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

Sun Protection

I know its a bit late in the summer season to be posting about sun protection but this is a topic that is VERY important to me and I think that we should be conscious of sun protection all year long because UV rays are emitted from the sun all year, not just in the summer and not just on sunny days.

First off I want to say that I am by no means an expert on this topic but I have done a lot of my own research on this topic simply because I am very concerned about sun protection. So lets get started!

The first and most basic thing to know about the sun rays is that they emit ultraviolet radiation (UV), which causes premature aging, cancer and damage to the eyes. This is why it is necessary to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays cause sunburns while UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply, causing premature aging (such as wrinkles and age spots) and cancer. So its UVA for Aging, UVB for Burning (at least thats how I remember it!).

To protect yourself from UV radiation sunscreen is a must! At the very least, SPF 15 sunscreen should be worn on the face, neck, and backs of hands on a daily basis, even in the winter or on cloudy days. Remember to use broad spectrum sunscreen to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be worn no matter what your skintone is. Although darker skin tones are less susceptible to skin cancer, they are still at risk.

On sunny days spent outside such as on a beach day, at least SPF 30 should be worn on all exposed areas of the body. Don't forget to apply to the feet, hands, and backs of knees, and reapply throughout the day. Lip balm with SPF should also be worn. Sun burn on lips really hurts!

For additional protection from the sun wear a hat to protect your face and scalp, and sunglasses with 100% UV protection to protect your eyes. I know a lot of this seems like common sense but so many young people neglect many of these things and they regret it when they are older!

Tan safely with gradual sunless tanners to achieve a safe and healthy glow! They are so many great sunless tanning products available now that are easy to use without turning streaky and orange, which is great unless you're going for the Snooky look!

This post is meant to compliment a video that I made concerning sun protection where I share some of my favorite sunscreens and products for achieving a sexy glow and tan safely. Check that video out here!

Phoof! That was a lot of writing! Hope you found some of this information useful, I tried to summarize as much as I could so that it wasn't too boring! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Have a beautiful day!

XOXO, Caitlin

My First Attempt at Konad

On a recent trip to Los Vegas I purchased an introductory kit for Konad nail art which included the scraper, the stamper, three mini Konad special polishes, and two plates. I also bought three additional plates (if you are wondering what all this stuff looks like, I show it in my Vegas haul video part 1, here is a link).

I have seen many youtube tutorials and pictures of amazing nail art that people have done using Konad so I was really excited to try it out myself! It takes some practice to get the hang of, and I am definitely no where close to being a pro but I tried some simple looks this week and thought I would post some pics :)

The first is using OPI Princesses Rule nail polish, Konad Special Polish in White, and Konad image plate M56:

The second look is using OPI Do You Lilac It? nail polish, Konad Special Polish in white and Konad image plate M64:

I am definitely going to need some more practice to master the Konad technique but its really fun so far! I got a lot of compliments and people saying "how did you do that!" when they saw my nails.

Some quick tips I picked up along the way include working as fast as you can because the special polish dried instantly and pressing very firmly when pushing the stamper onto the plate and onto your nail!

Thank you for stopping by my blog! Have a gorgeous day!

XOXO, Caitlin

Favorite Nail Polishes of the Summer: Pastel Creams!

I just wanted to show a few pictures of my favorite nail polishes of the moment. All of them are pastel creams and are very pretty, girly colors that I have been wearing frequently throughout the summer!

So here they are in no particular order:

From left to right: OPI "Do You Lilac It?", China Glaze "For Audrey", OPI "Lucky Lucky Lavender" (Hong Kong Collection), Essie "Turquoise and Caicos" (Resort Collection)

All of these colors have great formulations as they apply evenly and opaquely in two coats without any issues. None of them are too thick or too sheer, and I find myself reaching for them again and again as they are just such great summer colors for both fingers and toes!

OPI "Do You Lilac It?" is a cool (but not too cool) toned pastel purple color.

China Glaze "For Audrey" is a pastel turquoise blue that closely resembles Tiffany blue (hence the name of this polish!).

OPI "Lucky Lucky Lavender" is a pinky lavender (definitely more pink and warm toned than a true lavender).

Essie "Turquoise and Caicos" is an aqua green color. I find this color to be pretty unique.

And here are swatches of what the polishes look like on:

The polishes are shown in reverse order as they were in the above picture

I hope you enjoyed seeing swatches and recommendations for some great summer nail polish colors. If you love pastel cream finish nail polishes as much as I do then definitely check these out!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

xoxo, Caitlin

My Favorite Mascaras of the Moment!

As I write my first post concerning mascara, I must say I am definitely not a snob when it comes to mascaras- it is all drugstore for me! Mascaras should only be used for three months before being tossed and drugstore mascaras are completely comparable to or even  better then their high-end counterparts. Here are my top mascara pics and also check out the YouTube video I put up all about mascara tips and tricks:

Youtube Video: Lovely Lashes

My first mascara pick is L'Oreal Telescopic mascara in both Clean Definition and Carbon Black formulations. This mascara is all about length and it sure delivers! L'Oreal Telescopic makes my lashes look longer than any other mascara I have ever tried and the formula stands the test of time as it does not flake or smudge after long periods of time. I do slightly prefer the Clean Definition formulation over the Carbon Black one just because it separates the lashes better.

My second mascara pick is L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara. I use this mascara when I want to add volume to my lashes and it does exactly that without clumping at all! I find this mascara very easy to work with and as a bonus it is made with natural ingredients and is paraben free!

My final mascara pick is Cover Girl Lash Blast Length mascara. This pick is a recent find and to be honest with you I rarely ever use this mascara on my upper lashes. Instead, I have found that this is the perfect mascara for the lower lashes because it does not cause clumps and the brush makes it easy to apply without getting it all over the lower lid!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope this mascara information was helpful and don't forget to check out my YouTube video for more mascara tips! Have a great day!

xoxo, Caitlin

FTC Disclaimer: All products mentioned were purchased by me with my own money. All opinions expressed are my own and I am not being sponsored to do this post.