Stephie Estie | Page 11 of 39 |

March Favorites 2016!

March 31, 2016

It’s the end of March guys! Can you believe it? This means it’s time to see what my favorite products of this month were. Let’s get started!

Laneige BB Cushion

I received this sample in a Target Beauty Box and I absolutely love the finish it provides. It’s enough to cover up my redness while still maintaining a natural and satin look. It’s a bit pricey so I’d love to try out the L’Oreal one too and see how it compares.

IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer

This product was included in my January Birchbox and while it wasn’t initially my favorite back then, I tried this on when my skin looked a little lackluster and it gave such a pretty glow. I’m still not a fan of the scent, but this is a nice, subtle product to use when you need a bit of a pick me up.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling

Another Spring 2016 shade that I picked up at the NYX store, I love how pigmented these glosses are as well as inexpensive. You literally can just swipe this on and go as you’ll get opaque coverage with a glossy finish.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

There’s always room for a lip balm and I really love this one. The formula is thick but spreads easily without feeling goopy on the lips. It nourishes skin and helps keep them feeling soft and hydrated.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

I’m in love with the creamy pigmentation of this formula as well as the neutral colors. For a full review, click here.

Above is a swatch for NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling.

beautyblender

I purchased this last year and while I used it here and there, it’s been pretty much on the back burner until now. I’ve been using the beautyblender regularly and there’s no cakey foundation here. It really helps to blend everything in.

Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer

I picked this up when I went to the Dermalogica Headquarters and I’m so happy I did. Although I don’t experience much hydration from this, it really smooths out my skin’s surface and helps minimize the appearance of my pores. Definitely provides a smooth canvas to work off of.

Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo

A few weeks ago I dyed my hair and got highlights. I was advised to buy a shampoo that would help prevent a brassy hue and after visiting my local beauty supply store, I found this shampoo. It’s supposed to neutralize brassy/orange tones to maintain lightened or highlighted brown hair. It literally lathers up blue and kind of stains your hands with a blue shade. It reminds me of that scene in Bride Wars where Kate Hudson’s hair turns out blue. Fortunately, this does rinse off clean and after a minute or two, the color washes off from your hands-no need to wrap your hair with a shirt or book an emergency appointment with your hairstylist. So far, so good.

Here’s a picture of my highlighted hair though it’s a bit lighter now.

What are your March favorites?

Stephanie

The Beauty Blogger Tag!

March 29, 2016

Hi everyone! How was everyone’s Easter weekend?

It’s been awhile since I have done a tag but I thought it would be something fun to do today. I was nominated by Rahma from Glamorous Etioles for the Beauty Blogger Tag so if you’d like to get to know more about me and beauty, keep reading.

The Rules for this Tag:

Tag the blogger that nominated you
Answer the questions you were given
Nominate 10 bloggers whose blog is about beauty/lifestyle/fashion
Name 10 questions for your nominees to answer
Inform the bloggers you chose that you nominated them

1. Have you ever done yoga and did you like it?

Yes and yes. To be honest though, when I first started yoga, I didn’t care for it. It wasn’t until I was invited to attend a yoga workshop hosted by Danielle Cuccio that I actually learned to appreciate it. The Powerflow session was done to a great playlist and I’ve been hooked ever since.

2.What products do you splurge on?

Skincare and makeup of course. 😉

3.What products do you save on?

I would say nail polish mainly because I hardly buy any.

4.What is your best tip for maintaining healthy skin?

Sunscreen is a must for healthy skin, so rain or shine, chemical or physical, make sure to apply it. Also, keeping your skin hydrated is important as well.

5.What do you use to remove your makeup?

It depends what I have in my skincare arsenal. Makeup wipes, cleansing oils and cream based cleansers are a few that I like to keep around.

6.How do you maintain your eyebrows (example, threading/waxing)?

Threading, tweezing and sometimes waxing. My eyebrows grow like wildfire so if I don’t keep up monthly maintenance routine, I need to resort to all three.

7:What is your favorite mascara?

At the moment, I would have to say Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara

8.Where do you buy most of your makeup?

I would say Sephora and online about equally.

9.What is your favorite shade of lipstick?

An unfair question to ask a beauty blogger and beauty addict if you ask me. However, currently I’m in love with any and all pink/nude shades.

10.What is your favorite perfume?

Ange ou Demon Le Secret by Givenchy. It’s a bit on the pricey side but I love to buy it when it comes in a set.

That’s it for this tag. I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit more about me and thanks to Rahma for the nomination! Check out her blog and give her a follow while you’re at it. Consider yourself tagged if you want to participate.

My 10 questions:

Have you ever done yoga and did you like it?
What products do you splurge on?
What products do you save on?
What is your best tip for maintaining healthy skin?
What do you use to remove your makeup?
How do you maintain your eyebrows (example, threading/waxing)?
What is your favorite mascara?
Where do you buy most of your makeup?
What is your favorite shade of lipstick?
What is your favorite perfume?

See you on Thursday with my March favorites,

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Chemotherapy and Skincare!

March 25, 2016

If a loved one is undergoing chemotherapy treatment, their skin may become more prone to sensitivity or irritation, and you’ll want to choose skincare products that are free of synthetic dyes and fragrances to reduce the risk of a reaction.

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

Stephanie

PopSugar Must Have Unboxing March 2016!

March 24, 2016

Hi guys! March’s PopSugar Must Have box has arrived and if you haven’t heard of this it’s a monthly box whose items range from fashion, beauty, home, fitness and food, making it a well rounded subscription box. All items are full size and valued at over $100. Subscriptions range from $18.95-$39.95.

Take a look at this month’s inspiration plus the contents inside!

Inspiration behind March’s box.

Hello Extra Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste, $4.49

This toothpaste is peroxide and preservative-free, vegan, packaged in a recyclable carton, and made in the USA, making it good for you and the earth. I’ve received samples of the Hello toothpaste in one of my Target Beauty Boxes and I liked it. Will try this soon.

Govino Go-Anywhere Carafe and Water Glass Set, $14.95

Made from BPA-free polymer, this carafe and glass stylishly helps you hit your daily water intake goal. It resembles fine crystal but is shatterproof, making it easy to take it anywhere you go. Picnic anyone?

Goodie Girl Cookies Toffee Chaos, $4.99

Toffee and chocolate cookies. Need I say more? Oh, they are also gluten-free, made with kosher dairy and sans peanuts, and have a low fat, sugar and calorie content. Share at your discretion. 😉

Miss Ivy Pearl Five-Tassel Necklace, $38

This necklace is minimal enough to be worn with other beachy baubles or alone. I love the color but am not a huge fan of tassels. We’ll see if I can make this work.

Nanette Nanette Lepore Classic Rose Gold Watch, $55

For lovers of the rose gold trend (me!), this watch exclusively designed for PopSugar features a neutral strap that makes it easy to pair with all of your favorite outfits. So glad this one was included. *Swoon.*

LOLA Gift Card (Special Extra), $10

A gift card that provides a free box of tampons made with 100 percent cotton. Not sure if I need a subscription box for feminine products but I’ll keep it in mind.

Pixi by Petra Book of Beauty, Minimal Makeup, $24

A beauty kit that has two highlighters, two cheek tints, and four eyeshadows. It’s your secret weapon to create the perfect “no makeup” look that will enhance your natural glow and eliminate the guesswork from your daily beauty routine. As pretty as this looks, I will be gifting this away as I already have similar colors.

That’s it for this month’s box. It’s not my absolute favorite box from PopSugar, but I love the watch that was included so no loss here.

What do you think of this month’s box?

Stephanie

March Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

March 22, 2016

Hi everyone! I’m back from my short blogging break and it’s just in time to bring you my March Birchbox review. Let’s hop to it! 🙂

Cargo Land Down Under Eye Shadow Palette

These smooth eyeshadows are said to be highly pigmented and easy to blend to create a variety of looks. Most likely I will not try these as I have something similar already, however if they’re anything like their blushes, you can bet these claims are true.

Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo

This sulfate-free, vitamin-rich cleanser claims to repair and protect dry and brittle hair. I have curly hair which can definitely benefit from extra hydration. This shampoo lathered nicely despite it being sulfate-free, and left my hair feeling smoother and clean. In my opinion, the scent is a little more on the masculine side but not overpowering.

Number 4 Hydrating Condition (Bonus)

Oddly enough, I have yet to try this one but once I do, I will try to update it on here.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

This “100% natural formula,” rehydrates skin, soothes sunburns, tames unruly brows and nourishes thirsty cuticles. I’ve only tried this as a lip balm and I quite like it. It has a very thick consistency, much like the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, which intensely moisturizes lips but makes the product hard to squeeze out of the tube.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac Beauty Queen

I’m a fan of Benefit’s Benetint, so I was curious as how this would compare. Stainiac is theBalm cosmetics’ best-selling stain that gives cheeks and lips a sheer and rosy tint. Unlike Benetint, the consistency on this is a little bit tackier instead of watery. It leaves behind a nice rosy color that has good lasting power but comes off while eating and drinking. I like it for a sheer wash of color and it’s as good as Benetint to me.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum

This 5-in-1 eye serum, “lifts, firms, smooths, hydrates and restores the sensitive skin around the eye for a more youthful look.” I’m fond of a couple of Kiehl’s products and I was glad to see another sample from them. I didn’t see a huge improvement with this eye serum, perhaps because I don’t have major issues with my eye area, but it is lightweight and didn’t migrate into my eyes which I love.

A swatch of theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac.

Overall, I thought this box was well rounded and I’m happy with it. 🙂

Have you tried any of these brands? What’s your favorite product from them?

Stephanie

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette Review!

March 14, 2016

Hi everyone! As I mentioned last week, I will be taking a spring blog break but before I do, I have a review of the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow palette! It’s available online and in-stores and yes you guys, it’s beautiful.

Here is what the case looks like when it’s closed-very fun and pretty.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

Described to, “define and defend lids from everyday aggressors with this eye shadow palette. Introducing plush shades in a velvety formula, they’re powered by tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex, formulated to hydrate and balance lids with a creamy powder is that is never drying or chalky.”

Pros

Creamy and easy to blend

Great pigmentation on darker shades

Little to zero fallout

Variety of looks can be created from natural to smokey

Long-lasting (with primer)

Cons

No true matte shades

Didn’t experience the hydrating aspect

A bit pricey $34

Lighter shades take a bit to build up color

Overall: I really love this palette! It’s a bit smaller than I initially thought but the shadows are a good size so no problem there. The shades are creamy, easy to blend and the fallout is little to none. These are definitely smoother than my Urban Decay Naked 3 shadows. They last all day on me but I always use a primer. I will say that I didn’t find any true matte shades as Sand and Cove still have a bit of a sheen to them but nothing overly shimmery. The lighter shades, like Seashell and Mermaid take about 2-3 passes to build up a discernible color while the darker shades have opaque coverage in about 1 pass. These don’t have any pop of colors which I don’t mind since I love neutral/bronze shades and this is right up my alley.

Here are some swatches

Sand- Ivory (this shade blends in with my skin, lol)

Mermaid- Gold

Seashell- Pink

Wave- Slate

Cove- Tan

Starfish- Bronze

Reef- Copper (my favorite shade!)

Abyss- Dark brown

That’s it for this week readers. I’ll be back March 21 with new posts so please stay tuned for that. 🙂

Will you be adding this palette to your collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Possible Causes of Cheek Breakouts!

March 11, 2016

Happy Friday everyone!

If you’re experiencing breakouts on your cheeks, it could be indicative of allergies or possible dental infections so if you’ve been consistently breaking out in this area, you might want to get checked out to rule out this possibility.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stephanie

*Note: I will have a special post on Monday with the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea eyeshadow palette before I take a mini spring blog break, so be on the lookout for that. 🙂

Disclaimer: The contents on this website, and any related links, are provided for general informational purposes and should NOT be considered medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. Please consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions about a particular health condition.

The Nude Lipsticks Edit!

March 10, 2016

Happy Thursday almost Friday everyone!

Just as every closet should contain a classic little black dress, every makeup arsenal needs at least one nude lipstick/gloss to complete any look. After all, nude lipsticks provide balance to a smokey eye or provide a hint of barely there color when going for the all natural (which is not so natural, haha) look.

From budget friendly to high end, I’ve got you covered.

Lipsticks

Kiko Milano Smart Lipstick in Nude Neige 901

For under $10, this hidden gem looks unassuming in the package but provides a nude lip that doesn’t make me look washed out.

MAC Peachstock

A warm-toned peachy beige, this lipstick looks great with a pink gloss on top.

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Nude

For a longer-lasting, slightly darker nude, look no further than this one as it dries down to a matte finish.

Lipglosses

Burberry Burberry Kisses Lip Gloss in Nude Beige No. 17

A non-sticky lipgloss that provides a nice natural glow to lips and is nicely pigmented.

Lancome Gloss in Love in Mocha Queen

The lighter shade of the bunch, this gloss has tiny shimmer particles that give lips a poutier finish.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Peanut Brittle

Another under $10 find, this smooth gloss requires just one swipe for beautiful opaque coverage.

Top-Bottom: Peanut Brittle, Mocha Queen, Nude Beige, Melted Nude, Peachstock and 901

Some swatches of the shades.

Share your favorite nude lip products below!

Stephanie

How Do You Cope with a Stressful Situation?

March 8, 2016

Hi everyone! I hope that your weekend was great. 🙂

Today’s post is more on the personal side but I feel it may be beneficial for some who are going through tough times. It’s so easy to post about the great and wonderful moments in our life but what happens when that dynamic changes? We all know that life is a constant motion of highs and lows and that it’s important to stay on the positive side but let’s face it-sometimes it seems impossible to remain positive. Your loved ones are diagnosed with cancer. The symptoms of a chronic illness that were under control are suddenly surfacing again. Someone used and lied to you. How do you cope?

When difficult moments arise, it can feel like you’re battling it alone and in some senses, that’s true. After all, you’re the one experiencing the pain, the loneliness, the hurt. However, there are many people out there going through something similar and can offer you that beacon of hope. I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll mention it again. One of the best things about creating this blog is that I have encountered the most positive and helpful people who are ready to lend an ear whenever you have problems. I think it’s paramount to have a support system to reach out to in time of need. Even reading other people’s struggles and how they coped can help. *Note: In case your new to this blog, I suffer from Interstitial Cystitis or IC.

Another thing that has helped me through weary days is to read quotes, especially ones from the Bible. They provide me with spiritual strength and hope. Recently, I’ve been avidly reading daily devotionals from the blog Miekeey and it helps me in putting things into perspective and focus on what’s important. It reminds me that there is a bigger picture and while I can’t see it now, one day, I will.

Now, I’d love to hear from you readers and I’m sure anyone who reads this post will also appreciate your feedback.

How do you cope with life when it seems like no hope is in sight?

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Chamomile Tea Bags!

March 4, 2016