are any other Wet n Wild products that I should try let me know! Have a great day and thank you for stopping by my blog :)

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC: All products purchased by me. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fab or Drab Volume 1

So I kind of borrowed inspiration for this post from magazine's "Hot or Not" pages and some of the "In or Out" posts I have seen on various blogs. To not seem like a complete copycat I am calling this series "Fab or Drab" and its basically my opinions on some random things that I am loving and not quite loving at the moment! I find these really fun to read on other blogs so I hope you guys find this fun as well!

FAB:

Fall Nail Colors- I'm talking to you Metro Chic! I love me some fall nail colors whether it be grey, brown, purple, taupe, or navy. These colors scream chic and have a level of sophistication that brights and pastels just don't have.

Animal Print Accessories- Animal print is definitely one of those things that can be good or very, very bad depending on the curcumstance! I definitely think that wearing animal print head to toe should be left to animals but a pop of animal print in the form of a scarf or a ballet flat can be very fab! Oh and synthetic fabrics only, no real fur (another thing that should be left to the animals)!

Glee!- I missed the boat on this first season but wondered what all the hype was about. I ended up watching (and falling in love with!) the entire first season over the summer. I guess that makes me a bandwagon jumper. Season two premiered this week much to my excitement and I turned into a Gleek all over again!

Green Tea- Its yummy, healthy, and gives me just enough caffeine ward off grumpiness in the morning without making me jittery.

DRAB:

Homework- Nuff said! I'm sure my fellow students would agree that homework/studying is one of those necessary evils. I already have midterms starting next week even though it feels like school just started a couple of days ago!

The end of summer- As much as I love fall fashion and makeup styles, I don't particularly love the "fall" part. I'm a summer loving girl, and unfortunately where I live summer doesn't last for long. Basically it has been cold and rainy here since the end of August and I know that its only gonna get colder!

Well thats all for my thoughts on whats Fab or Drab right now. I will definitely put up more of these posts, I think they are really fun! I hope you guys are having a fab day hehe!

xoxo, Caitlin

Rimmel's Steel Grey: The Perfect Fall Polish!

A few weeks ago I treated myself and my sister to a mani at a fairly high-end spa. The spa had its own line of nail polishes, all of which I found a bit boring and not at all unique. I did end up choosing a polish that I was okay with but when I went up to pay for our services I saw that the girl at the front desk was wearing the most unique shade of creamy warm grey. I assumed it was one of the spa's own nail polishes and felt pretty snubbed that it wasn't one of the choices presented to me but when I asked which polish she was wearing, it turned out that it was from none other than drugstore brand Rimmel!

Turns out the color is from Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Pro nail polish line, which I have heard good things about! The color is called steel grey (number 207) but in my opinion it is a much creamier and warmer grey that what I would imagine a steel grey to be. It is a cream finish, which I am partial to, and I think it is a very unique shade perfect for fall! Cue the swatches!

The formula of this nail polish was impressive. It applied easily and opaquely in two coats and dried slightly darker than it appeared in the bottle. The brush is a bit different, kind of thick and flat, but it was very easy to use (although it might make things difficult if you have very small nails).

At only $5, this nail polish performed similarly to some of my more pricey nail polishes, and I am excited to try some of the other shades!

Overall, I think this is the perfect nail polish for fall. Its tame enough to wear to the office but it is still unique enough to make a statement.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC: Purchased by me. All opinions my own.

40 Beauty Questions

This is a tag that went around a while ago on blogs and youtube and I thought it would be fun to do. To put this in a video would no doubt take forever so I thought I would put it in a blog post instead :)

So here goes!

SKINCARE

- How many times do you wash your face daily?

I was my face twice- once in the morning before doing my makeup and once before bed. Sometimes I use cleansing wipes if I'm feeling tired/lazy but they work pretty well. Gotta get all that makeup off!

-What skin type do you have?

I have combination-dry skin (i.e. dry with some oiliness on my t-zone).

-What is your current facial wash?

Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Cleanser...Smells sooooo good but it REALLY hurts when you get it in your eyes (I mean A LOT) so I'm going to try Alba's Coconut cleanser after I use this one up.

-Do you exfoliate?

Definitely! Gotta remove all the dead skin!

-What brand do you use?

I use Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub. I really like it, the particles are small enough that it isn't too rough and you can use it a few times a week.

-What moisturizer do you use?

For daytime I use Jamieson's Vitamin E Natural Radiance Daily Moisturizer. For nightime I use Jamieson's Vitamin A Night Cream.

-Do you have freckles?

No, but I wish I did! Freckles are so cute!

-Do you use eye cream?

Yes, but I haven't found my HG yet so I'm trying a few samples at the moment.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

No, and I am so thankful for that. I get a few pimples a year if I am really stressed but never more than one at a time and not very often at all.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?

Nope, see comments above :)

MAKEUP

-What foundation do you use?

Hmm I use a few- Revlon Color Stay, Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation, Sally Hansen by Carmindy Foundation, Bare Minerals...it all depends on the coverage I want for that day.

-How about concealer?

TheBalm's Time Balm concealer (HG!) and Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer (a new love!)

-Do you know your undertone color?

Yes, I am neutral-warm

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?

Love them but rarely wear them...I am secretly always afraid that they will pop off but they never do so I should wear them more

-Did you know that you were supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?

Yes, and I definitely do! Eye infection= Not a pretty situation

-What brand of mascara do you use?

I have tried many different brands but most of my favorite mascaras are from L'oreal.

-Sephora or MAC?

Really tough questions but if this is considering makeup alone I would have to say MAC because I love most of their products and their products are less expensive than most of the products at Sephora.

-Do you have a MAC Pro card?

Sure do :)

-What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?

Brushes, fingers, and q-tips! I also use sponges a lot on clients.

-Do you use a makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Always! I love Too Faced Shadow Insurance and UDPP!

-For the face?

Sometimes but not usually. I do if I need my makeup to look flawless for a long period of time.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?

I could honestly never choose! It changes day by day!

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?

Both! I also use gel eyeliner! I think they all have their place, depending on the look you are trying to achieve.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Umm never...lol I don't remember the last time I did! I have poked my eyes with a mascara brush before though, and it really hurts!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

I love them but only use them when I have lots of time to do my makeup because if you use them in a rush things can get messy!

-Do you use mineral makeup?

Sometimes. I love MAC MSFs and I use Bare Minerals Mineral Foundation sometimes if I am in a rush.

-What is your favorite lipstick?

Maybelline's Pink Please lipstick. The perfect pink and oh so affordable :)

-How about lipgloss?

MAC's Love Nectar lustreglass

-What is your favorite blush to use?

NARS Orgasm, MAC's Tippy (Hello Kitty collection), or ELF Studio Blush in Peachy Keen

-Do you buy your makeup on Ebay?

No, I never have before but I wouldn't be opposed to it if I found something I liked.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?

I absolutely love it! Its the best feeling ever when you find that perfect drugstore product! With that being said, drugstore makeup (like any other makeup) is not all created equal so there are good and bad products.

-Do you go to CCOs (Cosmetic Company Outlets)?

I have only been once. It was on a recent trip to Vegas and I loved it! I live in Canada so there are no CCOs in my area.

-Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Consider it? I did it! I got my makeup license last summer and it was one of the best things I ever did :)

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Not usually but I have my moments. Mostly if I am in a big rush!

-Name a makeup crime that you hate.

When people wear too dark foundation and have an obvious line of orange on their jawline! When people wear really nude lips without a gloss (makes you look dead!), when people shave off their eyebrows and draw them on really harsh, when people have cake face (really cakey, obvious foundation)...oh I could go on and on!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutrals?

Both! I love neutral colors for work and school but I love colorful shades as well! I feel that makeup allows you to be creative and this starts with the products and shades, whether they be neutral or colorful!

-Which celebrity always has great makeup?

Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Lauren Conrad, Leighton Meester

-If you could leave the house with just ONE makeup item what would you use?

Hmm probably mascara. My second choice would be concealer.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yes, and I do sometimes but not very often because I love doing my makeup in the morning! I think it is important to try and be comfortable in your own, natural, makeup free skin as well though!

-Do you think you look good, even without any makeup on?

I think I look okay. My skin is pretty good but I have dark circles, redness under my nose and my eyelashes are very light.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

This one is easy, for me its MAC. I think they make a great range of products for everyone from the average girl to the makeup aritst and everyone in between :)

-What do you think of makeup?

Two words: LOVE IT! I think it can be used to enhance a person's natural beauty and I see it as an art form that allows me to express my creativity. Makeup is my favorite hobby!

I hope you enjoyed this very long post! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin