Samples, Samples, and more Samples!

Ugh! Have you heard of those cute companies that send those cute little boxes every month with samples to try?? There are so many! How can you choose?!? Well luckily for you, I know a little bit about them and I am going to tell you a little bit about what I do know. For each company listed below you basically create a profile. You pick out all the stuff you would usually buy (brands, sizes, price ranges) and based off your profile, a personal stylist puts together a box for you.

Birchbox.

So Birchbox is the most popular sampler right now. They have seniority and they are dependable. What I like about them the most is that they do not waitlist you. You literally get a box of sample sized goodies every month for $10 and you can cancel anytime! What I don't like about them, the samples are literally samples.

Ipsy.

Unlike Birchbox, Ipsy sends you full size samples. What I mean by a "full size sample" is they send you the actual size of the product you would buy. But this is only for make up. And only some products, like mascara's and nail polish. Sometimes you get lucky and get a full size eye liner, but things they can sample, they will send you sample size items. This company is also $10 and you can cancel anytime.

Every month you can pick the items they send you based out of the monthly selection they pre-chose for you. They even send you a different make up bag every month to hold your samples. They sound amazing right? Their only flaw... they waitlist. You can however skip the waitlist by individually inviting people to see ipsy's website. But, who has time to individually invite people on a website?! Ugh.

Wantable.

So Wantable is really cool. But this company does not send you "samples" like the other companies above. What this website does is that it give you options of 4 types of offers. Accessories, make-up, lingerie, or active wear. 

How accessories work: If you are familiar with Just Fab this is exactly how it works. Every month you pay $39.99 and you are sent accessories up to $40. Unlike Just Fab you aren't simply sent one item, and you don't get to choose. Last month, my friend got a few necklaces, a few bracelets, and an awesome ring! Sometimes she gets 4 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, sunglasses, and a bracelet. And she's already gotten 2 watches. They mix and match and they always send you 3+ items. In my opinion, this option is the best one.

How make up works: Your make-up membership is the same price every month, $39.99. This will include make up "samples" but they send you full size items. So basically they will send you 2+ items to sample and you get to keep both items for only $39.99. Most of the time they send you items that would cost more, so you are getting a discount. 

How lingerie works: Intimate membership is slightly different than purchasing the memberships for accessories and make up. I am not too sure if you pay a one time styling fee like you would for the active wear membership, or if you pay the $36 monthly. But I do know that they send you 3 items for you to choose. If you decide to keep all 3 items, they give you a discount.

How active wear works: Before I tell you to go and get this, I tried it, and did not like what they sent to me. The idea was really cool and I was so excited to receive my first box, but I was highly disappointed. First you pay a $20 one time fee for a personal stylist to handpick the items you would receive your first month. You then create a profile choosing the items you would regularly buy (brands, sizes, price range). They then send you 5 items, and if you keep all 5 items you receive 30% off all items and they bill you in 5 business days once they are sure you did not return any items. To return items they give you a return label with your delivery. If you only keep 3-4 items, you get 20% off. But when I got my package I was given items way above my price range and things I wouldn't wear unless you paid me to wear it in a photoshoot. And even then, I still would tell that stylist they need my help stylin'.

Fabletics.

Now the best one! Fabletics! This is the Fitness line by Kate Hudson offered by Just Fab!! This line has so many adorable pieces and very modern looks for active wear. Your first order is 50% off and this month they are offering a free pair of Fabletics Leggings with your order. Each month they charge you $50 and send you an outfit to wear to the gym. Sometimes you get socks instead of a sports bra but I have only heard great things about this line and deal. You can skip the month anytime but you cannot cancel your subscription without a really good reason, so start thinking.

Want to join? Click here! Or copy this URL: http://www.fabletics.com/invite/67019850/

All pictures link straight to the site!

XOXO,

Glam Ready Make Up

Lately a lot of girls have been complimenting my make up. Some girls have even been asking what apps I use to filter my photos. And whats great is that I don't use any apps and I actually hate filters. In my opinion, filtering takes away your natural beauty. Make up works just as well as any app or filter. 

So I am going to share with you my little secret. I learned how to highlight and contour my face so my make up looks professional, clean, and in high definition. Its so easy, you can do it too! Below is a video from Jaclyn Hill, the make up goddess. She literally will show you how magical make up can be. 

I personally do not put on as much make up, because this humidity down here can make your face look heavy and "cakey". I would also stick with using more cream like products and finishing with a light base of powder to keep your face looking smooth and natural.

What you need:

1. Brushes!!! - You need brushes. You need a brush for everything. It is sort of disgusting to use the same brush for different things. You can't use a brush to blemish, then put bronzer on it, then put blush on it, and wipe that all over your face. You're mixing shades around your face and you will look dirty. 
2. Highlighters - Elf has a really good highlighter for $3 at Target. Or you can use an even better one from MAC, which I would expect to be $10-30. 
3. Concealer - concealer and foundation are two totally different items.
4. Bronzer - this is not blush. The less shimmer, the better.
5. Blush - multiple shades. You can't always rock pinkish blush. What if you're wearing red lipstick? You will look like a clown.

Video:

Jaclyn Hill has a channel full of different tutorials. My suggestion: subscribe to her channel. She is always posting new videos and they are always helpful.

10 Top Drugstore Concealers:

Click the photo to see my favorite 10 drugstore concealers.

Ladies, I want you to know I am not being trying to be rude by giving you my opinions. I am a diva who is trying to help you gorgeous creatures avoid ugly filters. If anyone has any suggestions or would like to recommend anything to me, place a comment in my comment box and I will try to respond to everyone's requests. 

Have a great weekend!

XOXO,

10 Top Drugstore Concealers

I usually do not give make up tips or tutorials because make up is not really my choice of interest compared to my interest in styling clothes; but today, I am going to help you guys find a concealer under $10. The reason for this post is because lately I have been investing in brand make up; but sometimes you end up spending money on make up that works just as good as a common, "drugstore" brand. So these past few days I have been researching the top beauty drugstore brands and here is what I found:

1. Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighter Concealer

Starts at $7.99

This concealer is a wand. This highlighting concealer works best under your eyes. Use this as a concealer to brighten your face. Do not use this concealer on your forehead or on your chin if you have combination oily skin. After a few hours of having this concealer on your face in the wrong areas, it may cause your face to look a bit cakey. If you would like to see a tutorial on this product click here.

Quick Tip: Remember with a highlighter concealer, you do not want to use this type of concealer to cover up blemishes. Highlighter concealers brighten your face and will make blemishes brighter and can make blemishes look bigger than they are.

2. Palladio Herbal Liquid Concealer

Starts at $5.99 

Sold at Ulta or Sally's Beauty Supply

I like this concealer because it has a vitamin-enriched formula that can be used for everyday coverage and color correction. So if you have any red areas on your cheeks or forehead, this is the concealer I would try to use. I would try the banana or mint-colored options to disguise dark bags or red eyelids. 

3. Revlon Colorstay Under Eye Concealer

Starts at $9.99

If you are searching for an overall natural-looking effect I would try this concealer out. Its easy to use and light on your skin. You can use this concealer on anything and everything you want to hide. Including red spots, blemishes, or unwanted zits.

4. L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer

Starts at $8.99

This crayon concealer is best for covering small blemishes or highlighting the contour of your nose. The crayon comes on smooth and lasts all day.

5. e.l.f. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer - Oil Free

Starts at $3

Sold at Target

I think I am a major fan of this concealer. For one, its only $3.00! And two, e.l.f. make up is actually really good. This concealer is awesome because you can apply on both your body and your face. You can use this concealer to cover up scars, tattoos, or any unwanted zits. It gives you a flawless face coverage. I like to mix this concealer with my Ponds Face Moisturizer and my face is extremely soft and protected from UV Rays. 

6. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer

Starts at $8.99

Besides the crazy long name of this concealer, I've heard so many great things about it. This treatment/concealer performs miracles on those with dark circles and fine lines of aging. This concealer nourishes your skin and helps prevent wrinkles.

7. Rimmel London Match Perfection Skin Tone Adapting Concealer

Starts at $5.99

This concealer pulls the ultimate double duty. With its creamy consistency and brush applicator, it hides those dark circles while highlighting your entire eye area. This is another concealer that I would only use for the eye area. Not on the rest of your face.

8. NYX Cosmetics Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand

Starts at $4.99

Sold at Ulta

This concealer wand is pretty cool. Everything on social medias nowadays are HD everything. So they made this concealer to hide all blemishes and red spots for your high definition photos. It's actually pretty interesting. They have 11 different shades for you to choose from and the concealer is smooth and won't look cakey after a whole day of wearing it.

9. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Starts at $6.49

This concealer is a wonderful solution for masking facial discoloration or age spots. I like to use this concealer as an addition to the "Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighter Concealer" in place 1 above. This concealer can also be used as a highlighter but I rather use this on my actual face. 

Quick Tip: When using this as a highlighter, I would also apply a few dots under your eyebrows to make your eyes look bigger.

10. L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Concealer

Starts at $8.99

This concealer is similar to place 4 above but they are not the same. This is not a crayon, and this concealer is enriched with vitamins. It has Vitamin E and Pro Vitamin B5. It nourishes your skin while hiding blemishes. However, I do not recommend using this under your eyes. It tends to settle in your lines and makes wrinkles more obvious.

Quick Tip: Applying Concealer Under Your Eyes

When applying the concealer under your eyes you want to make sure you are placing dots in a curve like line under your eyes from your nose to the end of your eyebrow (still under the eye, not above your eye). When rubbing in the concealer you want to make sure you rub the concealer in a circular motion. Rubbing the concealer side to side can cause the concealer to sit in your lines making your eye circles/wrinkles more obvious.

For my favorite tutorial, click here.

XOXO,

Peter Thomas Roth, Two

I told you guys about my favorite bath products a few weeks ago from Peter Thomas Roth; well I found my absolute, favorite product. So, we all pop pimples or zits all the time. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all do it. And we all know you're not suppose to. And sometimes we end up terminating them way before we are suppose to and we get an ugly scab on your face. Almost worse than the stupid zit. Well, I just found the world's secret to eliminating those ugly scabs in 3 days. I sound like a commercial, I should start getting paid for this.

But in all seriousness, I went to Ulta to restock up on my favorite bath products and the sales associate helping me gave me a sample of Peter Thomas Roth's Firm Peeling Gel. And I am sold. I am going to buy a full bottle as soon as possible. 

What this gel does is eliminate all dead skin from your face. Which is an amazing product that you should use regularly if you have dry skin (face only). But for girls with a more oil base skin, I would use this when you have a sunburn, or when you make the mistake of trying to terminate a zit that isn't ready - scabs. 

You rub this gel on your face when its dry. Continue rubbing the area or areas you need dead skin removed.  You immediately see skin being removed. Once you're done exfoliating your face, go rinse with warm water, then pat your face dry with a clean towel. 

Average prices for this product are about $50. But if you're scared to buy a product so expensive before trying it out, ask any local beauty store if they have any samples. I promise you, you'll be sold once you try it. I'm bringing it with me on my cruise, so despite any sunburning, my face will look fresh and hydrated no matter how dry it naturally is.

Here are some stores you can find Peter Thomas Roth Products:

Peter Thomas Roth

Ulta

Sephora

Nordstrom

Macy's

Amazon 

Ebay

Dermstore

and more, just Google away!

XOXO,

Peter Thomas Roth

I am always looking for new products [that work] to help breakouts and keeping my skin clear and healthy. My good friend, who is also a DIY Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger, Doce Douze, recommended that I try out the Peter Thomas Roth products. And there is absolutely nothing bad I could say about these products. I immediately saw my skin clearing up and maintaining that smooth look. 

First I started off just using the body wash but I immediately saw how it cleared out my skin and it moisturized my skin. From just using that one product I immediately stopped by Ulta to purchase a few more products. I decided to buy the bath set that I displayed above. The hair products are amazing but I cannot get over how much these products have done for my skin. I am addicted to putting on lotion daily, sometimes three times a day, but now that I started using these products, I only moisturize sometimes in the mornings. The body wash takes care of it. 

My next favorite product from this line is the De-Spot Skin Brightening Corrector. What is does is help reverse the appearance of any dark spots and discolorations. It gives your skin an even skin tone and helps your skin prevent from aging dramatically.

The next product I want to tell you about is the Massaging Bar. You would never believe the miracles this thing does until you try it. And using it feels amazing! You use it as a bar soap and massage your skin in a circular motion. The bumps on the massage bar help stimulate your skin while you cleanse. I also use this product on my face after using the Peter Thomas Roth Facial Products. I am not kidding, I've became a Peter Thomas Roth addict!!

I definitely encourage you to try these products if you have any spots you want to remove, if your skin breaks out easily, or even if you have dry like skin. These products can be a bit pricey but they are worth every penny!! And honestly, you can find these products everywhere.

Here is a list of places you can find these products!

Peter Thomas Roth

Ulta

Sephora

Nordstrom

Macy's

Amazon 

Ebay

Dermstore

and more, just Google away!

XOXO,