Monday Manis, Makeup and Mantras

It's yet another not so appealing Monday, but there's no need to walk out of that door feeling like you want to crawl under a rock. Instead, I have another post of pick-me-up pics and sayings that I thought would brighten some of your days. I found the usual manis and mantra, but I also came across some pretty striking makeup looks that I personally thought were cool and hope you'll enjoy them just as much as I do. (Although, I wouldn't be daring enough to wear any of the looks myself, unless on special occasion.)

Let's start with some extremely cute nail-candy. :)

This was done by layering a bunch of colors and then eating them away with an acid. Very cool. I'm definitely going to try this one!

A gorgeous hunter green and an even more beautiful glitter coat and shine.

An overly chic black and white number that I've grown to love!

Armor for your nails. Amazing.

Dazzling Designer. Absolute perfection.

Don't be afraid to show a little color as the cold creeps in, but don't forget to keep those pretty fingers nice and warm!

Makeup is a huge form of expression. These looks that I found just scream "I'm gorgeous, daring and I don't give a damn if It's over dramatic!"

Good old-fashioned pinup perfection.

Candy Eyes

Stunning Goth

Glamorous jeweled lashes. I'd be a little nervous with this one, but it's still insanely pretty.

Lately I've been dealing with drama and have been needing a huge reminder of just how strong I can be. Mondays are not my forte when it comes to having a positive attitude, so I have this quote as my wallpaper to always remind me that I can pull through. If any of you readers are sort of in the same boat, I hope you'll find this beneficial as a mood lifter, because it has certainly worked for me.

Sorry, it's a bit blurry, but the message still rings true.

Well, that's all for this Monday's post. I hope you have gotten something out of this to arm yourself against the obstacles the universe will throw in your way today. Just remember you can overcome anything with strength, and don't forget to think happy thoughts (like that amazing manicure you gave yourself last week, or that delicious cupcake you've been thinking about devouring). Keep living your fabulous lives and I wish you the best. :) Have a great day!

Review: Formula 10.0.6 Moisturizer

I was at Walgreens awhile ago and I desperately needed a new facial moisturizer and preferably one that wouldn't drain my wallet. I was also pretty open to newer products (typical me, I can never really help it), and I was reading so many labels and bottles that I was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

I ended up finding the Formula 10.0.6's "Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer" (wow that's a mouthful) with Aloe Vera and Bamboo (natural nature oils, a definite plus). It was a pretty good size and ended up ringing up around seven dollars which I was satisfied with. 

The description on the front of the product reads "This matte-finish moisturizer keeps skin smooth and shine free all day. Aloe Vera and Bamboo extract absorbs excess oil to maintain a balanced complexion. Oil-Free formula ensures clog-free pores" This was a pretty convincing statement, but just to be sure, I read the back which said "Formula 10.0.6 excels at perfecting troublesome young skin with ingredients that work. Created by a chemist in 1933, the current range now includes skin care products specifically designed to promote clear, healthy skin." (I always like to get a little background information on the product before buying)

I found these words to be very true in my own personal use. The formula is great, not too watery or thick, and blends into my skin well. It gives me that healthy glow (without being too shiny) almost instantly. My skin is also pretty soft and smooth afterwards and I can't help but become a little more confident about it. I used it every day for about a six weeks and saw some nice improvement in my skin. I can proudly say that I've used about half the bottle and am on the hunt for more of Formula 10.0.6            products.

I hope this review was helpful and I encourage you to check out both this product and other products by this brand, it's become a favorite for me and I hope it does the same for you.

Til next time,

Product Spotlight: Physician's Formula Baked Shadows

I recently bought these wet/dry shadows from Physicians Formula that I absolutely loved! They're are so pretty and not overly shimmery. You can apply them dry or wet for a more dramatic look.  I use them for natural and smoky looks and they work perfectly. There's not much fallout when applying and they blend really well, especially when applied wet. The two trios I picked up are "Baked Berries" (which are a cooler tone) and "Baked Gingersnap" (which apply in warmer shades). These trios have been the shadows I've been reaching for the most lately and I just had to share them.

The trios are pretty similar but I wanted to add more basic shadows to my collection as well as try out a new product.

"Baked Gingersnap"

The packaging isn't the prettiest, and it seems like the clear plastic lid could snap off easily if you're not careful, but the shadows are so nice in color and formula that it makes it a worthy purchase.

"Baked Berries"

I'm glad I bought these products and can see my hitting pan fairly quickly in the near future. I hope you enjoyed this post and that you found it helpful. These shadows are also fairly decent priced, especially for a more expensive drugstore brand.

I highly recommend any of Physician's Formula products, they're a little pricier sometimes (depending on what product you're purchasing), but it's worth the occasional splurge and they last pretty long.

I love posting about my fave products and hope to do more features like this. Just as a disclaimer (just in case) these are all my own opinions and I have not been payed for posting about any of these brands, but of course, I'm sure you knew that already. :)

Cheap Polish Faves

I'm all for saving money when it comes to buying anything beauty related, especially nail polish. I'm not ashamed to say that I've even used some coupons, yes, coupons to obtain my nail candy. Because of my bargain hunting, I've come across two cheap drugstore brands of polish that I absolutely love. 

The first brand that I fell in love with was the Wet 'n' Wild Mega Last polishes. The formula is very impressive and glides on with rarely ever needing a second coat, unless of course, that's your thing. 

From left to right: Through the Grapevine, Undercover, Candy-licious

Another brand that I came across when scouring the drugstore polish section was Sinful Colors. The brand includes many basic and seasonal shades and collections that are constantly catching my eye. The formula is another great recipe that I've found is better than some higher end products, even though you have to normally use two coats to get the most out of the color, but it's so worth it! Below are my favorite shades for the winter and fall season. 

From left to right: Flirting Nails, Rich in Heart, In The Mist

I'm going to keep my eye out for more great priced brands in the future. I'm obsessed with these polishes and will defininitely be purchasing more as new shades and collections show up!

That's all for this post and I hope you enjoyed it. Now, that I have an actual time managed schedule prepared, be expecting more frequent posts (I think I mentioned that before but this time I have it in writing). I hope you enjoy your night/morning and don't forget to watch out for more product centered posts!