Allure Best of Beauty 2014...

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. Lately, I have been absolutely obsessed with Allure Magazine. I think they are one of the best magazines out there - very much in touch with real women and what they would actually wear and use (unlike some others...).

While reading the latest issue (with our babe Cara on the cover) I was so excited to see the Best of Beauty list! I tore out the master pages at the back and highlighted all of the things that sounded awesome. I think that it's really important that Allure showcases products like La Mer, which is the best, alongside with CoverGirl and E.L.F. Working women that are reading Allure probably cannot afford expensive beauty items...so why should they be the only products discussed? Drugstore brands have excellent items as well, which is why I am glad that Allure puts them along with higher priced ones.

What I especially like about the Best of Beauty list is that they test and try many products to bring us the cream of the crop. Instead of going through dozens of products to possibly come to the same conclusion, I get the privilege of just using the winner!

Some items on my wish list:

Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara
Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm
Olay Fresh Effects Shine Minimizing Cleanser
RGB Nail Color in Blush
Bioré Self Heating One Minute Mask
Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream

Have you ever used any of these products? Can you recommend them? I have a birthday coming up in about a month, so hopefully I'll be able to snag some of these goodies <3

The full list is here for you to view/start your own wish list:

http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/best-of-beauty

Enjoy your Monday!

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Fan Friday...e.l.f. Cosmetics

I believe that every broke college student has worn something from Eyes Lips Face, more casually referred to as e.l.f. Cosmetics. You can find it in Target, Five Below, Walmart, and many other low-priced stores. However, the low price doesn't mean low quality. There are products from e.l.f. that I have actually stayed brand loyal to. I have sensitive skin that reacts to products quite easily, so I have to say that this is high praise!

Some brand background: e.l.f. was created in 2004 by Joseph Shamah and Scott Vincent Borba (who aided in the creation of Hard Candy), who were inspired by wealthy women paying low prices for cosmetics. Their price points were set at $1, $3, and $5. Most importantly, e.l.f. is 100% cruelty free.

Today, e.l.f. has expanded into three lines: Studio (professional-quality), Minerals (products made with natural minerals), and Essentials (your basic standards). The brand started with only 13 products, but now offers over 300 different items to choose from, from skin care and makeup to nail products and beauty tools.

Here are four of my all-time favorite e.l.f. products. I can't seem to part with them due to their awesome quality and super reasonable pricing!

e.l.f. Essential Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Movie Star, $2.00I just love this - goes on like lipstick but is glossy and sheer with a hint of color. Cheap and so easy!

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/lips/gloss/jumbo_lip_gloss_stick

e.l.f. Essential Liquid Eyeliner in Black, $1.00I know it seems crazy, but this is SO easy to use. I never mess up my cat eyes! I've never liked any liquid liner more than I like this one.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/eyes/eyeliner/liquid_eyeliner_

e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain, $3.00I rarely need a tinted moisturizer but I purchased it for the beach because I hate wearing sunscreen on my face. This did the job, covered well, and didn't cause any breakouts. Plus, it's the perfect size for trying out tinted moisturizer for the first time or for tossing in your bag. Love!

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/tinted_moisturizer/tinted_moisturizer_spf_20

e.l.f. Essential Tone Correcting Concealer in Ivory, $1.00
This stuff is great - it smells nice AND works well. I don't get a lot of pimples luckily, so this dab and dot is great for me. If I broke out more, I would probably need a bigger size, but this works great for small problems!

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/face/concealer/tone_correcting_concealer

Do you regularly use e.l.f.? What is your favorite product? 

Happy Friday, kittens! Enjoy the long weekend!

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