Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty Review

Having adopted the vegan lifestyle again means making some new adjustments not only when it comes to what food I eat, but also what products I use. I spend time now reading product labels on everything: Hairspray, face wash, eyeliner, sweaters, etc. I check to make sure that a) the product has not been tested on animals and b) that there are not any animal bi-products in the ingredients. It's kind of crazy just how many ingredients used in make-up and other beauty products come from something you'd probably rather not know about.

So, I started doing some research on vegan-friendly brands! There are a lot of great options out there, you just have to look for them. I've been a fan of Alicia Silverstone and all of the efforts she's made for animals so one day, when I was on her website The Kind Life, I read about the line of vegan beauty products she has with Juice Beauty. Originally, I was going to try the chamomile cleanser first but ended up going with the Simply Nourishing Moisturizer. After all, I've spent a LOT of time this year in the sun.

I apply a very small amount onto my fingertips and gently smooth it along my face, focusing around my eyes and forehead. First of all, let me tell you that the scent is divine. It's a refreshing smell that relaxes me just before bed which is when I apply the moisturizer after washing my face. I've noticed how smooth my skin has felt and, more importantly, how radiant my skin looks now in the morning when I wake up!

The best part is that I know the formula I'm applying to my skin is 100% organic and vegan. Here is a list of its awesome ingredients such as organic acai berry, passion flower, and organic sunflower oil. As described on the website, "Organic shea and cocoa butter kiss your skin with hydration, while powerful champagne grape antioxidants renew and leave a silky finish." Amazing, yes? YES.

Online, the product retails for $36, and coming from a girl who loves her drug store bargain finds, you're totally getting what you pay for with this product AND a little bit goes a long way. Do yourself a favor and check out Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty. Not only will you be doing yourself some good, you'll be doing good for the world too! And who doesn't love that? :)

You can check out her full line here. It used to be carried at Ulta but last time I went in, it was just the regular Juice Beauty collection and not hers. I'm seeing the same thing online at Ulta.com so I'm not sure what that's about but you can buy directly through the Juice Beauty website.

Let's Talk Hair

I'm realizing that I haven't talked hair much on here, except for this mention of Gretchen's beautiful "swoop" last year. I have what I like to call the "natural ombre" look :) I dyed my hair brunette back in April of last year and it has gradually turned into its own color. The brown has faded into a golden blonde at the ends and I kind of dig it. That's not to say I won't go back blonde one of these days :)

Anyway - color is one thing but texture is a completely other thing. My hair is FINE. It has a bit of a wave to it when I don't blow dry. Oh, but I always blow dry it - always. The wave has no rhyme or reason. It's loose enough to not be curly but wavy enough to not be straight. Luckily, I have a lot of hair so, although it is fine, it still gives me something to work with.

I could go on and on about my haircare routine and styling preferences but I just want to focus on one thing today - how I get that crazy little wave in my hair to go "buh-bye." Enter the HANA Pro 1" Flat Iron by Misikko. 

[I know. I can't stop staring at those beautiful light blue plates either.]

Misikko contacted me, asking me if I'd like to try out that bad boy above. I had read on blogs before about their products and having heard only good things, I couldn't wait to see what the HANA Flat Iron would do for my hair. Not only did they send me the flat iron, but they sent a bunch of other goodies too!

I'm pretty sure I had already ripped through and scooped up all the e.l.f. products they had included because I was just that excited.

Now, let me first show you what my hair looks like right after blow drying it [sans hair brush]

So, yes, you would be correct in saying that even blow drying my hair doesn't get rid of that weird wave I have going on. Don't worry, I do brush my hair. Here's what it looks like after running a comb through it.

Better, but still not up to par for date night, right? My hair still felt a bit more coarse than I prefer and it just didn't sit right. I like silky, I like smooth. I like to look at my hair and see a finished product. So, I let those beautiful blue HANA hot plates work their magic.

The thing I notice the most is how my hair feels. Not only does my hair move effortlessly between the plates, but it feels super soft when I touch it as well. I've also noticed the shine in my hair now! The HANA Flat Iron makes my hair so much more manageable and the best part - it's SO quick!

The flat iron heats up in no time, has adjustable heat settings, and like I said, the design is high quality. I've had so many flat irons that will pinch my hair, pull it out, or make that disgusting "tearing" sound. Some of you might know what that sounds like - not a pleasant sound when you realize that's your hair DYING. Well, I've been using the Hana Flat Iron for weeks and that hasn't happened once. Quality, I tell you.

And did I mention the beautiful blue plates? ;)

Head on over to Misikko and pick out something nice for yourself. Or just drool over the Croc Hair Straightener like I have been. I mean, it looks like a crocodile - pretty neat if you ask me! Make it in leopard print and I'm sold! :)

Summer Beauty Review Pt. 1

It's time to talk Summer beauty finds! I have come across and tried a few new products so far this Summer and have been waiting a while to share them with you! Let's start with nail polish.

Zoya is now my favorite brand of nail polish. I've mentioned before that I used to be a total Essie girl. That's all I would buy. Then, I started getting bored of going to the store and seeing the same shades every time. It was getting hard to tell what I had already since so many shades are just so similar. I went into Ulta one day in search of a new color and Zoya popped out at me! Right in front of my eyes was this gorgeous and unique shade called "Perrie."

Left to Right: Perrie | Myrta | Charisma

Perrie and Charisma are both matte polishes. Perrie is probably my favorite out of the two. I'm not sure why I thought Charisma had more purple in it but it is definitely a pinkish fuchsia. Perfect if you're looking for a bright, Summer color. Myrta has beautiful flecks of gold in it and I just love wearing this color too!

While the quantity of nail polishes still doesn't compare to O.P.I [in Ulta, at least] the colors are all so different and bea-uuu-tiful! The color goes on super smooth and rich and doesn't take forever to dry which is always a plus! I was also impressed with how long the polish lasted before starting to chip, and when it did, it was mainly down near the cuticle.

Zoya is officially my new favorite nail polish! What is yours?

Moving along... Sigma Beauty was kind enough to send me their Synthetic Precision Kit and these brushes have officially become part of my daily make-up routine.

1. P80 - Precision Flat

2. P82 - Precision Round

3. P84 - Precision Angled

4. P86 - Precision Tapered

I use the P80 and P82 brushes mainly to buffer and blend my concealer in around my eyes and nose. The bristles are very soft and really help smooth the product onto my skin. Wonderful quality! The bristles are soft but sturdy enough because, c'mon... who likes flimsy brushes? Not me!

Click below to shop now and receive your free gift! Let me know what you buy - I'm always looking for new products to try :) I'm in desperate need of a new blush brush and the F15 Duo Fibre Powder/Blush brush is looking mighty fine!

Speaking of concealer, I have found one of the best concealers in the world!
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer

I asked on my blog a while ago what concealers you recommend and when Michelle described this concealer, it sounded exactly like what I had been looking for. I had used many concealers in the past and finally just gave up on them because they didn't seem to do anything for me. Then, once my dark circles started to appear under my eyes, I knew I needed to find something.

I love the consistency of this product. Michelle described it as being almost clay-like, which it is. And guess what that means - it doesn't budge during the day! I apply this onto my skin after my foundation and blend using the brushes mentioned above! A little product goes a LONG way and spreads very evenly and smoothly onto the skin. Another amazing thing? You can pick this bad boy up at Wal-Mart! I will never use another concealer again!

We'll stop there for today. I wouldn't want to put you into beauty review overload now, would I? I still have a foundation, mascara, and powder review to come!

What other beauty posts would you like to see? Favorite products? Least favorite? Tutorials? Let me know in the comments! :)

*All product reviews are my own based upon my own personal use*

A Katy Perry Weekend

It was a much-needed Katy Perry kind of weekend.

I've just loved Katy since the first time I heard her very first single and couldn't get it out of my head or off my playlist.

Throughout the years, I've continued to listen to her music and consider her one of my favorite artists ever.

This weekend, I finally was able to go see her movie, Part of Me.

[via]

And, yes, we saw it in 3D.

Before the movie even ended, I thought to myself several times, "Man, I can't wait to BUY this on DVD!"

It was just that good.

I had tears in my eyes throughout the entire movie.

Tears of joy, sadness, and inspiration.

It showed the story of her trials getting into the music industry, some insight behind her creativity and vision, the personal struggles she encountered while on tour, and her passion and drive for LIFE.

She is an amazing woman. One-of-a-kind. She makes everyone truly just want to be themselves.

She makes it "okay" to be a little weird, awkward, goofy.

And she certainly just makes you want to say, "Forget whatever is socially acceptable to wear in public. I just want to wear something spectacular!"

She just makes you think. About what really matters in life.

And to me, what really matters is achieving your wildest dreams. Touching others' lives. Leaving this world a different and better place.

Three things that she is doing so great of a job at.

I'm not done talking about Katy Perry, but today, I'll finish by saying this: Go see Part of Me!

My First LUSH Review

I love trying new things. A couple months ago, when I made a trip out to Annapolis Mall, I spotted a LUSH store. It was quite a treat to go inside after all the talk I had been hearing about their products. The store smells wonderful. Fresh aromas surround you as you peruse the shelves and look at the pretty colored soaps and read the clever labels. The girls who worked there were all super helpful and knowledgeable about the products.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I visited. How would I know what to buy? Well, once I was greeted and started looking at some displays, one of the ladies offered me a hand treatment. “Sure! Why not?” She put different products on my hand, including one of their very popular salt scrubs and I could instantly feel a difference. I was there for facial products instead so, once my hands were nice and fresh, I started talking to another associate about what I was looking for.

After chatting and then trying a few samples, I walked away with these three goodies:

Ultrabland: This stuff is crazy. Here’s what I do – I wash my face with my usual face wash (Biore) and then massage this cream into my skin for about one minute. Then, I take a damp cotton pad and slowly press it down on my face as I wipe the cream away. Along with the cream comes additional dirt and make-up that was deep down in your pores. And, yes, you can see it. That just goes to show you how clean our faces really are after washing them once!

After that, I personally wash my face again. I don’t wash it as thoroughly as the first time [I use my hands instead of my Clarisonic the second time around.] This time, I use my Angels on Bare Skin cleanser. This wash has real lavender and rose in it which not only smell beautiful but also help take the redness out of your skin and balance combination skin. Ground almonds are used to exfoliate the skin. This cleanser is sold by the ounce so you can get as much or as little as you would like!

Lastly, I use a toner. I think I have used two different toners my whole life and the time for which I used them was rather short. The toners I’ve used in the past were applied onto a cotton ball and rubbed onto my skin, kind of as the finishing touch. The toner I bought from LUSH is called Eau Roma Water, perfect for dry, sensitive, or aging skin. There are only two active ingredients in this: rose and lavender which have been used for thousands of years to treat redness and dryness. Rose is nourishing and cooling, while lavender helps your skin produce the right amount sebum oil to keep it suppler.

You can spray some of this onto a cotton ball and apply to your face as you would with most toners or, you can do what I do. I spritz about three pumps onto my face, which is light and refreshing! The other two products I use once or twice a week but after using Eau Roma Water every night, I've really noticed a difference in the clarity of my skin!

So, that's it! I'm happy with the LUSH products I got on my first trip!

Do you use any LUSH products? Let me know your favorites! :)


If you haven't already, you only have a couple days left to enter my giveaway for any bracelet from my Etsy shop! Enter here!

Review | Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki

Yesterday was officially the busiest "traffic" day on my blog. Not because of yesterday's Wedding Wednesday post but because of... you guessed it, my Christian Grey post. I have been getting some great comments about everyone's casting ideas. Keep them coming!

Today I wanted to share with you one of my most-recently discovered FAVORITE products!
First, let me introduce you to Sigma Beauty. Some of you have probably already heard of them. They are an affordable makeup company specializing in makeup brushes and accessories. I have been hearing wonderful things about them for the past year or so and kept telling myself to order some new brushes. Finally, I did :)

I ordered three brushes that I can't even tell you how excited I was to get! Here's what I got:

Today my review will be on the first brush [and perhaps THE greatest brush I've ever used] the F84 Angled Kabuki Brush!

Ah, yes! Beautiful, isn't it? Well, it goes beyond just looks - let me tell you! When I received the brush, I glided my fingers along the bristles and they were as SOFT as can be! So soft, so smooth. It took a lot for me to wait until the morning to apply my make-up. Otherwise, I would have just gone and used the brush right then!

First of all, let me tell you that before I was introduced to the world of Sigma, I had been using brushes from Sonia Kashuk and e.l.f.

I was happy with them and loved the affordable price tag. BUT, I wasn't IN LOVE.

Here is the e.l.f. Studio Stipple Brush which I used to apply my liquid foundation [on the left] alongside the Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki Brush used to do the same thing [on the right]

*Please note, these brushes have not been cleaned in the picture because, let's be real, our brushes are rarely perfectly clean ;)

Now, looking at the brushes, I'm sure you can see the difference. The Sigma brush is much more full and plush than the e.l.f. brush. It is glorious! When buffing the liquid foundation into my skin, the bristles were so gentle and soft that I almost didn't even want to stop! :)

The best part - I noticed a considerable difference in how my make-up stayed on throughout the day. Not only did I feel like my foundation lasted even LONGER but it left my skin looking more flawless and kept the natural oils that produce over the day at bay. I did not change any other part of my regular make-up routine other than the use of these brushes.

I cannot say enough good things about the F84 Angled Kabuki. I'm so glad I went with the angled brush because it just feels natural when buffing the product into your skin versus the flat stipple brush.

Do yourself a favor and order this brush! You can get it for only $16 which trumps many of the brushes out there today! AND, if you're like me and order $30 worth of products, they'll send ya a free gift :) Click the link below to start shopping! Let me know what you get!

Do you use any Sigma products? Which do you love most?

Review: MAC Paint Pots

I think a review is long overdue. I've been able to try out some new products lately and I'm sure you'd love to hear about some of them. Last weekend, as many of you read, I ventured out to the outlet mall where one of my favorite stores is located - the CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet.)

Let's take a minute to talk about the CCO for those of you who have never been, or even heard of it before! The CCO is an Estee Lauder outlet store that sells back stock, limited edition, and discontinued items for brands such as MAC (this is why I shop here!), Bobbi Brown, Clinique, etc. usually for about 30% off.

If you haven't already flown up off your chair and into your car to get to the nearest CCO, then I'll share with you my review on my finds this month.

I'll just say right now that I love MAC eyeshadow. I'm generally a drug store/Target make-up brand kind of girl. I just find it hard to justify paying $20 more for a loose powder when I can find one that's just as good, if not better, for $5. However, I've yet to find anything I love as much as MAC eyeshadow. The quality of these eyeshadows is amazing. They last me a LONG time, too!

So, normally I'll stock up on eyeshadows while at the CCO. This time, I decided to try something new. They had a huge collection of MAC paint pots (A highly pigmented eye color that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish.) I had heard great things about paint pots and knew it was time to give it a try myself.

*Here's where I mention how SAD I was to find out that Ulta discontinued my beloved eyelid base/primer that went on like a cream but dried like a powder.)* Remember this for later.

After swatching about six different colors on my hand (that's the best part) I chose two! The colors were fun on my hand but they are even better on my eyelids! Here's Let Me Pop. It's a shimmery copper-bronze color that has little flecks of sparkle in it.

And here is Treasure Hunt, first by itself without any other eye make-up and then with my full 
eye make-up routine. Treasure Hunt is a real light gold color with lots of fun shimmer.

Friends, this stuff stays on ALL day. I use the paint pots not only as my base/primer but also as an eyeshadow in my inner eyelid. Because of the paint pots, my eyeshadow does NOT crease. At all. The paint pots really grab onto the rest of your eyeshadow and keep it there all day. AND, the CCO sells them for just over $11. What a steal compared to the $18ish normal price tag!

I can without a doubt say that these paint pots are my new favorite beauty product and I can't wait to buy them in a variety of colors. Although, I do love my metallics and neutrals :) The paint pots not only have replaced the Ulta eyeshadow base that I used to use, but it has exceeded my expectations!

Do any of you use MAC's paint pots?

My Must-Have Beauty Finds

It’s time to write about some of my favorite beauty products. The majority of these products I started using last year and I ended up loving them enough to carry them through the new year! I’m a pretty loyal person so if I find something that works, I stick with it. Now I get to share some of those with you!

One of my all-time-time-favorites-I’ve-tried-so-many-and-this-is-still-the-best products is the Ulta Eyeshadow Base. I probably picked this up with some other Ulta shadows during one of their 2-for-1 deals and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve even tried what I’ve heard is the best of the best, Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and this STILL tops my list. Here are the things I love about this product:

1. It starts off as a cream but turns into a powder-like formula as you apply it to your eyelids so it’s smooth and the coverage is great.
2. It lasts forever. The product itself has lasted me months and, well, over a year. {I know you’re supposed to throw away things after so long but this puppy just keeps on going} I wear it every single day.
3. My eyeshadow has never stayed put so well. My eyeshadow does NOT crease and stays on all day! What more do you really need out of a primer?
4. In case you do need something more, I can tell you that this eyeshadow base could also take the place of eyeshadow. On the days where I’m running super late, I can throw a little of this on my eyelids to really give my eyes a smooth, bright look and totally do away with any silly blood vessels.

Again, it’s a personal preference, but, I have to choose Ulta’s base as the top performer!

The only bummer? I looked online today and can’t find this product on Ulta’s website :( Yikes. It took me this long to write a review and now that I finally have, they might not carry the product anymore? Next time I’m in the store, I’ll be sure to double check and report back!

Again, I’ve tried other facial cleansers but I keep coming back to my beloved Biore. For the longest time, I had been wanting to try Borba’s Age Defying 4-in-1 Cleanser and finally got my hands on it a couple months ago. Wasn’t impressed. Here are the reasons why Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser is my go-to face wash:

1. My face has never felt so clean. {I use this wash with my Clarisonic Mia, so that helps as well!} This cleanser gives your face that tingly feeling as it deep cleans your pores and removes all the dirt, oil, and make-up.
2. It lasts forever. Do we see a trend here? Again, I was able to stretch this product longer than an entire year, using it twice daily. No exaggeration. A little bit {I’d use about half a pump’s full at a time} goes a LONG way! It was a sad day when I got to the end of the first bottle.
3. The results! It fights blemishes and blackheads and keeps my skin {almost} blemish-free. I’ve never had perfect skin and probably never will, unfortunately.

I think I’ve tried pretty much every form of getting the cleanest, freshest feeling skin – ProActiv, dermatologist-prescribed topical treatments and medications, Noxzema pads {these are probably my second favorite but smell horrible}, and many various face washes. I’m sticking with this one :)

I should start off by saying that I am allergic to lipstick and chap stick. Seriously. Throughout the years and years of dance and acting that I did {and copious amounts of stage make-up that I wore}, I often paid the price for a week or two after a performance with horribly swollen and painful, raw lips. When I do get the choice as to what I wear on my lips, I stick with Carmex and lip-gloss.

Anyway, I’ve had my battles with many lip colors so when I find one that I like and that doesn’t make my lips explode, I keep it around for a long time. I’ve been a Buxom “Big & Healthy Lip Polish” fan for a few years now. I’ve always received them as gifts and just loved the variety of colors. Recently, I got one in the pretty, pinkish color of “Tonya.” I’d describe it as a vivacious bubblegum pink. I’m not a fan of pink but somehow, I like this color when I wear it. It’s fresh and fun. Now, here’s why I love Buxom:

1. It lasts forever. I had to. But seriously, this is one of the only lip glosses I’ve found that doesn’t get all goopy and won’t slide off my lips. The color sticks pretty well and I’ve found remnants of it still on my lips at the end of the night when I’m forced to wipe it off. Pretty good, if you ask me!
2. The way it feels. a) it’s supposed to give your lips a little volume so the tingly feeling is a good reminder of that and b) it’s a thicker gloss which I definitely like {which keeps it from sliding off easily}
3. I’m just crazy over this color right now and most of the colors I’ve tried thus far in the line.

I know everyone has their lip gloss preferences. I definitely prefer something a little thicker and with some color/shimmer so this is perfect for me!

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite beauty products this past year or so. I’ve received some new products already this year so, after I get more accustomed to them, I’d love to write a review on those as well!

Now, here’s where I need your help – I’m in the market for a new foundation. I’ve been using a liquid foundation for a while now so I’ll probably stick with liquid but all suggestions are welcome! If the make-up line doesn’t test on animals, that makes it even better!! :)

My Week With Marilyn

Recently, I saw another film I had been wanting to see for ages. Some people read books about Chelsea Handler. Or perhaps Kim Kardashian, Katie Couric, or Jackie O. I’ve always read books about Marilyn Monroe. My bathroom for years was even inspired by her with quotes, some pictures, and old Hollywood glam. That changed when I got married :)

Anyway, Marilyn has always been my icon for as far back as I remember. Her story has always fascinated me and seeing how far she got given her circumstances has always inspired me. I’ve loved her films, her “autobiographies,” even her poems written on scrap paper. Then came this movie:

My Week With Marilyn

{via}

Michelle Williams played Marilyn perfectly. She captured the playfulness and dark moments on and off screen and brought Marilyn back to life, if only for a while.

The film is based on the journal of Colin Clark, a London film student working on set for Marilyn Monroe’s movie. He’s invited into her world where she struggles with love, fame, and her burning desire to be a wonderful actress. We get a glimpse into what life as Marilyn Monroe was really like. The loneliness, the heartbreak, and her constant dream to find happiness.

The line that really got me was,

“People always see Marilyn Monroe. As soon as they realize I'm not her, they run.”

{via}

In this film, we can see Norma Jean – the girl without the glitz and glam of Hollywood. We see her scars. Her fears. Her playful spirit. In one scene, after Marilyn had been spending some time alone with Colin Clark, a bunch of fans show up and Marilyn whispers, “Should I be her?” after which, she begins to strike her “Marilyn” poses. It made me think, like the above line did as well.

Everyone knew Marilyn Monroe as a blonde bombshell; a Hollywood star.

But, as Michelle shows us, there is so much more to her. So many more layers to peel back. Not many people took the time to do so.

If you haven’t already seen My Week With Marilyn, I strongly recommend it. It’s certainly a movie that I will be adding to my collection as soon as it’s released :)

End of 2011 Make-up Review

In case you don’t already know, I live life on a very tight budget. Always have {by choice} and always will! I love a good steal and, in most cases, won’t make a purchase unless it IS a steal. That said, today I’m going to share with you some of my latest make-up finds and my review for each!

I’ll start off by saying that I LOVE e.l.f. make-up! I’ve yet to try their eye shadow because I’m too in love with my MAC eye shadow {the one brand I WILL splurge on!} Also, I’ve been paying more and more attention to what companies continue to test on animals. That is a BIG no-no in my book. HUGE. I can proudly say that the items below were NOT tested on animals :)

 

1. e.l.f. Studio Contour Brush $3.00
2. e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion $3.00
3. e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder $3.00
4. Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Bold Curves Mascara $5.00-$7.29

e.l.f. Contour Brush

Well, I had originally been praying for some MAC brushes to magically appear in my hand one day. Since that didn’t happen, I went to Target and walked away with this synthetic-bristled eye shadow brush. While I don’t have a MAC brush to compare it too, I’m still in love. The bristles are super soft and work perfectly for my windshield wiper technique in my crease!

By the way, any Sigma brush users out there? I’ve been wanting to order a few of their brushes but I don’t love that they’re not all synthetic :(

e.l.f. Blush in Fuchsia Fusion

One of my favorite items of make-up EVER. Yes, ever. The color is exactly what it says it is – fuchsia fusion. It’s a bright tone with just a touch of glimmer to make your cheek bones POP! Another great thing about this blush is that a little goes a long way! I just barely have to touch my brush to the powder and it glides smoothly onto my face. My first bit of it has lasted me over six months! I just bought my second blush yesterday and won’t have to use it for another couple of weeks. $3.00. Lasts a long time. Oh, and the packaging is very high-quality. Definitely reminds me of MAC.

Pocahontas is a fan.

e.l.f. Tone Correcting Powder

This is one item from e.l.f. that I haven’t been over-the-top in love with. The reviews on it are mainly good, however, I just didn’t notice a HUGE difference. This powder acts more as a mattifying powder for my skin and did less to the actual tone of it. I did notice a small difference though because I have red undertones in my skin. Again, just nothing major for me. The good thing is that it was only $3.00! Gotta love it :)

Rimmel Max Volume Flash Bold Curves Mascara

What a mouth-full. You have to say the name in a British accent like in the commercial. Seriously. It’s fun.

This is literally one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE mascaras! I never thought I’d find one better for my lashes than L’Oreal’s Voluminous Mascara. However, this lime green bottle of VA-VOOM is it! PLUS, they don’t test on animals {unlike L’Oreal!}

I love curved brushes. Check. I love wet mascaras. Check. I love lift. Check. I love volume. Check. I love mascaras that last all day. Check. This mascara has everything I look for, not to mention, I got it for under $5.00! And people pay how much for mascara? You know you’re using an amazing mascara when you take it off and your lashes continue to stay lifted and curled.

--

So, there you have it – some of my make-up discoveries this year! I have a few more beauty finds that I’ll share with you before we’re onto 2012!
What are some of your recently discovered make-up products? Do tell! :)

Drive

I can’t stop talking about the movie Drive. I was pleasantly surprised this weekend after seeing it. I say that because, walking into the theatre, all I really knew about the movie was that it was about Ryan Gosling driving cars – and that was enough for me. Obviously.

From the beginning of the movie, I was hooked. The 80’s electronica-influenced songs set the mood for this retro-ish film about an unnamed man who, when asked what he does for a living, answers with, “I drive.” He works in an auto shop during the day, works part-time as a Hollywood stunt driver, and, oh yeah – drives getaway cars in heists. No big deal.

When a heist goes wrong, the story dramatically shifts.

Throughout the entire film, I found myself mesmerized and captivated. There were the moments to laugh at, the moments to hold your breath, and definitely the moments to shriek/jump. It’s a thriller that breaks the stereotype of its genre with a cast of characters that are brilliant at what they do.

As I mentioned, it is NOT your typical Fast and the Furious/Gone in 60 Seconds movie. So, if you’re looking for a mainstream action movie, this is not it. A decent portion of the film involves no dialogue, focusing on the actors’ expressions and actions to build the plot and the mood. I was fascinated by the fact that after the first few lines Ryan had in the movie, he didn’t speak for another twenty minutes or so and it honestly made the movie brilliant. He played the role of The Driver flawlessly. While doing so, he also made two things look ridiculously cool:

Leather driving gloves

and this jacket

Oh, and driving backwards in a car chase is pretty cool too.

Director Nicolas Winding Refn wasn’t afraid to take chances in this film with several intense and rather graphic violent scenes. While I have a feeling that’s where many “mainstream” viewers will say the movie went wrong, I thought the moments of violence were stylistically placed perfectly between the so-quiet-you-could-hear-a-pin-drop moments of the film.

In the packed audience I sat with, there were the times when not a person would move {or maybe even breathe for those scenes}

The film toyed with my emotions and pulled me in deeper than any movie has in quite a while.

Between the soundtrack, the cinematography, the onscreen {and off-screen} talent, and the plot – I’m putting this on my list of favorite movies. According to the conversations I heard while scrambling out of the theatre, I won’t be the only one. The film left a lasting-impression on me. I continued to look over my shoulder for a half-hour {then again, that could be because I was close to the area where scenes from The Exorcist were filmed!} I look forward to watching Drive again!

P.S. I thought it was pretty cool when I found out that Ryan restored the 1973 Chevy that he drives in the movie. What a dreamboat…

For those of you curious to hear the soundtrack, I’ve included a preview for you below with some still footage. I’d suggest listening to the first four songs to get an idea!

Have you seen Drive yet? What are your thoughts? Or perhaps you’re just a Notebook/Crazy Stupid Love type of Ryan fan ;)

What is your favorite “thriller” movie??

 

Okay, my rant is over, ha. On a side note, I really liked Hart of Dixie last night!! I’ll definitely be adding it to my DVR list :)

 

All images via Filmdistrict

The Help

This weekend I went and finally saw The Help. I know many of you have already seen it so I echo you when I say how much I LOVED this movie. It was inspiring, beautiful, and sad all at the same time. I’m one of the few who hadn’t even read the book yet!

I could write an entire post on how heart-breaking it is to think about living in a time like that where human beings were treated inhumanely because of the color of their skin. However, in my opinion, this film so wonderfully depicted many of the real-life issues that were going on, many of those issues being shown from the perspective of “the help.”

Source: imdb.com via Juliana on Pinterest

 

 

 

My favorite character had to be Aibileen.

Source: miscfinds4u.com via Denise on Pinterest

 

 

She was funny, kind {see above}, and had the warmest heart.

If I could choose a character to play, it would most definitely have to be Celia Foote!

Source: google.com via Hallie on Pinterest

 

 

Source: google.com via Sheila on Pinterest

 

 

The scene when she hires her first maid {I won’t say which one} was one of my favorites :) It looked a little something like this…

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

 

I’m sure you’d want to be her too :) But mainly so you can carry around a glass bottle of “Coke-Cola” and wear fun outfits!

As much as I would hate to live in a time of such civil injustice, sometimes I wish I could go back in time just for the outfits and hair! {Okay, and the cars!}

I wouldn’t even know which hairstyle to start with!!

Source: thehelpmovie.com via Courtney on Pinterest

 

 

If you haven’t seen The Help yet, do yourself a favor and go see it. Or at least go rent it as soon as it comes out on Redbox! People in the audience were clapping, crying, laughing hysterically, and it made me grateful to be sitting there watching the movie in a theatre full of people from all different races. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come as a nation and how far we still have to go. More importantly, it’s a reminder of what’s really important in this life… being kind. Beautifully done.

Have you seen The Help? Who was your favorite character?

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Here’s to the end of Summer and the start of a new season :)