Pepersonal Shopping: July 2013

Friday, 26 July 2013

The Best Drugstore Makeup Ever! Part 2: Eyes

Hello lovelies! It's time for Part 2 of The Best Drugstore Makeup Ever! In case you missed Part 1 (which you can catch up on here!), I'm sharing a collection of my all-time favorite drugstore products in every category. And as you can see from the title, this edition is all about eyes!

One quick thing I do want to note, all of the products I list below are linked when you hover over them! There's been a bit of confusion over that lately because the link color is the same as plain text. I am definitely looking into how that can be fixed, so thanks a ton for your patience!

And with all that out of the way, let's get started!

1. Best Brow Gel:
Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara- If you suffer from uncooperative eyebrows, this brow gel is just what you need to lock them in place! The formula is solid enough to hold even the most stubborn hairs in place, but not so much that it gets thick or goopey on the eyebrows like other brands I've tried.

2. Best Cream Eyeshadow:
Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow- Here I go raving about Color Tattoos yet again! These guys seriously do have staying power like a tattoo, and the colors can be applied anywhere from super sheer as an eyeshadow base to intense pigment as a standalone color. If you only try one item on the list, make it this!

3. Best Pencil Eyeliner:
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner- I've found that this liner has really great staying power when applied to the waterline! It's soft kohl formula makes it go on without any tugging, and it maintains a really strong color payoff all day long.

4. Best Eye Primer:
e.l.f. Eyelid Primer- It always surprises me how few drugstore eyelid primers there are out there! Thankfully, e.l.f. delivers a great alternative to high-end primers with their sheer, long-wearing formula. I've used it every day for years now and it still works like a charm for keeping eye makeup in place all day long!

5. Best Liquid Liner:
Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner- If you're a regular on here, you probably know how awful I am with applying liquid liner. However, the applicator on this product is amazingly easy to use and really does create super precise lines (even if you're liquid-liner challenged like me!).

6. Best Mascara:
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara- This mascara can seriously rival any high-end brand! It gives wonderful volume and length without clumping, and stays that way all day long.

7. Best Powder Eyeshadow:
Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow- I am not exaggerating when I say that Wet n' Wild shadows are some of the best I have ever used! They are velvety smooth with incredible color payoff, for a ridiculously cheap price.

8. Best Brow Powder:
NYC Browser Brush-On Brow Kit- This is another product I have been using for years, and for good reason! The powder side of this kit is the real gem, with a super natural looking color that doesn't wear off throughout the day.

I absolutely love all of the feedback I've gotten from you guys so far on the last post! It's so fun hearing about all of your holy grail products and finding out that you've tried out some of mine! So keep those tweets and comments coming!! ♥

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is The Caro Diaries. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

Sunday, 21 July 2013

The Best Drugstore Makeup Ever! Part 1: Face

Hi lovelies! It has been way too long since I've given you guys some new budget beauty posts! So I've decided to sort through my massive collection of drugstore products and start a new mini series of posts where I'll pick out the very best of the best to share with you!

With each new post, I'll cover a category of cosmetics, starting today with face makeup. All of the products I'll be raving about below have been my personal favorites for months or even years in some cases, so I definitely stand by every single item I will be mentioning!

1. Best Foundation:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation- This foundation provides really great coverage without looking cakey, and it really does last all day long! Plus, I love that it comes in a huge selection of shades and a special formula for combination/oily and normal/dry skin.

2. Best Face Powder:
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder- Though a setting powder may not be the most glamorous or exciting product, it does work wonders for keeping makeup in place. And in my opinion, Dream Matte is the very best! It never cakes up no matter how much I reapply throughout the day, and the compact is really great for carrying around in your bag as well.

3. Best Primer:
Boots No7 Beautifully Matte Makeup Base- If you're looking for a product that locks in your makeup while blocking out oil, this primer is definitely your best bet! It comes in especially handy during the summer time or during a brutal workout.

4. Best Highlighter:
Wet n' Wild Fergie Shimmer Palette- This pressed shimmery powder is by far the best drugstore highlight I have found! The luminescent pale pink color is great for applying along the tops of cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose for a glowing look.

5. Best Under Eye Concealer:
Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer- It seems like every drugstore brand has come out with a dupe for YSL Touche Eclat at this point, but I've found that Dream Lumi is by far the best. It has a slight salmon-y pink tone that cancels out dark circles, and a light-reflecting quality that really dimishes the look of bags.

6. Best Blush:
Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso- I actually love Milani's entire line of baked blushes, but Luminoso is by far my favorite! It's just this gorgeous shade of peachy pink that mimics the look of a natural flush beautifully. If you tend to have a heavy hand with blush like I do, you can also rest easy knowing that it's pretty much impossible to get clown cheeks with this subtle color.

7. Best Bronzer:
NYC Bronzer in Sunny- If you don't have this bronzer in your collection, you seriously need to go out and buy it right this second. It gives a beautiful, healthy glow without looking orange or muddy in any way, which is pretty impossible to find in a bronzer!

8. Best Blemish Concealer:
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer- I know I rave about this concealer all the time, but I seriously cannot say enough good things about Glamoflauge! It's super thick and pigmented, so a little goes a long way for covering blemishes, hyper-pigmentation, tattoos, scars, and basically anything else.

Stay tuned for part 2 of the best drugstore makeup! In the meantime, I'd love to hear about all of your favorite drugstore face makeup in the comments below! ♥

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is The Caro Diaries. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

Sunday, 14 July 2013

Home Decor Finds Under $40!

Hi lovelies! I've been doing quite a lot of online shopping for home decor lately since I'm working on getting everything together for my new studio apartment. And I have to say, apartment shopping is hard work! Sometimes it feels like finding a needle in a haystack searching through page after page on website after website trying to find something I love. So to save you guys the same trouble, I've put together a collection of some of my home decor favorites so far (all under $40)!

Just like my last personal shopping boutique, some of these items are things I have already ordered, while others are pieces that are on my wishlist. Either way, they are things I absolutely love and I hope you'll love them as well!

Anthropologie Port-Au-Pearl Pillow ($30)

Okay, how gorgeous is this pillow?! I absolutely love the combination of classic, nautical stripes and delicate pearl accents.

Dormify Snap Frame ($15)

Who needs an old school polaroid camera when you can get the look with this adorable frame! If you're limited on desk space, this is a great way to incorporate lots of photos in a small space as well.

Amanda Catherine Designs "Hello Life" Print Poster ($15)

I am seriously obsessed with everything from Amanda Catherine's Etsy shop! She has some of the most beautiful prints I have ever seen, all with wonderfully inspiring words.

Cotton On Cupcake Measuring Cups ($20)

These cupcake measuring cups are both fun and functional! I love that they nest together, so you just have one giant ceramic cupcake sitting on your counter!

Dormify Shut Eye Pillow ($39)

I am just completely in love with the minimalist-chic look of this pillow! Since it's so simple and neutral, I know that it will always look great on my bed no matter how many times I switch up my decor.

ModCloth Beautiful Balance Vase ($17)

This is such a unique vase! The balancing teacups have a whimsical charm about them, yet the all-white keeps it classic and elegant.

Anthropologie Mini Latte Bowls ($20)

These mini bowls are super cute and versatile! They'd be great for portion-controlled snacking or even for holding jewelry or small crafting items.

ModCloth Tally Home Doormat ($27)

Ditch the traditional doormat and go with this nautical-chic piece instead! I like that the majority of the mat is dark enough that you won't see dirty footprints, but you still have that fun little accent in the middle.

Anthropologie Measuring Hedgies ($36)

These hedgehog measuring cups are just too cute! I'm typically not too into animal decor pieces, but I love how simple and chic these little guys are!

Cotton On Blue Ombre Pillow ($15)

So if you guys saw my post on the best sites to shop for home decor, you know that I love Cotton On Cushies! Combine that with my obsession with everything ombre, and you basically have my perfect throw pillow!

Dormify Mariposa Wall Decor Set ($10)

These little butterflies would be absolutely gorgeous floating across a bedroom wall! And they're so affordable, you can stock up on a few sets!

ModCloth Oopsy Tasty Spatula ($12)

There are not even words to express how much I love this spatula. Not only is it in the shape of a popsicle, but it also has a little bite taken out of the corner. How adorable is that?!

Bed Buggs Coral Dahlia Pillow ($35)

I have found a lot of beautiful handmade pillows on Etsy, but this is one of my all-time favorites! I just love the three-dimensional design of the flower and the coral and gray color combo.

What home decor items have you been coveting lately? I'd love to hear about them in the comments down below! ♥

P.S.- Dormify has been awesome enough to give you guys an exclusive coupon code! Enter the code SPARKLEANDMINE at checkout for 15% off your purchase! (Valid through August 1st)

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is The Caro Diaries. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

Monday, 8 July 2013

5 Makeup Mistakes You May Be Making

Hi lovelies! I spend a lot of time raving about the amazing things makeup can do on this blog. If used correctly, makeup can do wonders for enhancing features you love and concealing all the things you're not so crazy about. However, when products are used incorrectly they can actually become counter-intuitive and make things worse. And who wants that?

So I've made a quick little list of all the mistakes I've found to be the most common with women today. I have been guilty of every single one of these at one point or another, and even to this day I am far from perfect when it comes to applying makeup. Nevertheless, I'd like to think that I've learned from some of my mistakes over time and picked up a few helpful tricks as well! Please keep in mind that everything said here is simply my opinion, and there are always exceptions.

With all that out of the way, let's jump into it!

1. Caked On Foundation
When your skin is acting up, it's tempting to just slather on full-coverage foundation like it's a mask. The problem is, you're covering up all the good along with the bad! Think of foundation as nothing more than a way to even out your skin tone. Concealer should be doing all the heavy-duty covering on blemishes and other areas that need it. To ensure your foundation doesn't go on too thick or cakey, try mixing it with moisturizer before applying for a more sheer finish (or just buy a sheer coverage formula to begin with).

I Recommend: Olay Fresh Effects Flawless Finish BB Cream*

2. Harsh Eyeliner
When applied correctly, eyeliner is a great way to define your eyes and really make them pop. However, overdoing it can actually make your eyes look smaller and just way too harsh. To avoid making this mistake, stay away from black liner (especially during the day) and opt for shades of brown, gray, or even a muted purple instead. Another great way to keep eyeliner from looking too harsh is to use eyeshadow applied with an angled liner brush to your lower lash line instead. A lot of makeup artists use this trick because it creates much softer definition.

I Recommend: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe

3. Overdrawn (Or Ignored!) Eyebrows
Eyebrows make a huge difference in the look of your whole face. Don't believe me? Google "celebrities without eyebrows"...it will change your life. The best way to bring natural definition to your brows is to fill them in with a matching brow powder or eyeshadow and an angled liner brush. Eyebrow pencils typically come out looking way too harsh if they are not wielded by a pro.

I Recommend: NYC Browser Brush-On Brow Kit

4. Mismatched Foundation Shade
Another foundation sin made it to the list! We've all seen it and we've all been that girl at least once- the one that has a clear line of foundation that makes her look like a floating head. Finding an exact shade match is not easy by any means, but it can definitely be done. I'd recommend going into your local department store or Sephora and getting shade-matched by a professional. Even if you're not interested in a high-end product, you can ask to take home a sample and then bring it with you to the drugstore to find a dupe.

I Recommend: Sephora has a really cool new device in certain store locations that detects your exact skin color and shade matches you automatically. It's definitely worth checking out! More info here.

5. Skipping Skincare
If you ignore everything else I've said, please, please, please listen to this. Before you even pick up that primer or go near foundation, make sure you've taken care of your skin. Typically, that means cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. This ensures you start your makeup routine with a smooth canvas, and keeps products from sticking to dry, flaky skin. I used to avoid moisturizer like the plague because I had oily skin and I thought any added moisture would just make it worse. However, all skin needs hydration and there are plenty of oil-free formulas out there!

I Recommend: Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer

I'd love to hear about all of your past beauty blunders in the comments below!

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is The Caro Diaries. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

Monday, 1 July 2013

25 Easy DIY Projects for the Home!

Hello lovelies! As I've already talked about in my post on the best websites to shop for home decor, I'm a little decorating obsessed lately! I'll be moving into my first apartment this Fall, and I really want to fill it with pretty things that will inspire me and make the place feel like home. So I decided to make a list of all the DIY projects I plan on making for my apartment! These ideas are all super easy to make, because to be quite honest I am not the most patient or DIY-saavy person in the world and these are about all I can handle. If you couldn't tell already, you'll know by the end of this post that I really love all things bright and sparkly!

Please keep in mind that none of these ideas or images are my own, which is why I will not be sharing the instructions directly on this post. In order to give proper credit to all the lovely bloggers who came up with these projects, I will simply be linking to the full post right below each picture.

Happy crafting!