FORMULA X

Just a Quick Thing before I get too deep into this post: I got a job! YAY MONEY! Sadly, this probably means I'm going to have to go back to posting less frequently - but I'll have more things to post about because I'll actually have money to go do/buy things. Happily enough, I write my posts pretty far in advance so I hopefully won't drop off the face of the planet. 

Now, onto the actual post.
Formula X Nail Polish. I love thee. Now, I have to qualify why I don't mind dropping 10$ for everyone of these bad boys: polish is helllla expensive in New Zealand. I'm talking like 20$ for Revlon nail polish. It make me cry just thinking about it. And, to be honest, 10$ for polish isn't even that much in the states (I'm looking at you, Butter London and Deborah Lipman). But good golly miss molly if these nail polishes aren't the best non-gel nail polishes I've ever used. With a top and base coat, they last me well over a week - I've been getting tired of the color on my nail before it starts chipping and cracking.

Formula X is available at Sephora in stores and online, but there are so many colors and finishes that I'd suggest that you go into your nearest Sephora and try some out. I'm not kidding there are probably over 100 colors and so many different types of polish that the little voice in my head that says 'oh you don't have that exact shade of pink' gets louder and louder whenever I'm near the Formula X counter. We're all lucky I don't go into Sephora by myself very often and have people that understand my polish problem and will walk me away from the pretty rainbow colors.

The Base Coat (and top coat that isn't pictured because I couldn't find it when I took them) are great. They make even the super cheapo instachip nail polish last much longer on my nails. The combination of the top and base coat makes polishes last over a week without chipping. Which is SO GREAT.
The Effects polishes: if you know me you know I'm not big on crazy sparkles anywhere near my body but I have made an exception to my anti-sparkle law for these 2 polishes. Because they're MATTE. That's right: Matte Sparkle Polish. These 2 are perfect for parties. Sadly, like most other Matte polishes, they don't last very long but dammit if they don't make me feel like a beautiful princess when I wear them.

For their generic, nonsparkle colors: I am constantly amazed at the range of colors they have. I've gone a little pastel crazy the past several months, so Ignite is the only dark Formula X color I own, but all of them are super opaque with 2 coats, are easy to apply - the brushes aren't quite as wide as Sally Hansen brushes, but work just as well. The pastel colors are almost more opaque than the darker color which is a first in my experience. I love having light nails but haaaaate having to paint 4-6 coats to get any color payoff.
A quick aside that isn't really an aside but I forgot to take a picture of it: the Formula X nail polish remover is amazing for Formula X polishes. I haven't had the best luck with it working on other brands, but it might've been because A) I was trying to take a very bright coral polish off (seen in this post) B) in the dark and was not terribly successful and somehow ended up with coraly fingers the next day. Otherwise it's worked quickly and hasn't dried out my nails.

Now, even with owning 10 of their polishes, I don't have anywhere near a good representation of all the amazing/crazy finishes and colors that Sephora's got out. If you check out their website you can spend a loooong time looking at all of the slightly different shades of red and purple and pink (and orange and blue and green) but the different Effects coats they have are crazy. Someday I'll be brave enough to do a 'leather finish' (whatever that means. it sounds scary.), but for now I'll just keep these colors on rotation.
(if you're interested mostly in the top/base coat Sephora has a deal where you get the Top Coat, Base Coat, a Cleanser, and 1 other nailpolish in ANY COLOR YOU WANT) for 32$

xxKate

**I was not paid to write this post, these are all my opinions and products I have purchased for myself**

FOTD #1

So I have found my favorite foundation ever. EVER. Not only does No 7 have a crazy amount of colors and types of foundations (with varying levels of coverage and finishes), it is the best coverage I've ever experienced. My skin isn't perfect now, but it is miles better than it was in high school - and I have the scarring on my cheeks to prove it. With the Beautifully Matte foundation (and my pürminerals primer) my skin looks amazing. The full size of the primer is ... kinda pricey, but Kohl's sell a sample of Pürmineral's 3 primers for 19$, which isn't terrible. The No 7 Foundation is 14$ - it is equally lasting but less tack-y than the Nars Sheer Glow foundation.

The rest of my face is very simple and is something I'm wearing more and more these days. But I mostly just wanted to share about the foundation in case anyone else has problems with hiding acne scarring. 

Featuring:

Bare Minerals Shadow Brush

LORAC Blending Brush

Sephora Brow Brush and Spooly 

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Black Velvet

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Mac Eyeshadow in Taupe (for brows)

LORAC Pro Palette colors Champagne and Pewter

Bare Minerals Well Rested

No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation in Cool Ivory

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Rose Petal

Pürminerals Dark Spot Correcting Primer

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Watermelon

Earrings: 

Giant Lion Bar Studs from ShopAnomie

Hoop Earring from Claire's

Nails:

Sinful Colors in Big Daddy

Butter London in Snog

OCC Matte Top Coat

NYX Lips

It's officially time for me to say it: I am in love with NYX lip products. Haven't met one I don't love.  My growing collection of their products are quickly becoming my quick/easy go-to lip products. They're super easy to apply, and I keep a few in my bag at all times. Some of them even replacing old favorites.
Shocking I know.

 First on my list of OH-MY-GOD-HOW-IS-THIS-BRAND-THIS-CHEAP-AND-STILL-THIS-GOOD List are the NYX Lip Creams. They don't last as long as the Sephora brand lip creams (I haven't found anything that does), but almost do. I only have the 4 pink tones, so I don't know how well the brighter colors work, but I adore the ones I have.
I love not having to worry about my lipstick going awry (or turning into lip liner) when I'm eating and these have stood the test of drinking a beer and eating a burger and STILL being on my mouth. They're not drying, don't feather out after a while and they all smell nice. On average, they last me about 6 hours (this includes eating/drinking) before I feel the need to reapply.

Up next are their matte lipsticks, butter lipsticks and their butter glosses. I am not, I repeat, not usually a fan of non-matte products, but I love the Butter line from NYX.  I won't lie: I only bought the Butter Glosses because I had heard so many rave reviews of them on YouTube. I've lived in too many windy cities and have gotten my hair caught in a terrible sticky mess one too many times for me to frequent glosses, but this line is an exception. They aren't sticky, but are buttery as the name suggests. and stay on for a pretty long time and wear off well.

I've saved my favorites for last: the Butter and Matte lipsticks. They are by far my favorite drugstore lip products. I need more red lipstick like I need a hole in the head, but I am in LOOOOOVE with 'Perfect Red' - it's a great dupe of Mac's Russian Red but is easier to apply and feels less drying on your lips. Plus it's a fraction of the cost.
Natural is a lovely purple-y nude. The last lipstick (and one I never thought would so quickly become my favorite) is Fun Size - a pinky peach color that is perfect for bolder eye looks, for fancy occasions that don't call for crazy mouth colors, or for days that I just don't feel like wearing red lipstick. Peach and pink lipsticks fade a lot nicer than red, so there's much less upkeep. Who would've thought? Not me, obviously.

Over all, I would say: check them all the hell out. NYX's products are all super pigmented, not drying, long lasting and are pretty cheap. To be honest, I've been much more disappointed in color pay off with some 'higher end' lip products. You can find NYX products at Target, CVS, and Ulta. And they have new spring colors out so I'm gonna go get some pretty soon. and by 'pretty soon' I mean I have already bought some since I took the pictures for this post.

 --Kate

**I wasn't paid to say any of these things I just love NYX a whole bunch**

OOTD #2

We finally got some much needed rain and HUZZAH HORRAY wildflowers have started blooming everywhere. Which is beautiful, but allergy-ful. That in mind, I popped a Claritin and headed out in search of wildflowers.Well, mostly Bluebonnets - this is Texas, after all.

Knowing I was going to be walking around outside for quite a bit, I tried to plan accordingly: SPF 15 Moisturizer for my face, sunglasses for my eyes, and comfy clothes for ... my body.

My ever trusty and much worn sunglasses were a birthday present several years ago and have gotten me through many a bright day.


I decided to sockbun my hair for 3 reasons:
1. I slept with it up so it was a mess
2. It's hella windy outside and
3. I hadn't gotten the chance to try the midsize sockbun I bought at H&M a few weeks ago and I wanted to.

(ps: H&M's sock bun thingies are super cheap and easy to use so there's not really any need to go crazy and get one that costs more than 3$)

The only downside to sockbunning my hair is that it really emphasizes how long it's been since I've gotten my hair dyed. But, like, an inch and a half of roots is a fashion thing, right? Yeaaaah... That's what I'm gonna go with.

I kept my outfit simple: long sleeve scoop neck shirt, rolled up jeans, and boots. In hindsight, the boots probably weren't the most practical shoes I could've worn to go traipsing around in fields but whateverrr. They are very comfy and very cute. Plus: yay for feet ventilation. 

I found a necklace (that I had completely forgotten about. I think I need to re-organize my jewelry) I bought on my last day in New Zealand, and the nail polish is from several days ago. I have a post on the brand (Formula X) coming up in the next few weeks because it's thebomb.com/supergreat so I won't say much other than I am in love.  

But for the most important part of this post: I now present the wildflowers I found. I'm forever sad that it's illegal to pick Bluebonnets in Texas. I want to press some and make pretty pretty art things. But noooo. I'm not allowed. Pah.

-- Kate

OOTD #1

Spring has tentatively sprung in Texas and oh gosh oh golly am I excited. Last week, on an exceptionally lovely day, I spent several hours at Little Elm Park basking in the sun - reading for a while before wandering down to the lake to take some pictures. 

Little Elm is a little off of my usual path, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had the park to myself basically the entire time I was there (otherwise I probably wouldn't have taken so many pictures). It was  the first time this year that it's been warm enough to not wear tights or a jacket, so I was excited to pull out a pretty simple, and comfy outfit: high-waisted skirt from Forever 21, with ankle boots that I 'borrowed' from my mom 6 months ago and a scoop neck teeshirt from target.

This outfit, with some minor variations, is basically the only thing I'll be wearing for the next few months. Luckily, that means not a tremendous change in what I wear in winter: I simply put away the cardigans and tights until colder weather comes again. For those of you blessed with actual seasons, you don't know what Texas spring is: roughly 2 weeks of 'nice' weather before it gets overbearingly (and unhealthily) hot and then stays that way until October.
I've only just recently accepted how amazing skirts and dresses are, so this spring will be a comfy one. I hope comfort-style is here to stay.

Banded skirts are my friend, y'all. They accentuate the narrowest part of my body and are flowy and do not require special undies to look nice. I love them. I own 7. I've had this one for years and years - bought it before I really even wore skirts but now I wear it almost once a week. Who says Forever 21 can't make stuff that lasts? Most everyone. Because 99% of the time you're paying cheap-o prices for the lack of quality, but this skirt is in that 1%. Same goes for my teeshirt. I'm not sure when I bought it, but I know I've had it for years and it is perfectly worn in and oh so comfortable.

I try to wear pretty sensible shoes in general, but I make sure to wear comfy walking shoes when I know I'm going explore. There's a lot of the park that I haven't seen, especially with the lake as low as it is, and it just so happens that one of my favorite pairs of shoes are great for tramping around in. 

Last time I went there it had rained & this was the result 

 The weather last week was so lovely and I look forward to many many warm and windy days like it in the coming months.
I've decided to make an effort to explore more of the areas near my house, and I hope I'll find some nice places to hang out once Spring actually springs and everything is decidedly less brown and more flowery.
Also more allergy-y, but I like to pretend my allergies don't exist until I have to deal with them.

So, here's to warm days, and to banded skirts, and ankle boots, and a new season: Spring.

xoxo Kate

When I first started to wear makeup on the regs (read: daily) it took me 30+ minutes to do - much to the consternation of my roommate at the time. But that was then (a year ago) and this is now. I've got my '5 minute face' down pat and I'm actually kind of proud of it. Oh the strides I've made in a year.

It's a mix of both high-end and drugstore products - but really it's what I've found that works best for my skin type and for my coloring.
Starting from the top left: NYX Brow Powder in Taupe/Ash, MAC Eyeshadow in Club, Pürminerals Correcting Primer, No 7 Dual Action Tinted Moisturizer in Fair, Revlon Eyeshadow in Oyster, No 7 Blush in Soft Damson, Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara, and Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Kissed

I've just recently started using the Pürminerals Correcting Primer and I am in love with it. It keeps my makeup in place all day, feels amazing and creamy on my skin (without getting really heavy) and somehow does a decent job of covering up my acne scarring all on it's own. Which is the most amazing thing in the world, to be honest. I use about a pump and a half of it to cover my entire face, eyelids included. 

For the longest time I had myself convinced that, because I had oily skin I would never need moisturizer. Wrong, wrong and also wrong. Finding a good moisturizer and cleanser has made an insane difference in my skin. Turns out, my body was overproducing oil because it thought I needed it, but with moisturizer that has stopped! Far gone are the days of super oily skin - now my skin is 'normal'. Not something I'd ever thought I'd be able to say. I have the clearest skin I've had in years and I'm pretty sure it's 90% thanks to good moisturizer. The No 7 Tinted Moisturizer is fantastic for days when I don't want a lot of coverage, but still has enough tint to even out my skin tone. Plus, it has SPF 15, which is always necessary in Texas.

 I'm hardly ever fancy when it comes to eye makeup, and my go to eye makeup routine involves 4 things: a base for all over my lid (Revlon metallic shadow in Oyster), a color for the outer 2/3 of my eye (MAC's shadow in Club), a brow filler (NYX Brow Powder in Taupe/Ash), and a mascara (Benefit's Bad Gal Lash). And if I'm feeling a bit fancy/don't want to put mascara on my bottom lashes I tight line my eyes with whatever color that's on the outer 2/3 of my eye.

 I am very very sad that the Target near me has decided to stop carrying No 7 products, because they are gorgeous (luckily, there are lots of Targets within driving distance and Ulta sells No 7 products as well). Their blushes are really lovely, non-sparkly muted colors, are nicely buildable, great for everyday-wear, and are pretty good dupes for much more expensive blushes. Their blush in Soft Damson ($7.99) is a great dupe for Benefit's Dandelion ($28.00).

You don't hear a lot about Sephora brand makeup, so I was a little wary of trying them out. But, their Cream Lip Stains: oh my god, they are beautiful - super pigmented, creamy, and hella easy to apply. I got my first one because one of the girls at Sephora was raving about it's staying power and, like any other victim of false advertising about the 'staying power' of certain 'lip stains', I bought it not thinking it would actually do what it said. I say again: oh my god, these lip stains are amazing. I wore it on New Year's Eve and didn't have to reapply once. And that's with eating dinner and ... drinking quite a few drinks. It looked exactly the same at the end of the night. The only downside to these is that I don't like very many of the colors they have, so I only own 3, but I love them. 

Aaand a quick OOTD because I am sick and tired of winter weather so I'm dressing for Texas spring, dammit. And there you have it! My quick and easy 5 minute face. I hope this was either helpful in some way, or at least a little bit entertaining. 

xoxo Kate