Fab or Drab Volume 5

Hello my lovelies! I thought I would do another Fab or Drab post for fun, but I promise some more reviews coming up soon!

Basically a Fab or Drab is just me letting you know some things that I am really loving right now and some things that just aren't so great. I would love to hear what you think is Fab or Drab right now in the comments! So here goes!

Fab

-Pastel Cream Nail Polish- Oh how I love me some cream-finish, pastel pink, purple, green, blue and yellow nail polishes! Now that spring is on its way I am so happy to ditch the taupes, greys and jewel tones of fall and winter for some pretty, happy pastel colored nails!

-Gradual Tanning Lotion- Due to lack of sun during the cold winter months my skin has been looking hella pale. Last week I looked almost ill every time I looked in the mirror. My solution: Nivea Summer Touch gradual tanning lotion, which made me look a lot more healthy after a few days of use (just remember to exfoliate!).

-Bright Colored Lips- Because I am looking so pale (see above) I have found lately that nude lips just haven't been doing it for me. I little bit of pink or berry colored lip gloss has been just the trick to warm up my face. Bonus: I find that brighter colored sheer lip glosses minimize the look of chapped lips which I have definitely been suffering from!

-Ballet Flats- I wear heels to work almost every day so by the weekend I am so looking forward to wearing flatter shoes! Now that the snow has melted off all of the sidewalks I have been able to wear cute ballet flats without fear of wet feet (or wrecking my shoes)!

Drab

-Exams- Nuff said! I'm sure all of the college students out there agree with me on this one! Don't worry everyone- the end is near and summer is right around the corner!

-Full Coverage Foundation- I have been wearing MAC Face and Body Foundation for many months now but the other day I tried a full coverage foundation and just did not like the results. It accentuated the dryness on my skin and just did not look natural. Remember girls- makeup should enhance your features not be a mask!

-Chapped Lips- No matter how much lip balm I apply or how many times a day I exfoliate my lips, they just end up chapped and dry every single day! Add lipstick to the mix and it just looks like a mess! Any suggestions would be GREATLY  appreciated.

Thanks so much for stopping by for some Cosmetic Confessions! Have a beautiful day!

xoxo, Caitlin

Fab or Drab Volume 4

It's time for a Fab or Drab because I haven't done one in quite a while! Basically its just a list of a few things that I am loving and not really loving so much right now.

Fab

Spring Makeup Collections- Although I loved the taupes, grays and jewel tones of the fall and winter, I'm really excited to see some of the beautiful pastels colors of the spring makeup collections!

Bronzer- It's still very blah and gloomy where I live and after months of cold, cloudy winter my skin is looking PALE! I'm  pretty sure if I didn't wear bronzer I could just go outside and blend into the snow so bronzer is a necessity as of late!

Moisturizer and Lip Balm- I can't get enough! My favorites right now are Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honey Drops Body Cream and Lip Smackers 100% Natural lip balms.

Strawberries- I don't know what it is, but I have been having insane cravings for strawberries and have been eating tons of them lately. They are just so yummy and sweet :)

Drab

Smeary Mascara- It seems like every time I look in the mirror my mascara has smeared all under my eye. I never had this problem before and I don't know what it is because I have tried many mascaras and they all smear! I just really don't like the hassle of removing waterproof mascara :(

Close-toed Shoes- I really just can't wait to wear cute sandals, flip flops and wedges! I am so sick of wearing boots, flats, and sneakers through all the messy slush!

Freezing Rain- Where I live it can't decide if it wants to be winter or spring so it has been raining but the temperature is still below freezing! It makes my morning commute a bit of a nightmare. Sighhhh

I know this was very random but these posts and fun to do and I hope they are also fun to read! I would love to hear what you think is Fab or Drab in the comments below!

Thanks so much for stopping by for some Cosmetic Confessions! Have a beautiful day!

xoxo, Caitlin

"Beauty" Tips for When You're Feeling Sick

In my previous post about my New Years beauty resolutions I said that I definitely wanted to blog more in 2011 but now you might be wondering why its January 7th and I only have one blog post up. The reason for this is because I have been SO sick with a sinus infection for the last week! I have literally been laying in my bed for the whole week and I don't even remember the last time I was this sick for this long. Luckily I prefilmed some videos so I should have something new up on my youtube channel soon but until then I thought I would do a brief post on what I do that is sort of beauty related when I'm feeling sick that also helps me feel and look a little better!

1. I know we have all heard it before but drinking lots of water both when you're sick and when you're well keeps you hydrated which in turn improves the appearance of your skin, making it healthier and more luminous. When you're sick, drinking water can help your body flush whatever nastiness it is trying to get rid of out of your system. Additionally, it is important to drink lots of fluids if you are taking medications, as they can be a lot for your kidneys to process. I have been drinking a ton of mint tea this week because it has the added bonus of soothing my throat!

2. Even though I haven't really left my bed all week I have still made sure to take proper care of my skin by cleansing and moisturizing it. Being sick definitely hasn't done much for my complexion (I'm looking pretty dull and pale) but by at least washing and moisturizing my face I have done what I can to keep my skin in good shape :)

3. Applying a product like Carmex or Blistex Lip Medex around the nostrils will help prevent irritation, redness, and flaking around the nose. This has definitely helped me this week because after going through a few boxes of tissues my nose is pretty raw!

4. Get as much rest as you can. This might seem obvious but neglecting to take care of yourself when you are sick will probably just prolong the illness, if not make it worse. Additionally, making sure to get enough sleep can prevent dark circles under your eyes from getting worse when you are sick (which I tend to find happens after a few days with the flu or a bad cold).

I hope you find this post helpful, especially if you are feeling sick right now. I'm loaded up on sinus medication which makes me pretty drowsy so I'm doing what I can for Cosmetic Confessions for now! Expect some more interesting posts soon, I will have one up as soon as I feel better! Until then, enjoy your weekend!

xoxo, Caitlin

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.

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

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