Favorite Type of Makeup

Hello Again,

We are getting ready to move to a new apartment, and I spent part of the weekend organizing my makeup for the move.  While I already knew I had more makeup than any one person could ever need, I was amazed by the amount of one type of product in particular.  I have over 70 lipsticks! 

While I am a bit embarrassed by my consumerism, it was a wake up call that will (hopefully) prevent me from buying lipsticks in the future.  I mean, how many lipsticks does one girl need!?!?

Other areas of my collection are excessive, but none are like the lipstick situation.  How about you?  Are you an eyeshadow junkie, a foundation hoarder, a blush enthusiast?  Let me know in the comments.

I am considering doing a lipstick collection post (series?), but I may just focus on some of my faves instead.

Have a great week!

Talk Soon,

T.

Shampoo Review: Kenra Volumizing Shampoo

Hello Again,

As I am sure many of you know, UIta had a liter sale on salon-quality shampoos in July.  I took the opportunity to stock up on some hair products that are usually out of my price range.  I purchased liter bottles of Kenra Volumizing Shampoo (reg. $23) and Kenra Volumizing Conditioner (reg. $31) for $15.99 each!

Image from Kenra Website

I have been curious about Kenra products for a while and have heard mostly positive reviews.  My hair is not thin, but it definitely isn’t thick.  I am always looking for volumizing products.  The Kenra shampoo claims are below:

• Gently cleanses without adding weight
• Provides body and fullness for fine, lifeless hair
• Increases volume of thin-looking hair

          (Claims taken from Kenra’s website)

First off, the smell is interesting.  It smells a bit like bananas.  It isn't a bad smell, but it isn't the best shampoo smell ever.  When I first used the shampoo, I did notice that my hair felt lighter than normal.  It was kind of like the feeling I have when I get a haircut, and my hair feels lighter and healthier afterward.  After a few uses, my hair seemed to adjust to the shampoo, and I never got that "wow" feeling again.  I did not feel that my hair was exceptionally clean after using this shampoo, but it did the job.

Overall, I like the shampoo, but I have drugstore options that I like just as much.  This shampoo did give my hair some volume and fullness but no more so than Herbal Essences Body Envy.  On top of that, the smell was a bit off for me.  I wouldn't buy Kenra Volumizing Shampoo at full price, but I would probably splurge again during a sale.

Have you tried any Kenra products?  Which ones would you recommend?

Talk Soon,

T. 

NOTD: Revlon Rich Raspberry

Hello Lovelies,

Just a quick nail of the day.  Summer is winding down, and soon, the beautiful dark shades and neutrals of fall will be upon us.  I am relishing in the remaining summer days with bright, bold hues on my nails.   



Main Color: Revlon Colorstay Rich Raspberry; Accent Nail: Orly Charged Up 

I love the Revlon Colorstay polishes and own quite a few.  Rich Raspberry is one of my favorites.  It applies smoothly (this is two coats) and is instantly opaque.  I love the brush with these polishes because it is thick and easily covers the entire nail.  My only complaint is drying time.  They set relatively quick (about five minutes), and I can resume normal activity.  However, I sometimes get imprints and dents in the polish hours after application.  As long as you are mindful of what you are doing, it isn't a huge deal, but I tend to be a bit hard on my manicures.  The polish does last on my nails for 4 - 5 days before chipping, so that is a plus!

Which colors do you love from Revlon Colorstay? 

They are on sale at CVS right now.  They are on sale for $4.99, but you get $3 in ExtraBucks.  That is a pretty awesome deal for a polish that regularly retails for around $7 - $8.  I just picked up Rain Forest and will share it will you all soon.

Talk Soon,

T.

Wet n Wild Pop Art Craze Shadows

Hey Ladies,

Have any of you had a chance to check out the new limited edition shadows from Wet n Wild? There are six trios in the Pop Art Craze collection, and I picked up four of them.  As usual with WnW, these trios retail for $2.99.  Let's get to it!

From L to R: I'm Seeing Triples!, Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up, A Regular at the Factory, To Muse and Carouse

I'm Seeing Triples!

I found this trio the most intimidating in the package.  That is a serious lime green!  Like the other palettes, the shadow is very pigmented and blends beautifully.  I was particularly impressed with the intensity of the blue.  

Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up

This is my favorite of the bunch.  The colors are perfect for summer and are surprisingly wearable.

A Regular at the Factory

While I think the pigmentation is good all around, the blues in this collection are amazing!  The yellow looks almost neon in the pan, but on the skin, it is a smooth, buttery shade. I am a little intimidated by orange around the eyes, but this one is soft and blendable.

To Muse and Carouse

This is the one I was most excited about before swatching.  The cantaloupe/peachy orange is a really unusual shade, and the blue reminds me of the blue colored Sweet Tarts.  

Overall, I think this is a great release from Wet n Wild.  While the color combinations are a bit wacky, you can easily mix and match the shades to create looks that work for you.  These trios are well priced and provide good matte/satin options at the drug store.  Plus, I wouldn't want to spend $12+ dollars on a lime green or orange shadow, but at $3 for three shadows, I am much more likely to venture out of my comfort zone.

Look using Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up

What do you think of these shadows?  Do you own any of the trios?  Which one are you hoping to pick up?

Talk Soon,

T.

July IPSY Bag

Hey Hey,

I have been getting IPSY bags for about 5 months now, and I am continually impressed with the products and generous sizes.

For those of you who aren't familiar with IPSY, it is a monthly beauty subscription service.  For $10/month, you get a cute bag with 4 - 5 products to try.  Some of the products are deluxe sample-size while others are full-size.  As a former Birchbox subscriber, I didn't have high hopes for IPSY, but I have been blown away by the monthly goodies.

Check out www.ipsy.com, if you are interested in signing up.  There is a waitlist, but I only had to wait about a month.

Now, on to July's bag!

- POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Fuchsia Flirt (full-size)
- Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray (1.7 oz, deluxe sample)
- BH Cosmetics California Collection Sampler (deluxe sample)
- Coola Mineral Sunscreen (.23 oz, deluxe sample)
- Benefit Benetint (This is a tiny little thing, but I haven't used the product since high school. I am pretty stoked!)

From L to R: BH Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Hollywood, San Francisco, Malibu; POP Beauty Crayon in Fuchsia Flirt

As is becoming the norm with IPSY, I am excited for most of these products.  I can't wait to try the Healthy Sexy Hair Beach Spray, and I am loving the Malibu shade in the BH palette.

I can't speak for the products in my bag (I just got it last night), but as for the IPSY subscription service, I wholeheartedly recommend it!  It is a great way to try new things, and I have received a wide array of products.

Are you an Ipster?  Have you tried any of the products above?

Talk Soon,

T.

Beautiful and Bright Covergirl Lipsticks

Hey Ladies,

I just wanted to share some of my favorite lipsticks for summer.  In the warm months, I embrace bold lip colors, and I have three great options from Covergirl.

Fairytale, Divine, Flame

Fairytale, Divine, Flame

Fairytale: A beautiful, red-toned coral (This is my favorite of the bunch!!!)
Divine: A pinkish-plum
Flame: Tomato (or flame) red

All three are great, bright options for summer.  Do you own any of the shades above?  Do you have any recommedations for great summer lipsticks?

Talk Soon,

T.

New Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments

Hey Ladies,

I was so excited when I found out that Maybelline was releasing pigments as part of their Color Tattoo line.  I was even more excited when I found them in my drugstore!

The line includes twelve new shades ranging from neutrals to bold colors.  Check out the whole line here:

http://www.maybelline.com/Products/Eye-Makeup/Eye-Shadow/Eye-Studio-Color-Tattoo-Pure-Pigments-Loose-Powder-Shadow.aspx

Since I already own a whole heap of eyeshadows, I decided to limit myself to one shade.  I chose Breaking Bronze because I knew I would get a ton of use out of it. 

Breaking Bronze

It is a beautiful color on its own and looks amazing layered over a cream shadow.  As with other pigments, these can be worn wet or dry.

L: Applied Dry
R: Applied Wet

The pigmentation is great, and the color is a beautiful golden bronze that can be blended for a natural look or worn opaque for a bolder look.  With a cream base, I did not experience any creasing, and I have worn the shadow for 8+ hours without fading.  

I can't speak for the rest of the collection, but for me, Breaking Bronze is definitely a hit!  

Have you tried any of the new pigments from Maybelline?  Share your thoughts below.

Talk Soon,

T.

New from Revlon Super Lustrous



Hey Ladies,

I recently posted about my experience with the new Revlon Super Lustrous lipglosses.

Original post here: http://thelifeofyouraveragetwenty-something.blogspot.com/2013/05/whats-up-wednesday-late-new-revlon.html

I decided to give the lipglosses another go and also purchased one of the lipsticks from the display. 





Lipstick: Berry Couture, Lipgloss: Berry Allure

Berry Couture, Berry Allure

The lipstick, Berry Couture, is from the new Super Lustrous Shine collection.  It is a beautiful, sheer wash of berry that is much more natural on the lips than it appears in the tube.

I am still not thrilled that I get less product with the glosses, but I do like the new round packaging.  I also love Berry Allure.  It is beautiful and wearable.  However, it is one of the darker colors in the collection, and the pigmentation isn't great.  I like the color, but if you are looking for a more pigmented gloss, the new Revlon Super Lustrous glosses don't really bit the bill.

Have you tried the new glosses or shine lipsticks?  What shades are your favorites?

Talk Soon,

T.

L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation

Hey Ladies,

When I saw this foundation, I was instantly drawn to the cute packaging.  Plus, the liquid-to-powder concept is pretty unusual for a drugstore product. 

The foundation comes in a glass bottle that contains .91 fl oz. of product.  It retails for around $10 - $12 dollars.  There are 12 shades in the range, and I chose 316 Nude Beige.

First Impression:

The glass bottle, while cute, is a bit bulky, and the opening at the top is really, really small.  The actual foundation is incredibly thin and runny.  The combination of the small opening and the runny product makes it difficult to use.

The top of the foundation compared to a MAC lipstick

Given my experience with getting the product out and ready for use, I did not have high hopes for the application.  However, it went on smoothly and covered well.  I applied the product using my fingers (as recommended on the bottle).  I did need to use more product than I normally would, but the finish was amazing.

I think the key to using this foundation is to get an ample amount of product and not overwork it.  I applied it to small sections of my face at a time and blended it in with my fingers.  It transforms to a powder-like finish pretty quickly, so there is not a lot of time for blending.  It is a bit annoying (not to mention unsanitary) to keep returning to the bottle for more product, but since the product is so runny and hard to control, it is difficult to keep it on the back of your hand. 

Results:

Application problems aside, the product looks great on the skin, and it feels so silky smooth.  I really liked the results it gave, as it seemed to make my combination skin look glowy.  This is probably not the best formula for dry skin, since the powder-like consistency may cause it to cling to dry patches.  The coverage is about average for a drugstore foundation.  It is on par with my Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation but not as heavy as Relvon Colorstay.

No Makeup

Foundation Only

Finished Look

One thing that really impressed me about this product was the wear time.  I wore it for 8+ hours without a touch up and still looked great at the end of the night.

Overall:

This is a cool idea and very unique for the drugstore.  If you need a new foundation and want to experiment with a new product, I think this is a good one to choose.  I would recommend it because it has a beautiful finish and mixes well with other foundations.

On its own, I don't think this is my "go-to" foundation, but it is a solid product.

Pros:
Unique Concept
Beautiful Finish
Blends Well with Others

Cons:
Runny Formula
Weird Bottle

Overall Grade: B

Talk Soon,

T.

L'Oreal Youth Code Face Wash... You Won't Believe How Much I Paid...

19 cents!

Yes, reader, I got a full-size L'Oreal Youth Code Face Wash for .19!  I am not a huge couponer, but I received a "$3 off a L'Oreal face product" coupon on a receipt at CVS.  I also saw that L'Oreal had a $1 off skincare coupon while reading one of my favorite blogs, Nouveau Cheap, so I grabbed that one too. 

Coupon is here: http://www.save.com/coupons/beauty

At my CVS, the face wash retails for $8.49.  I was totally prepared to pay $4.49 for it, but when I scanned it, it rang up on sale for $4.19.  Um... YES!!! 

I really needed a new face wash because I just started using the Vitamin E Cleanser from The Body Shop, and it breaks me out :(  I am really excited to try Youth Code, and I will let you know how it goes.




Image from Target.com

Finally, for you ladies who are ballin' on a budget (like me), definitely check out Nouveau Cheap:

http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/

Talk Soon,

T.

I'm Back with The Makeup I Am Excited About for Summer!

Hey Ladies,

I haven't posted in a while because I have been working on some other areas in my life and blogging took a back seat (boo!).  I am back now, and I will try to post every week. 

Summer is here, and that means bold, beautiful and bright makeup looks!  Yay!  I have recently purchased  a few products (reviews coming soon), and I am on a new budget that is doing wonders for my wallet (more on that coming soon too).  Because I am watching my spending, I am going to be mixing my new finds with some old favorites in my makeup collection, and I am really excited to reconnect with some forgotten products. 

Here are five products I look forward to using all. summer. long.

1) Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Lumizing Powder in Spotlight

2) Benefit Blush in Coralista

3) Lorac Pro Palette

4) NYC Bronzer in Sunny

5) Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquers

NYC Bronzer in Sunny, Benefit Coralista, Lorac Spotlight

What are you looking forward to using over the next couple months?

Talk Soon,

T.

What's Up Wednesday: Blogging Blues

Hey Ladies,

I am taking a bit of a break from the blog.  Things are just really busy in my life right now, and with the beautiful weather, I would rather be outside, soaking up sunshine, than sitting in front of a computer screen. 

That being said, I will still post about my makeup finds and other random life happenings.  Yesterday, I went on a great walk with a friend, and I am feeling very optimistic about my fitness future.  More posts on that coming soon.

This Memorial Day weekend, I am spending time with my family and taking in a baseball game.  I can't wait. 

Anyway, I love this little blog, and I will not be away for long. 

I hope you are all doing incredibly well!

Talk Soon,

T.

What's Up Wednesday (Late): New Revlon Super Lusterous Lipgloss- Sugar Violet

Hey Ladies,

First of all, I am sorry this post is late going up.  Traveling over the past week has kicked my butt :(

I am sure that many of you have heard (or seen) that Revlon has released a new formula and shades of their Super Lustrous Lipgloss.  This news will likely be met with mixed feelings, as many people adore the old line and all signs point to it being discontinued. 

The new lipgloss comes in 10 shades and retails for roughly the same price as the old glosses.    The new tubes are round instead of square and and deliver only .13 fl ounces of product.  The old tubes held 2 fl ounces.  Less product for the same price is a bit of a bummer, but I wanted to try the new formula anyway.

I find the new formula less sticky than before, and the scent is different.  I wasn't really a fan of the previous, slightly-minty scent, and I am neutral on the new one.  It doesn't stink, but it doesn't smell good either.  I read that it is a vanilla scent, but I don't really smell vanilla.

On to the actual shade I purchased- Sugar Violet

First of all, Sugar Violet is gorgeous in the tube!  It is a bright purple-pink color with visible glitter.  It immediately jumped out at me in the display.

Revlon Sugar Violet and Snow Pink (Picture from Allure)
http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/makeup/lip-gloss/2013/revlon-super-lustrous-lip-gloss

I was really hoping for a MAC Heroine look on the lips, but this product did not deliver.  It turned out to be very faintly pigmented.  On my lips, it looked more or less like a clear gloss with glitter.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I wanted.



Wearing only Revlon Super Lusterous Lipgloss in Sugar Violet



Swatch of Sugar Violet

The new lipglosses were released with a new line of Super Lustrous Shine Lipsticks.  I picked up Berry Couture and will be reviewing that for you in a few days. 

Have you ladies tried anything from this launch?  Some of the other glosses look really good, so I might be willing to try again.  Are you sad to see the old Super Lustrous glosses fade away?  Scoop them up now, while they are on clearance!

Talk Soon,

T.

O Canada

Hey All,

I am in Canada for a few days, visiting my boyfriend's family. We drove up yesterday, so I missed a Get Fit Friday post. I am also going to miss Makeup Monday, but I have some exciting stuff (including Sleek products) to share when I get back.

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! I will talk to you all next week.

Tiffany

What's Up Wednesday: Favorite Sport?

Hey There,

Spring/summer is my favorite time of year, and one of the biggest reasons is baseball!  I am a huge fan of the Washington Nationals.

I didn't go to my first game professional game until 2010, but now, I go as often as I can.  My dad is a baseball fan too, so I love our dad/daughter days at the ballpark.

This year, the Nats are off to a good start.  I hope things continue to go well into September and *hopefully* October.

Are any of you baseball fans?  Which are your favorite teams?  If you aren't into baseball, what sport do you like best?

Talk Soon,

T.

Makeup Monday: Shampoo I Am Loving

Hey Girls,

So, shampoo is not makeup, but it is beauty related...  Anyway, I have found two great options lately, and I want to share them with you.

1) Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo ($12 for 8.5 ounces)

I love Aveda products because I feel like they are better for my hair than a lot of other hair care options.  This shampoo smells very fresh and leaves my hair fluffy and voluminous without any other products.  This is my favorite shampoo for days when I let my hair dry naturally.

Image from Aveda
http://www.aveda.com/product/5311/16530/Hair-Care/Shampoo/Rosemary-Mint-Shampoo/index.tmpl

2) Suave Morocan Infusion Shine Shampoo (About $3.99 for 12.6 ounces)

This shampoo smells amazing!  It is the only Morocan infused shampoo I have found that smells like the original.  Plus, the price point is great.  It leaves my hair shiny and smelling like a dream.  This is my favorite shampoo for days when I wash my hair in the AM.  All day long, I am smelling my own hair... in a totally not creepy way :)

Image from Target
Available at Target, CVS, etc.

Those are the shampoos I am loving at the moment.  Have you tried either of these?  Do you have any shampoo recommendations for me?

Talk Soon,

T.

Get Fit Friday: Go Outside!

Hello All,

Yesterday, my office had a team morale event, and at first, "I was like, whoopie, team morale" in my usual sarcastic way, but after a bit of time outside, I was loving life!  The weather was beautiful, my coworkers played cornhole, wiffle ball and volleyball, and I even shocked myself by joining in on some flag football.

It was so nice to be outside and to be active during the workday.  I promised myself that I am going to continue to get outside during the day.  Sitting at my desk is not going to get me any closer to my fitness goals.  Over the next few weeks, I am going to make a conscious effort to go outside for at least half an hour (part of my lunch hour) during the work week and get some physical activity in before the end of the workday.  I think it will work wonders for me physically and mentally (thanks, vitamin D!).

What do you all do to stay in shape despite sitting at a desk all day?  What are some fitness activities you are looking forward to, now that the weather is so beautiful?

Talk Soon,

T.

What's Up Wednesday: Loss and Healing

Hey Ladies,

I lost my mom to cancer last November.  She was my favorite person in the whole world, and I miss her so much every day.  Obviously, I am struggling with the loss, but I have found a few things that have really, really helped. 

My first post about losing my mom: http://thelifeofyouraveragetwenty-something.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-life-now.html

I have been attending a six-week bereavement support group for about a month now.  With a couple sessions remaining, I really feel like I am benefiting from the experience.  I am in a parent loss group, and each week, we talk about our loved ones, our loss and how it is affecting our daily lives.  It has been wonderful to connect with other people who understand the difficulty of losing a beloved parent. 

Since my group is winding down, I wanted to look for different ways to continue working through my grief and honoring my mom.  I am so excited about what I found!

In June, I will participate in the 2013 Annual Butterfly Release with the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing.  During the ceremony, the names of the participants' loved ones will be read aloud, and we will each release a butterfly in honor or memory of our loved one.  Cool, right?  I think my mom would love the idea.

Everyone deals with grief differently, but talking about and celebrating my mom's life seems to help me the most.  I am really looking forward to the butterfly release.

Here are some more details about the event:

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=tfb8x9dab&oeidk=a07e6ztk23j49bb1b82

If you have experienced a loss or are struggling with something in your own life, please remember, you are not alone!  Seeking support from a group or a friend can often make a world of difference.  Another tip: listen to "It Gets Better" by FUN a few (hundred) times.  That always helps me :)

And now, some "art" I created in Paint:

Talk Soon,

T.

Makeup Monday: Tarte Glamazon 24-Hour Lipstick

Hello All,

I recently purchased my first Tarte Glamazon lipstick and wanted to share my thoughts with you.  These are long-wearing lipsticks that retail for $26 each.  There are currently 10 shades available, ranging from neutral tones to a bold, true red.

I chose Foxy, a beautiful magenta.  I love the color and the adorable packaging!

It goes on very smoothly, especially for a long wearing formula.  I did find it a bit drying, but a dab of lip balm solves that problem.  It also has a beautiful satin sheen.

The lipstick stayed put for 5+ hours.  It did lose its sheen during wear, but the vibrant color stayed behind.  Overall, I am very pleased with this lipstick offering from Tarte.  The biggest downside is the pricetag.  If you have a coupon, gift card or some extra cash for lipstick, I definitely recommend checking these out.

Sephora: http://www.sephora.com/glamazon-pure-performance-12-hour-lipstick-P375344?skuId=1437177

Talk Soon,

T.

Get Fit Friday: My First Ever Cleanse!

Hey Girls,

Have you ever done a juice cleanse?  A cleanse where you just focused on eating natural?  I have never done a cleanse of any kind, but I am starting one soon!  LivingSocial recently had a deal on RawJuvenate Organic Detox, and I decided to give it a try.

RawJuvenate Organic Detox: http://www.rawgreenorganics.com/rawjuvenate/

I am doing the 14 day option, and it seems realitively simple.  I start my day with a smoothie made from the protein powder and green drink mix, and I take the probiotics, fiber and aloe capsules afterward. Otherwise, I just eat a healthly diet and drink lots and lots of water.  Voila!  Hopefully, I will feel better, have more energy and be ready to get serious about eating better and getting in shape.  

I am usually really leery of cleanses and dieting products, but I am not doing this to lose weight.  I am doing it because I have been eating A LOT of junk, my body is rebeling, and I just want to detox and start fresh. 

My cleanse hasn't arrived yet, but I will keep you prosted on my progress.  Have any of you tried RawJuvenate?  Any tips for my first detox/cleanse?

Talk Soon,

T.

What's Up Wednesday: Doctor's Visit

Hello All,

I am not feeling well, and I went to the doctor today.  Something about going to the doctor always frustrates me, and I feel like I never get anything accomplished.  She poked, prodded, ran some tests and sent me to the hospital for some x-rays.  I left without any answers and a lot more questions.  Ugh!

Anyway, I didn't have a lot of time for blogging in between doctor's visits, but I wanted to type out a few tips to help me (and maybe you) during the next doctor's appointment.

1) Tell the doctor EVERYTHING- You never know what little details could make a big difference.

2) Remember to ask questions- If your doctor says something you don't understand, ask him/her to clarify.  There are no stupid questions- especially when it comes to your health.

3) Ultimately, you are responsible for your own health- If you are uncomfortable with a diagnosis or treatment plan, seek a second opinion.  Do everything you can do to ensure that you feel good about the decisions being made about your health.

I hope all of you are doing well, and I will post again on Fitness Friday.

Talk Soon,

T.

Makeup Monday: Wet N Wild Nude Awakening Palette

Hey Ladies,

Wet N Wild released two limited edition palettes for Spring.  After reading reviews, I decided Nude Awakening would be a great addition to my collection.  The eight-pan palette is full of beautiful neutral shades and features the pigmentation we have all come to love from WnW.                               

Wet N Wild: Nude Awakening (Cute Spring Packaging)

Nude Awakening includes six shimmer shadows and two matte shades.  The shades vary in sheen and pigmentation, and the darker shades have better pigmentation than the lighter shades.

                                      

                                      
Overall, the colors are not particularly unique, but for the price and quality, it is a worthwhile palette.  My personal favorite shade was the "browbone" color on the right side of the palette. Gorgeous!

Do you ladies own this palette?  What are your thoughts?  If you don't own it, would you like to pick one up?

Talk Soon,

T.

New Format!!!

Hey Ladies,

I have decided to mix things up a bit here at The Life of Your Average Twenty-Something.  I am going to start blogging on a routine basis, three times a week.  Instead of being totally beauty related, I will incorporate blogs about my life and my attempt to get fit.  I hope you will join me on my exciting new journey!

The blogs will be as follows:

Makeup Mondays

What's Up Wednesdays? (Updates on my life, random thoughts)

Get Fit Fridays

In the future, I may add other blogs such as Take-Me-Out Tuesdays (date night ideas) or Tasty Thursdays (my attempts at recreating dishes and maybe an original recipe or two).  For now, I am going to stick with my tri-weekly plan.

I look forward to continuing to connect with all of you.  Let's kick this blogging change off with something pretty:

Cherry Blossoms Last Week

Talk Soon,

T.

Follow Me on Bloglovin'

Hey Ladies,

With GFC disappearing, I have set up The Life of Your Average Twenty-Something on Bloglovin.  Just click the button to the right to follow along.

Thanks so much!

T.

My NYX Blush Collection

Hello Girls,

There seems to be a consensus in the beauty community that NYX blushes are some of the best drugstore blushes in the business  I wholeheartedly agree!  I love NYX powder and cream blushes, but for this post, I am focusing on my powder blush collection.  The line offers a wide array of shades in a variety of finishes.  The only thing you have to be aware of with NYX is that their product names are a little off... For example, "Peach" is actually a beautiful warm, pinky shade.  Luckily, there are tons of swatches and reviews online, so you can make an informed decision before purchasing.  NYX is sold at nyx.com, cherryculture.com and in most ULTA stores.  Let's get to it!

NYX Blush: Summer Peach, Rose Garden, Pinky, Bourgeios Pig, Red

Same as Above (with Flash)

The pigmentation on these blushes is wonderful (see below), and they are very easy to apply and blend.  I also love that there are matte options at drugstore prices!   

Summer Peach- Shimmery pale peach

Rose Garden- Very shimmery pale pink

Pinky- Matte bright pink (as you can see, mine is very well loved)

Bourgeois Pig- Matte blue-toned pink, deeper than Pinky

Red- Matte red (this shade reminds me of Tarte's Natural Beauty)

Summer Peach, Rose Garden, Pinky, Bourgeouis Pig, Red

The line also features some nice neutral shades and some beautiful browns, including cult favorite Terra Cotta.

I definitely recommend checking these out: http://www.cherryculture.com/cosmetics/makeup/nyx/nyx-powder-blush/16203&cat=306&page=1

Do you have any NYX blushes you love?  Are there any other shades I should try?

Talk Soon,

T.

NOTD: Polka Dots

Hey Girls,

Just a quick nail of the day!  I have been experimenting with nail art.  I love Miss Jen Fabulous's YouTube tutorials because she makes it so easy to understand.  For this look, I attempted the third tutorial from the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9on3pHIsHw0

My nails are not quite long enough to achieve the graduated polka-dot look, but I am still pleased with the results.

Colors Used:
Base- OPI You're Such a Budapest
Mint Dots- Color Club Blue-Ming
Yellow Dots- L'Oreal Cream Puffs
Pink Dots- Zoya Lo
Blue Dots- Zoya Blu

What nail looks are you loving lately?

Talk Soon,

T.

FOTD: Love Affair with Louis

Hey Girls,

Here is a quick face of the day and mini product review on some of my recent NYX purchases.  I used the NYX In Love with Paris palette in Love Affair with Louis for my eyes and also used NYX lip products.  See below for more details!

FOTD

Swatches: Love Affair with Louis

Love Affair with Louis

You all already know my thoughts on the adorable NYX packaging.   Love Affair with Louis features vibrant blue shades that look absolutely stunning in the pan.  These are all shimmery shades, and there are some gorgeous deep blues and a teal that offset the more neutral options.  Unfortunately, these do not swatch or show up on the eyes very well.  The colors sort of blend together and give off a gray effect.  I did really enjoy the teal, which I used as eyeliner, and the medium blue shade is also quite nice.

Eye Look- Love Affair with Louis

Since I chose a bold eye look, I decided to keep the lips simple.  I used NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar and topped it with NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie.  I absolutely love the lipstick and can't say enough good things about the formula, pigmentation and finish.  I am not a huge fan of the butter gloss.  I do not find it very pigmented, and the formula is okay.  It smells nice and does not feel sticky.  I love the NYX Mega Shine formula (minus the smell), and this one doesn't compare in terms of shade selection or ease of wear.

NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie, Love Affair with Louis, NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar

Whipped Caviar, Maple Blondie

Also wearing:

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation- Shell
Bare Minerals Mineral Foundation- Medium Beige (Used as powder)
Almay Line-Smoothing Concealer
NYC Bronzer- Sunny
MAC Blush- Loverush
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner- Zero
Almay Get Up and Grow Mascara- Black Brown

That is all for now.  Have you tried any of these products?

Talk Soon,

T.