// Vine Vera "Cabernet" Skincare

I've never been much of a "skincare" girl. Truth be told, my routine is as follows: Wash face, use some Aveeno moisturizer. Boom. Done. I'm not a complicated gal. But Winter does an absolute number on my face. My skin gets so dry. It's terrible. It feels awful. It looks awful. It's just awful! Like, sandpaper awful. I've tried a few creams, I've tried some exfoliating wipes and masks and whatever else. But nothing has really ever done the trick. Kerry from Vine Vera emailed me several weeks back asking if I might be interested in trying out some of their skincare goodies. Since it's not normally something I really use, I didn't know if it'd be a good fit. However I am trying to step up my game a little bit and not be "Sandpaper Face" haha! I explained to Kerry that I didn't know much about stuff like this, but that I had very dry skin. She recommended the Cabernet Collection products and said she'd send some over for me to test out for a few weeks. Spoiler alert: My skin is hydrated and so smooth! (And I still know squat about skincare.)

When the box showed up at my house, I was sort of floored at the bevy of goodies sent over. Pinch me! I only really expected to get one or two pieces, but was so excited to see a wide variety of products. I wanted to get as much use out of the stuff as possible before writing about it because obviously I needed to experience it. Before I even used the products I was drooling over the fantastic logo (the wine glass V!) and the packaging (magnetic flap clasp boxes!). Seriously packaging alone can be what drives me to buy a product (even if I'll never ever use it. This is not Mike's favorite trait ha!) And I'm sure you've picked up on it already, but the whole brand is wine themed and the collections are various kinds: Merlot, Cabernet, Zinfandel, etc. Reservatrol is the main ingredient, and is commonly found in red wine. My mom would probably love it. She really likes wine.

I didn't really know how to use the collection, so I Googled the brand and BOOM: HowToUseVineVera.com showed up. It doesn't get much more straight forward than that. Anyway, now that I actually knew what to do with the stuff and when to use it, I started crafting my routine. Hands down, without a doubt, my favorite product in the collection in the Reservatrol High-Potency Cream. Before getting ready for the day I'd put some on my face and moisturize my skin before putting on my makeup. It helped everything stay in place, even without primer. What really sold me on it was that my foundation didn't crack on my nose during the day (from the wind/cold). Ugh that's the WORST! The Contour Eye Firming cream came in really handy when Linden's 4 month sleep regression kicked in. I've been using the Cellular Peel twice a week and the Serum at night (it moisturizes like the cream does, but goes on feeling so silky!) 

If you're into clean, paraben free cosmetics and brands that don't test on animals, this one is a hit. You definitely pay for the quality, but I know some folks who consider their skin care goodies gold. There wasn't a single thing in the collection that I didn't enjoy, though I think you might be able to get amazing results by just buying the cream or serum. They seemed to be the most effective for my skin type at least. The bottles/jars of product are VERY generous, so even with twice-daily use, the cream is sure to last me for a long time.  

So when it comes down to the final verdict, I really do love everything I've tried, though I think some of the pieces in the full collection could be a little redundant. I'd totally recommend the face cream/moisturizer above everything else. Would I buy it? If I could afford it, yes. It's probably pretty out of my league normally just because I'm still pretty clueless to it all, but I feel more comfortable with these products just from 4 weeks of use. Can you get similar results for less money? Good question! I'd like to compare the effects with something slightly more in my budget and see how they stack up. I'm certainly grateful for the chance to try it all out though, because now that I see a distinct difference in my face, I realize just how important a (good!) skincare routine is. You can check out the rest of what Vine Vera offers, as well as see where their store locations are, HERE. You can also follow Vine Vera on Twitter! xo

// What's In My Makeup Bag...

I thought I'd share a fun little post today on what I keep in my makeup bag. I've had a lot of fun these past few months trying out new products and really getting a feel for what works with my skin. I definitely have my fair share of favorites and hopefully you'll enjoy hearing about them!

1 // smashbox halo to go hydrating perfecting powder : i love how light and airy this powder feels. it's the perfect touch for year round wear in my opinion. (i wanted to test the waters before buying big so i bought this starter kit!)

2 // be a bombshell felt tip eyeliner : the thickness of this tip really comes in handy for me as i'm less likely to make a streaky mistake when applying a winged lid. i'm still a n00b, but i'm trying!

3 // e.l.f. tinted moisturizer : by far the best $3 find ever. this stuff is absolutely perfect for summer. i have naturally dry skin so i need moisture all day, every day. two thumbs way up for this stuff!

4 // anastasia beverly hills brow genius kit : DUDE! this stuff is by far my favorite beauty find of the year. it was a very kind gift from the ABH folks and i'm beyond thrilled with the product. i remember testing it out the very first day i received it. i promptly tossed out my benefit browzings and i've rationed out this post ever since! you need this. your brows will thank you!

5 // make up for ever rouge artist natural lipstick in "n34 - candy pink" : this color is my go to lip for every day. it's natural enough to blend in, but just enough color to give me a pep in my step.

6 // smashbox high definition concealer : (i also tried this from the starter kit!)

7 // nars smudge proof eyeshadow base : i think i picked this up as part of my 500 point perk at sephora a while back, but it's been in heavy rotation during my daily makeup routine.

8 // benefit watt's up luminizer : my daily makeup bag boasts the travel size version of this, but it's just as powerful! holy moly, one little swip of that tube and boom! my face is glowin! i'd say this is probably my secret little weapon in my bag. i don't wear it every day, but it makes a statement when i do!

9 // too faced "new year, new you" palette : i bought this as part of the NYNY kit and it's fantastic! i love the soft color of the blush, and the two eyeshadows in the palette have become my everyday colors. they're neutral and perfect for almost any occasion.

10 // juicy couture perfume : i hope it doesn't make me "uncool" to admit that i love this juicy couture scent. i can't help but think of terry cloth track suits and velour handbags when i think of juicy couture, but this perfume is perfect. i keep a full size bottle in my office and then this travel size spritzer in my bag for quick touch ups. the citrus scent is perfect for this weather!

As far as brushes are concerned, I tote around my little Victoria's Secret travel kit in my bag. It's the perfect size to zip up and toss in. I was actually quite surprised at the quality of the brushes and I have my lovely friend Christina to thank for that! She works at VS and totally schooled me on the cosmetics at VS when she was in town for my birthday. Can't wait til she comes back to visit again so we can make another trip out of it! ;) (Hint, hint, Christina!)

My daily makeup routine is incredibly simple (and quick!) but it certainly wouldn't be as easy to look refreshed if it weren't for these products above. I know my preferences and choices will change as I become more knowledgable on what's out there and what works for me (and my ever changing skin tone... and the weather... and you know, all those other variables!), but I can say with conviction that I'm really happy with my current routine! Hey, if my face is happy, I'm happy!

What do you keep in our daily makeup bag?! I'd love to hear! (If you write your own post, leave a link below so I can check it out! Or just tell us in the comments!)

PS; My makeup bag is from Forever 21! They also have a cosmetic case version, and they both come in multiple colors!

Favorite 'Fumes?

And no, I don't mean like gasoline or anything like that!

When I think about perfume I can't help but think mature, elegant, fancy... I'm not sure all of those adjectives rightfully describes the choices out there, but there's something about the shape of the glass bottles and the intricate design/tops that I simply can't get enough of. Well, at least looking at. Truth be told: I don't own a single fancy perfume. I guess I've never really been "that girl". But I am interested in finding a fun new scent that I'll wear daily. We all like to smell good, right? (I hope so!)

It's easy to get lost in the endless sea of what's available out there. Everything on the shelves looks so pretty, and even if you're not a huge fan of the scent you can see yourself putting that glass bottle on your mirrored vanity tray as a decorative piece.That's one thing about perfume that fascinates me! We use the packaging as decoration... marvelous! I honestly wear an $18 perfume from Anthropologie (that I love, don't get me wrong!) but it almost seems as if it doesn't quite stand up to the faceted glass pieces above.

I'm not one to go spend $100+ on some perfume. It just isn't that big of a priority to me. I have a few Sephora giftcards that I've been holding onto for far too long and I've ran out of my signature scent so I'm thinking that maybe this week I'll venture in and pick up a new one. Change is good, yea? I can't possibly test them all (Hello headache!) so I'm going to rely on you...

What is your favorite scent? Why? What does it smell like? What draws you to it?

I tend to love flower-y scents (though I don't want to smell as though I bathed in a liquid rose garden!), and I like a crisp, clean smell. I'm not much of a "musky" type of gal! How about you?

PS; If you're interested in any of the above perfumes, here is all of the source information for them! 

Feelin' Fancy

I worked up the courage and confidence (finally!) to wear red lipstick the other day. I've kind of found myself a little bit obsessed with lipstick as of late but I normally gravitate toward very pale and pearly pinks. I wore it all day long, and even put it on again yesterday (in these pictures) just to feel fancy. I realized just how much of a pep it put in my step. It stands out, calls attention to you and basically says "OH HEY, I'M HERE! RED LIPS, Y'ALL!" haha I kid! But in all honesty, we each have that one little thing that we do to make ourselves feel special, right? Be it a certain dress, curling our hair, putting on our favorite hoodie to lounge around in (even though that seems so backward). Even when we have no intention of leaving the house, doing this little thing for ourselves can seem like a real treat. (Seriously, I'm wearing bright red lipstick with gym clothes and ratty gym hair! Can't get much classier than that! ;) haha)

So my question for you is...

What is your special little thing? What do you do for yourself to make you feel like a million bucks?

PS; My lovely friend Moorea wrote one of the most inspiring posts about growing up and being bullied. She challenged her readers to "Paint Your Love" and that means to paint your nails a different color to show that self expression is beautiful! Moorea has been a constant source of encouragement for me and she truly has a way with words. She's putting herself out there to relate to others. She's a total gem and I know you'll find inspiration and encouragement in her post!

PPS; My new fabulous red lipstick is L'oreal Infallible in Refined Ruby!

Eyes Lips Face

In addition to shoes [!!!], I've become a bit more obsessed with makeup and nail polish. I mean, I've always liked makeup, don't get me wrong. But I was never really really into it. I'd find a blush or eyeliner that I liked and I'd simply stick with it. I ran out of Nars Orgasm blush and never felt like driving back to Franklin to pick up a $30 compact so I opted for someone's suggestion of Candid Coral blush by ELF. Amazingly it was $3 at Target! I actually really liked it so I continued to use it. It took me about 6 months go to through one little compact. Afterwards I found myself curious about the quality of the rest of the ELF line as someone inquired if I had tried some other things. Before moving out of Spring Hill I decided to run by Target and stock up on eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks, etc. Then once I got settled in here I found a 50% coupon code for the lipsticks! I quickly ordered a whole bunch of them as well as some nail polish. The pictures below don't do my little collection justice, but I wanted to share my feelings toward this company on the blog because I've been pleasantly surprised!

I'm a firm believer in splurging on great primer, foundation, and any products that you just truly truly love. (Bare Minerals foundation, Fresh Minerals and Smashbox primer, and MAC Fluidline eyeliner in my case!). But what about the other stuff? I've loved their lipsticks so far! At prices between $1 and $5 ($2.50 on sale!), they've been so great! My favorite shade thus far is a tie between Party Pink and Rosy Raisin. [Those are in the "Mineral Lipsticks" section!]. I've also loved the bronzer! It gives me a nice pinch of color to welcome in Spring. I'm a naturally pale gal but it's not dirty looking on my skintone.

If you've got a Target in your area, be sure to swing by and see if they have an ELF section in their cosmetics department! It's definitely worth a shot! Even if you end up hating it, chances are highly likely that you will have spent under $5!

Now through the 28th: Buy one item, get the 2nd for 50% off! Use the code PRESHALF on orders of $20 or more! 


I'm thinking about placing another order simply because the coupon code is so good! Hooray!

Remember, if you’re going to be using eye makeup, you do need to take particular care of your eye health too! Never use makeup that has gone past its use by date and check in with your optician for an eye test. They may recommended contact lenses or glasses from https://www.eyeglasses.com/ to help!

Have you ever used ELF Cosmetics? What are your thoughts? Worth the price? Better than you expected? What products are your favorite?

PS; This post is in no way, shape or form sponsored by or affiliated with Eyes Lips Face Cosmetics! I purchased these items with my own money. This is solely my personal opinion and I decided to do this post and review simply on my own account! I just like to share fun new products when I come across something fantastic.