February Favorites

 

 

 

 

Well, hello there! Can you hardly believe that February is rapidly coming to an end? I sure can't. However, it's actually not a bad thing because if you follow me on social media, you'll know how much I absolutely hate the cold weather. Bring on sunshine and warmth, baby!

My school weeks have been so crammed lately with work that I barely have time to plan out what to shoot for blog posts, which is totally not okay. This blog is my child so I will definitely be squeezing in some blog post brainstorming in there.

Nevertheless, today I bring you my first ever monthly favorites blog post! I love watching monthly favorites on YouTube so I figured let's bring it to the world of blogging as well! Now, I'll admit it. I've been kind of stuck in a rut in terms of beauty products and the like, so there's not much in this post. However, I'm sure once the warmer weather comes and brings me back my motivation, I'll have much more to share. (Please tell me I'm not the only one who crawls into a shell in the winter. Let me know in the comments if you do, too!)

My favorites for this month are a pretty accurate reflection of those cold, windy, dark winter days. Hot tea, warm scarves, and dry shampoo because you're too unmotivated to wash your hair in the shower. Am I right? Or am I just the Scrooge of the winter season?

My first February favorite has got to be the one thing I cannot live without during this season. Tea. See as I am not a coffee drinker (although I really want to be! Any recommendations?) tea is my go-to. I prefer black teas as opposed to herbal teas, so my favorite is definitely English Breakfast Tea by Twinings of London. I love sipping on cup of this after my breakfast in the morning as well as right before bed. I buy the decaf one, so I'm not bouncing off the walls at ten at night. My favorite way to prepare this tea is with a little bit of natural Stevia sweetener and a dash of cashew milk. So. Good.

Dry shampoo has completely changed us girls' lives. In addition to the damaging effects of washing your hair every day, it can also be a huge pain in the booty. Thanks the hair gods for dry shampoo! I use the TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo and I can honestly say this stuff works wonders for soaking up those extra oils in your scalp.

My skin could never survive the harsh winter without the help of lotion. I love the scents from Bath and Body Works. My favorites have got to be both the fruity ones and the vanilla scented ones. Currently I'm using the Mango Mandarin scent as it reminds me of the summer season to come.

For accessories, I've also been loving my tartan scarf from Forever 21 as it's extremely warm while still stylish. Have you ever walked outside after it's snowed and you feel like you could go blind because it's so white and bright? That's why I've been loving my gold-rimmed sunglasses from Forever 21 to shield my eyes.

As for beauty products, I've been loving these two lipsticks from Ulta. I have the shades 256 and 224. They don't have names on the packaging, which is odd; but 256 is a pink-y nude color and 224 is more of a brown-y nude color. Shade 224 resembles Kylie Jenner's Dolce K, so I highly recommend this product if you're dying to get your hands on Kylie's Lip Kit but just don't have the money.

I'm not big on perfumes because a lot of them are just too expensive, but I really love this one from Charlotte Russe. I know it's a clothing store, but their scents are quite amazing! This scent is called "Refuge" and if I could describe it, I would say it is sophisticated, yet sweet. And the best part? It was only $13! It's a win-win situation; you get to smell like a queen without breaking the bank.

There we have it! I hope you enjoyed reading about everything I've been loving this month. Let me know in the comments if you would like to continue to see more monthly favorite posts! Thanks to everyone who leaves such lovely comments on my posts. They truly do mean the world to me.

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

 

 

 

Products and Tips for Soft, Healthy Hair

 

 

If you've been reading my blog since I started a few months ago, you'll know that I used to have hair past my belly button. (Oh, those were the days!) However, I decided to take the plunge before the new year and chop it all off. Now, some of you may be thinking, "Why would you ever do that?!" Allow me to explain. 

While my long hair seemed like a dream, it was totally unhealthy. I had split ends that traveled all the way up my head and my hair fell out like crazy.  Would you believe me if I told you that my last hair cut had been over two years ago? Well, it's true.  I was so focused on growing my hair out as fast as possible that I never kept up with getting it trimmed every so often to rid those nasty split ends. That mistake ultimately led me to today; a girl who adores long hair but had to cut it off due to how unhealthy it was.

After I decided that cutting my hair was what I would have to resort to, I made a promise to myself that I would do my absolute best to keep my new shorter hair as healthy as possible.  In today's post, I will be sharing with you the haircare products I use to maintain soft, shiny, silky, healthy hair.

 

 

Let's start with the basics.  Shampoo and conditioner are the foundation of healthy hair.  Since cutting my hair, I've switched to the Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser shampoo and conditioner duo.  These products are designed for "distressed, damaged hair," which is exactly what I needed.  Garnier Fructis claims that this duo will "reconstruct and preserve strength for strong, rejuvenated hair," and I can tell you first hand that this claim holds true.  Since switching to these products, I have noticed a significant difference in how soft my hair looks and feels.  When I get out of the shower, I have hardly any knots and my hair remains smooth even after it dries.

Tip #1: Condition before Shampoo 

There has been a lot of talk about the positive effects of conditioning before shampooing from some of my favorite YouTubers and bloggers such as Emily Canham and Anouska.  And I can promise you that these claims are not a myth.  The reasoning behind this theory is that you will be washing out the weight of the conditioner from your hair, leaving you with bouncy, soft locks.  Say goodbye to flat and stiff hair and say hello to hair that is bouncy and full of life.

 

 

 Another of my holy grail products for soft, healthy hair are hair oils and serums.  Our hair needs necessary oils to stay healthy and if you're washing your hair too frequently, those oils are being stripped from your scalp.  I've been using the Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Moroccan oil treatment for years now and I totally swear by it. I usually run this through the ends of my hair when it's still slightly damp and when my hair is completely dry, it is unbelievably smooth.  If I'm applying heat to my hair, I'll use this oil just before I style my hair in addition and it makes my hair look and feel insanely smooth.  The next product is one that I've just started using recently and it's the Carols Daughter Monoi Oil Repairing and Strengthening Serum.  I'll simply pump a dime sized amount on my hand and run it through my hair for added softness and protection.

Tip #2: Use Oil Treatments Regularly

There are so many different types of oil treatments out there from coconut oil to olive oil to Moroccan oil.  Give your hair some TLC at least once a week and do an oil treatment to ensure that your hair isn't missing out on essential oils for strong and healthy hair.

 

 

 

Back in middle school, I would straighten my hair every. single. day.  On top of that, I never applied any type of heat protectant.  Combine those two mistakes together and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster and destruction.  Once I did my research, I realized that if using heat is necessary, you have to use heat protectant.  Think about it; you're putting 300 degrees Fahrenheit (or more!) of heat to your precious hair.  My favorite heat protectant has been the TRESemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protectant spray.  Spray this stuff all over your hair, especially to the ends to keep your hair safe.  Don't make the mistake like I did by skimping out on heat protectant.  Save your hair the damage!

Tip #3: Reduce Heat as Much as Possible

I know, I know.  You're probably sick of people telling you that heat is the devil for your hair and you need to eliminate it completely.  However, I know that eliminating it completely is just not possible for many people.  Whether you shower before work and don't have time to let it air dry or you've got hair like a lion's mane, (I know how you feel) applying heat is a part of your daily routine.  Do yourself and your hair a favor by reducing the amount of heat you put on your hair to just a few times a week. There are so many heatless hairstyles you can do to achieve a similar look. Check out my blog post about my everyday heatless waves tutorial for some ideas! 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading and be sure to let me know you're favorite products and tips for healthy hair!

Much love,

Gabriella xx

February Beauty Wishlist

 

Woah, hold the phone. Can you believe January is already coming to an end?  It seems like we were all just rejoicing in the festive Christmas activities and now we are already one month into 2016.  Madness.  Now, I can write a whole blog post about how quick time is flying by; but that's not what this post is about.  Let's dive in, shall we?

One thing I wanted to do in 2016 was up my makeup game.  Because I'll be 100% honest...I don't put enough effort into my makeup.  However, that's not to say that everyone has to wear makeup. Trust me, I'm not saying that at all.  But I've always been interested in makeup and could spend hours watching makeup tutorials and wishing my makeup collection was as big as other girls'.  That being said, for a girl who is utterly obsessed with makeup, I'm definitely lacking a bit. 

Being February is my birthday month (February 5th to be exact!) I know I'll want to treat myself to some new beauty products to bring my makeup game from a level two to a level ten.  After hours of narrowing down my beauty wish list to just a few products so that this post wouldn't be miles long, I decided that these seven products were the ones I've been wanting for a while.

 

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation: I have heard so many great reviews of this foundation and it's been on my wish list for a while.  Yes, it's a higher end product, but I'm starting to find that the foundation I had been using is a little too orange for my pale winter skin.  Plus, it's starting to look a bit cake-y on my face as I have more redness and spots to try to cover up.  I'm hoping that this foundation will be the answer to my wishes and provide me with optimal coverage without looking like I mistook foundation for my evening skin mask.

 

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner: If you follow me on Snapchat (gabby_autumn) and/or Twitter (@gababoutlife) you'll have seen that I have finally mastered the perfect winged eyeliner.  Sure, it took about twenty tries and a lot of makeup wipes, but I am proud to say that I have finally mastered this art.  That being said, I was using a gel liner that was far too dried out so I think it's time to upgrade to a new and improved gel liner that will make me look like I've been doing winged eyeliner for years.

 

MAC Lipstick in Myth: Okay, the excitement for this product is far too real.  For years (yes, years) I have been searching high and low for a perfect nude lipstick that doesn't make me look like I am wearing concealer on my lips.  I've tried every brand and every shade of a "nude" lipstick; however, none of the lipsticks I've tried are that perfect shade of nude that I am looking for.  They were either too pink, too pale, or too shimmery for my liking.  I came across the MAC Myth lipstick in Sephora one day and cringed at the price.  There was no way I was paying that much money for a lipstick when I could go to Target and get a similar one for a fraction of the price.  But after trying at least ten different so-called "dupes" of this lipstick, I was ready to give up and give in.  I spent a good hour and a half searching reviews of this lipstick to see if it was worth the hype and price, and I was sold.  This baby will (hopefully!) be mine soon.

 

Benefit High Beam Highlighter: Okay, I know I'm a good few years behind on this one, but when you're only fourteen and you ask your mom to buy you a high end highlighter, she is going to look at you like you are insane. As I am approaching my 17th birthday, I think it's appropriate now to splurge with my own money on this higher end product.  I am such a huge fan of the way highlighter looks on the skin and now that I am finally starting to branch out more into the world of makeup, I think this old gem is worth a go.

 

NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray: For a while, I never understood the point of setting spray.  To me, it was a waste of money and I would always think to myself, "Okay, but isn't that going to make your face look shiny?"  Well, now I understand that it won't.  Hence the name, "Matte" Setting Spray.  After going back and forth between which setting spray I would add to my makeup collection, I decided to go with this one, which I found out about through the oh-so-stunning Carli Bybel. 

 

Benefit POREfessional Primer: Again, face primer was never really a product that made sense to me.  Now, I understand just how important face primer really is if you want long-lasting makeup.  This primer seems to be a hit among beauty gurus and bloggers, so I'll definitely be adding this one to my basket.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow: Now, I don't typically like to admit it, but my eyebrows are a mess.  Take one look at any of my previous posts and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about.  Nevertheless, I am admitting it to you all now because I want to be honest with you guys, even if it is a big insecurity of mine.  The evolution of eyebrows has completely changed and I love it...except for when you're own eyebrows don't want to cooperate. My eyebrows have a non-existent arch as they literally go straight across my face.  In the meanwhile, you have gorgeous girls with arches as high as mountains! If you're one of them, consider yourself lucky. To help combat my arch-less eyebrows, at the moment I am trying to grow them out a bit in hopes that I can go to a professional who can help me out.  Until that time comes, I'm hoping this brow gel can give my brows a helping hand.

February cannot come soon enough!  I'm really hoping these products will be worth the money and give my makeup routine a boost for the better.  If you would like to see reviews of these products after I purchase them, make sure to leave me a comment so I know if I should do them or not!  Thanks for reading!

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

Everyday Heatless Waves Tutorial

Ever since I cut my hair, I've been super careful to not put any heat on it.  Before chopping off a whopping seven inches (I just got chills!) of my locks, I had gone over two years without cutting my hair! I mean, it's no wonder I had split ends all throughout my hair from excess heat and washing my hair every single day. Therefore, in order to grow my hair back stronger and healthier, I want to minimize heat as much as possible.  However, this can be quite difficult for us girls with unmanageable natural hair.  That's why I came up with this simple, easy, overnight hair tutorial for effortless waves.  I've actually been doing this tutorial for over three years now back when I had long hair in eighth grade so it works on any length of hair! Let's get started, shall we?

You'll want to start out with damp hair; whether you've just got out of the shower and let it air dry a bit or just spray some water all over your hair.  I shower at night; so I let my hair dry a bit and then proceed on and just sleep on it overnight!

Next, you'll want to part your hair in two sections as if you were to put it in pigtails.  Starting with whatever side you please, take two strands of hair from the top/front of your head as shown above.

Wrap the two strands around one another away from your face. Once you've wrapped those two strands, pick up another piece of hair and add it to the section closest to your head.  This step can be seen in the last picture of this set where you'll see me pick up a strand of hair.

Once you've added and wrapped all the strands from that side of your head, simply continue the process of wrapping the two strands together, but you won't be picking up any more pieces of hair.  Once you've finished, secure the end of your hair with an elastic.

Go ahead and repeat this process on the other side of your head.  I included pictures of this side too as you can see what I am doing a bit easier.

Alright, now that both sides of your head are wrapped and secured with an elastic, twist the entire section until the hair is tight.  It is very important that you make the twist tight so that the waves come out properly. Once twisted completely, bring the section of hair up to your head and secure it with a clip/bobby pins.  Make sure the hair is secure so that the twist stays tight and it won't fall out if you sleep on it!

 

Now that both sides are twisted and secured, you'll probably resemble a version of Princess Leia.  If you're doing this at night, go ahead and hit the zzz's!  If not, let your hair stay like this until it has completely dried. Now, the rest is easy!  Simply wake up, untwist your hair, give it a shake, spray with hairspray, and voila!

 

 

This is my favorite way to style my hair without any heat; plus it's quick and simple!  Just wake up and you've got gorgeous waves!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  Apologies for it being quite long but I wanted to make sure I explained each step properly so you guys can do this, too!  Thanks for reading!

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

A Beginner's Makeup Collection

Ah, makeup. An undeniable guilty pleasure for the majority of the female population.  That being said, I know I can't be the only girl who gets overly excited when I get to take a peek inside other peoples' makeup collection, right? However, as a new makeup fanatic, I can't say my makeup collection is as impressive as other makeup goddesses. But, we all have to start somewhere, right?  In this post, I'll be sharing my current makeup collection as a newbie in hopes to guide others who are also starting out with makeup in the right direction.  All the products I mention are products I recommend using if you're a beginner in the world of makeup!

So, here's my baby makeup collection! She is about 5 months old and is growing at an exceptional rate. (Need to work on my jokes!) In the future, I really want to explore different makeup brands and branch away from my comfort zone of Maybelline and e.l.f products (Not saying I don't love these brands! I totally do!). I would really love to try out different brands such as L'Oréal, Benefit, Nars, and of course, MAC! Now, I've never owned a MAC makeup product, so that's definitely high on my to-purchase list.  But, enough rambling about what I want; because we all want things.  Rather, let's focus and appreciate what we have.

 

First up is face products.  I'm still trying to find what face products work best for me as I have very sensitive skin and many products make my skin break out. Nevertheless, here's my current face favorites:

• Maybelline Fit Me
• Rimmel Match Perfection
• Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (My all-time favorite powder! Goodbye shiny face!)
• Maybelline BB Cream (This makes me skin breakout *pouty face*)
• Rimmel BB Cream (Not suitable for my pale winter skin)
• Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
• elf Bronzer
• Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer (Again, too dark for my pale skin)

Next up: brushes. I'm a total beginner when it comes to brushes so I typically go for the most basic ones (which will be changing soon!) So for now, my brush collection is just your basics:

• Powder brushes from elf
• Foundation brushes
• A knock-off Beauty Blender (Sorry, I don't have $20 to spend on a sponge haha)
• An angled brush (used for my eyebrows)
• Two blending brushes and two flat brushes for eyeshadow

When you're just starting out with makeup, it can be quite daunting to go into a store and see a wall filled of different makeup brushes for every use under the sun.  If you're just starting out like me, I recommend getting your basic brushes that I listed above.  This way, you'll be able to perform your basic techniques for your face and eyes without being too overwhelmed.

 

I'm quite ashamed at the fact that I have only three lip products (chap-stick doesn't really count).  Lipsticks are something I've always struggled to branch out and try. I never thought I could pull off a bright red or coral lipstick.  However, that's where confidence comes into play.  Confidence is something I've only struggled with in the past few years, so I'm determined to get my self-esteem back up as it's so important.  Confidence plays a role in everything from the way you carry yourself to the way you talk to other people. If you look down at the ground when passing other people, you send off negative vibes.  This is something I need to work on myself; so we're all in this together. Hey, if you want to wear a deep red or dark burgundy lipstick, do it! Here's my miniscule lipstick collection:

• Chanel lip gloss in Levres Scintillantes-#164 (This was a gift. I could never afford anything Chanel!)
• Wet n Wild in Dark Wine
• L'Oréal in Jennifer's Nude

I think the perfect colors to start out with are nudes and a deep red because they are quite common colors so you feel like the whole world is staring at you!

 

My eye products consist of your typical mascaras, eyeliner, and brow products.  Here's what I currently have:

• Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express
• e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit (This is what I use everyday!)
• e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner (2016 goals include upping my winged eyeliner game!)
• Avon waterproof mascara
• e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner
• Avon Darkest Black Eyeliner
• Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in #345

 

 Now, for the best part...eyeshadows! Since beginning to expand my makeup collection, I've fallen in love with different eyeshadow palettes.  I love the creativity you can put into your eyeshadow with different colors, which is a skill I'm still trying to master!

• 21 Eyeshadow Palette from Forever 21 (Totally obsessed with these shades!)
• Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow in Hushed Tints
• e.l.f. Flawless Eyeshadow in Golden Goddess
• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
• (The last palette has no label on it, sorry!)

I wanted to write this post as a guide to starting up your own makeup collection.  It can be very confusing and daunting when first starting out with makeup especially when you have girls who are absolute professionals at makeup with a whole room filled with products.  For beginners like me, I recommend starting off with your typical drugstore makeup brands such as Maybelline, e.l.f., and L'Oréal.  This way, you're not spending a paycheck's worth of money on one lipstick and mascara at Sephora!  If you follow my guide, you'll be able to perform the basics of makeup and be able to work your way up from there!  I'll keep you all updated on my growing makeup collection and if you'd like to see individual reviews on some of these products, leave a comment below!  Thank you for reading and I hope some of you found this guide helpful. 

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

Golden Girl Makeup Tutorial

 

Christmas is in five days and 2016 is coming upon us rapidly.  All of this festivity and happiness can only mean one thing...parties! Whether you'll be dropping it down low at your friend's party or just chilling with your family, parties are a part of the holiday season.  That being said, I've created the perfect makeup tutorial that will be sure to turn heads when you walk through the door.  It consists of golden tone colors and dark neutrals that look beautiful with any skin tone or eye color.

Gorgeous eye makeup isn't complete without a flawless base, so I've already applied my Maybelline Fit Me foundation to even out my skin tone and give me a glowing finish without feeling like I'm wearing a ton of product.

 

I have quite oily skin if you remember from My Everyday Makeup post, so here I've applied my favorite Rimmel pressed powder.

After I've filled in my (atrocious) eyebrows, it's time for the fun to begin.  Are you ready?

Throughout this tutorial, I will be using the e.l.f. Flawless Eyeshadow palette in "Golden Goddess". I'm starting off with applying a light shimmery base to my lids. This helps cover up any redness or veins on my eyelids.

Starting from the outer corner, I am applying the next color in this palette through my crease, making sure to blend it out to get rid of any harsh lines.  To apply this, I used a soft blending brush from e.l.f. (Tip: apply tape on the outer corner of your eye for a clean, crisp finish!)

Next I am taking this insanely gorgeous rose-gold color and popping in right over top of the previous color.  By using both colors throughout your crease, it softens the look a bit and I love the way these colors accent one another! Don't forget to blend!

Taking the darkest color in this palette, I am applying it to my very outer corner of my eye and dragging it through the outer "v" to darken the look up just a bit. 

Remove the tape (careful you don't pull your skin too hard- I learned that the hard way!) and apply your favorite mascara.  I used the Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express mascara in classic black.  This step is optional, (especially if you get a bit squeamish applying product to your waterline) but here I've applied a black eyeliner to my upper waterline to make my lashes appear fuller.  If you skip this step, feel free to add false lashes or winged eyeliner to make this look more intense and dramatic!

To finish this look, I took a white shimmery color from this Maybelline palette in "Hushed Tints" to my brow bone and inner corner to brighten up the eyes.  I also took that same dark brown shade from the e.l.f. palette and dragged it on my lower lash line.

Voila! I am totally in love with this look.  It looks so flattering on any eye color and is the perfect way to smoke up your look without going too dark or intense, which is important if you're just starting out with eyeshadows like me.  This look is perfect for the holidays because of the golden and shimmery colors. I will definitely be wearing this look on Christmas and even New Year's!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I had so much fun taking these photos but I'm hoping I'll be able to save up enough money for a new camera that can take videos so I can do a proper video tutorial.  Thanks for reading!

Much love,

Gabriella xx