Holiday Gift Guide (for HER)

The holidays are upon us and Christmas time is SO CLOSE (although I embraced the spirit since the start of November so who am I kidding?)

Anyway here are some of my suggestions of what you can ask for Christmas or gift your friends and family based on your budget.

Under $20

Stila Holiday Essentials Kit ($19)

This includes my favorite liquid liner, Stila's best-seller eye shadow, Kitten, and an amazing liquid lipstick. This set would be perfect for any age range because these are essential products with great quality at a fantastic value. 

Under $30

Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette ($27)

This is a must-have palette, even for the people who rarely wear makeup. The color selection is neutral, yet very versatile. From natural every-day looks to deep, smokey eyes, this palette can deliver. Plus, it's great for travelling.  Each shadow ends up costing around $4.50, which is actually less than most drugstore singles and Urban Decay has one of the best quality eye shadows out there. 

Real Techniques Sam's Picks ($29.99)

These are my favorite brushes and this kit is a great introduction to the line or just some nice additional brushes. My favorites are the Multi-tasker, which is great for powder, bronzer or blush, the Setting brush, which is perfect for highlighter or setting the under-eye, and the Essential Crease brush, which is a fluffy blending brush to get that really nice seamless eye look.

 If you were to throw in some additional brushes, the must haves are the Expert Face brush and the Blush Brush.

Under $40

Lorac Pro To Go ($38)

This is such a great palette for people just starting on make up or for people who travel a lot. The eye shadow selection is neutral, yet it's very easy to create fun or natural looks. The palette includes a great matte bronzer, a matte pink blush and a shimmery coral blush (my personal favorite). The brushes aren't great, so don't expect to be impressed with them, but the actual products are amazing. Any person you give this to will be pleased and satisfied.

Under $50

Lorac Pro palette ($42)

Hands down the best and most versatile palette I've ever tried. The color payoff is outstanding, the color selection is perfection (half matte/half shimmer) and the quality is THE BEST. Great gift for any make up lover! This is not a new palette so make sure the person doesn't already have it, but if they don't they should. 

Side note: This is my holy grail palette. Is there anything on this list that you should get, it is this. I actually won this palette at a YouTube giveaway (YaYa Sen's channel) and I was so over the moon when I got this because I've been wanting it for SO LONG and I haven't stopped using it ever since!

Over $50

GLAMGLOW treatments ($69)

I haven't personally tried this, but I've heard so many good things about it that I decided to include it. This is a luxury item to pamper the most special women in your life (or yourself because why not?).  It's crazy expensive but I am pretty sure it's worth the price based on the results I've seen it has had on people. 

Clarisonic Mia 2 ($150)

Look, I know the price is scary and intimidating. I thought so, too. However, you have to trust me. This thing will change your life. You think you clean your skin well enough? This will show you that you're not. I can't say enough good things about this. A teenager would definitely enjoy this. Your mom would enjoy this. Even your grandma would enjoy this. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that every 3 months you have to change the brush head, which is approximately $25, so just expect that expense four times a year.

Mine is actually not working at the moment and I'm freaking out. I'm definitely asking for a new one this Christmas. Which perfectly connects with my next post, which is going to me MY Christmas wish list. I'm probably not gonna actually get everything I ask, but I thought I'd share what I have an eye out for this year (basically it's gonna be a continuation of this guide, except those are mostly things I have not tried so I can't fully endorse, but that I think would be awesome gifts). Be on the look out for that!!!!

Gabriela xx

September Favorites ♡

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September is almost over (which is crazy!) so I decided to share my first ever favorites! 

♡ MAKEUP

Urban Decay's Naked palette: this stuff is just amazing for every season and every occasion. I wear this every single day to uni. My go-to colors this month were Sidecar, Buck and Hustle.

Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad Eyeshadow (in Canyon Classics): What I've been loving this quad for is to fill in my eyebrows. My eyebrows are dark brown (bordering on black) so that bottom gray shade is the PERFECT shade for me to fill in my eyebrows. I just avoid the inner part of my eyebrows to get the most natural look.

Real Techniques brushes: These are super soft and high quality. Slowly purchasing the complete line...

Wet n Wild coloricon blush (in Mellow Wine): I own all four of these blushes, but Mellow Wine has always been my favorite. Really pigmented and not too shimmery.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer (in Rich Bronze): Perfect for contouring. I take a small stipple brush and apply it under my cheekbones and around my temples... It's easy to go overboard with this so a little goes a long way with this if you want a seamless/natural look.

FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 (in Rosé): I love this for uni! A very light wash of color that enhances your look. It doesn't matter if I'm wearing a full face of makeup or just  some mascara, this is a must for me!

Maybelline Lasting Drama by Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner (in Blackest Black): This lasts ALL day, it's really creamy and easy to apply. Screw felt tip eye liners. This is the way to go. 

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation (in Golden Tan): New favorite foundation. It is so long lasting and perfect for oily skin. 

♡ SKINCARE

Clarisonic Mia 2 with Acne Brush Head: This was definitely an investment, but it was worth it. I used the sensitive brush for a couple of months before switching to the acne one and I find that it is softer and my skin likes it a lot more.
St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub: This stuff is so cheap yet AMAZING! Feels really nice on my skin, but you can definitely feel the scrubbing. Since I got this, I've been getting a lot less breakouts. (It's oil-free, 2% salicylic acid and 100% natural exfoliants)
Proactiv Solution Refining Mask: This has been my go-to mask this month. Whenever I feel like my skin is acting up I just feel like it needs a deep pore cleansing, I use this. This came as a sample with my first (and only) Proactiv kit and now it's almost gone :( I would definitely repurchase it if I find a good deal.
up & up Maximum Strength Acne Medication (store brand for the Clean & Clear Pesa-Gel 10): I have tried SO many spot treatments and I've finally found one that works. A must-have!
L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution: I showed this in my haul and since then, I've been using this every single day. Love this stuff! There might be an upcoming review soon :)

♡ HAIR & BODY

Caress Sheer Twilight Body Wash: This stuff smells like a dream. Every time I use this I just feel so luxurious and the smell is so delicate. I've lost count of how many times I've repurchased this.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm: This deep conditioner is SO good and inexpensive. It seriously brought back to life my hair. Pick it up if you have a change; you won't regret it!

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse: this is the one product I can't live without. Like, holy grail status! My hair is just not the same if I don't use this. I stopped using it during the summer because I had another mousse laying around and as soon as I went back to this one I noticed a HUGE difference.

♡ RANDOM

Fiber One Protein Bars (in Caramel Nut): I've been obsessed with these. When I don't have time to eat full on meal or I'm on the go, I grab one of these. I also like to use them as a snack in between meals. They taste so good! And these actually have a great amount of fiber (5g), unlike most protein bars.
My iPhone 5: Yes, I know the new one just came out but I got my first iPhone on August and I've been loving it this month. It feels good to have a new phone you love...
Gratitude journal: This is the most random favorite ever, but I've been really enjoying using my gratitude journal more. I just take 5 minutes at the end of each day to write 3 things I am grateful for. It can be something good that happened that day or just small things like having enough food. Especially when having bad days, forcing yourself to think about the good things makes you feel instantly better.

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So that's it! Hope you enjoyed my (long) list of favorites. Be sure to follow this blog to read all the upcoming reviews I have planned.
Question of the day: What was your favorite product of the month?

Gabriela xx

Collective Haul: Makeup, Skincare and More!

So I've been a bit naughty these past couple of weeks and this happened.... During multiple trips to CVS, Target, Walgreens, eBay.com and JustFab.com I have been getting some stuff I wanted to try and I hope you enjoy me showing it to you.

Starting on the left, I picked up some up & up Exfoliating Cotton Rounds because everyone and their mother on YouTube has been mentioning these and saying that once they tried them, they never went back to normal cotton rounds. I tried them today for the first time and I they feel really good on the skin and definitely help me take off my make up faster. I also picked up an e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush, a Conair Volume & Styling comb*, Conair bunmaker, and a Maybelline Eye Studio eye liner in Blackest Black.

I found some really awesome deals on the Revlon Lip Butters at Target. They are usually around the $7 price tag but I was able to get a pack of two Lip Butters for $6.28. I picked up two of those, one in Creme Burlee and the other one in Berry Smoothie. These are super wearable colors perfect for every day. In addition, I got three of the Wet n Wild megalast nail polishes at CVS and they were only $1, which is half of what they usually go for! I picked up the shades (in order): Through the Grapevine, Tropicalia and Undercover.

Now, one of the things I was most excited to try were these Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains. They claim to do everything I want in a lip product and I was not disappointed. I'm definitely going to pick some more shades as soon as I can! Another thing I can't wait to try and review for all of you are these L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector serum and day/night cream. They are pretty expensive for a drugstore product but after some YouTube peer pressure (*coughs* Nicole Guerriero *coughs*) I finally was persuaded to give them a try. 

I picked up the only shade from the Wet n Wild coloricon blushers that I did not have, Berry Shimmer, the Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad in Canyon Classics and the Sonia Kashuk cream bronzer in Rick Bronze. On top of that, I found the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution on eBay. These are only sold in the U.K. for at less than £4 he moment but I really wanted to try using a micellar water to take off my makeup so I decided to order two of them online, even if it is a bit more expensive. So far I am really liking it, but I will have to keep you all posted on it.

Now to some of the random things I got... I needed some boots for the fall and winter time. It doesn't get too cold here in Arizona, but it is still necessary to wear cozy shoes. After shopping around, I was not pleased with the styles (or the prices) of the boots I was finding so I decided to look online. Thankfully, I was able to find this pair of faux-leather lace-up boots in JustFab.com for just 19.99 (because of some deal they had going on)! They are super comfy and will definitely be a staple in my Fall wardrobe.

Lastly, I picked up the latest book from my favorite author, Between the Lines. I haven't had time to read it but I am really looking forward to it. I own most of Jodi Picoult's books and she never lets me down with her narratives.

So that's it for this post! If you have special interest for me to review any of these items, let me know in the comments. 

Gabriela xx

REVIEW: Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

Sorry I haven't updated the blog for the past couple of weeks. I'm back now with a lot of new products to try and review for you all. 

I was looking for a lighter coverage foundation a couple of months ago and came across the concept of a BB cream. I started looking into some reviews on YouTube and some blogs hoping to find the best BB cream for oily/combination skin types. This one was one of the most raved about, especially for my skin type, so I decided to give it a try. I paid less than $8 for two of them on eBay (which is an amazing deal compared to the $11 one of them usually retails for).

I dont want to make this review too long so let's get straight to the point: I really like this BB cream, but during these warmer months is not really holding on as well. As shown in the picture below, this comes out in a white creamy form and as you blend it it starts turning to a skin color. The coverage is very light, but it is enough to even out my skin tone and make it look like your skin but better. The finish is more of a demi-matte and once it has dried, it feels like a very silky powder on your face.

It lasts all day and it is pretty decent at oil control if you set it with a good powder. My problem with this BB cream at the moment is that when applying this, you should be in a comfortable temperature because the second you start sweating before the BB cream has set, it will break down.

Bottom line is that I do recommend this BB cream for people with normal to oily skin. It has a very natural looking finish and it smooths out your skin tone. It works great as a primer, but also just by itself. It is a must that you use a concealer if you suffer from undereye circles, sun spots or have any blemishes because this will not fully cover those. This is not very water/sweat resistant so it might not be the best product to use during the hot summer months, but other than that, it does what it claims.

Have you tried this BB cream? Do you have any recommendations for lighter, easy to apply foundations or BB creams for the summer time? Let me know in the comments!

Rating: 7.5/10

REVIEW: Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner

I don't know about you guys, but finding good eyeliners at the drugstore can be one of the most excruciating tasks. Thankfully, online reviews provide great input to narrow down the options. I usually go for the cheapest pencil eyeliners and most of them end up disappointing me. I decided to spend a couple more bucks and get the Rimmel Scandaleyes in the Black and Nude shade (I got mine at CVS for 4.99 each).

Some of Rimmel's claims are that this eyeliner

• is long lasting
• will give you shocking color intensity
• the formula is ultra smooth & creamy
• will glide on easily
• is waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof, humidity-proof

And I would have to agree with these claims. I am currently on vacation in Puerto Rico, which has a very tropical/humid climate, and this eyeliner did not disappoint. 

Like any product, there is room for improvement. This eyeliner has to be sharpened, and it is not an easy task the first time you do it. There is some sort of coating you will have to sharpen first, before you actually start making the point finer, but after that first time it stops being a problem (I do wish it was a twist-up eyeliner). Also, it is very hard to remove this eyeliner from your waterline at the end of the night, which is annoying because it is not ideal to rub your waterline too much. In addition (and perhaps my biggest problem with this eyeliner), this product does not work on the upper lash line as well as it does on your bottom waterline. It gives you a fatter, sloppier line, which is great if you want to smudge it out, but it's not the one for polished looks or winged out looks.

Bottom line: I LOVE this eyeliner for my waterline and I will repurchase it. After trying this, I won't go back to my .99 cents pencil eyeliners... 

Rating: 8/10

Hello world!

Maybe I should start by introducing myself and let you know who I am. *awkwardly says hi* Well, my name is Gabriela and I just recently turned 20 years old. I am studying at the University of Arizona, but I am originally from Puerto Rico. 

If you met me one year ago, you would've NEVER believed I had a passion for beauty and makeup. I was the most laid back, i-dont-care-about-that-crap person and i literally never allowed myself to embrace what I have and make it work. This past semester was a really rough one. I struggled with balancing work, study and sleep, keeping my motivation/focus and had major self-confidence issues. I will save the story of how exactly getting into makeup and beauty has helped me for later. For now, I just want to state that the main reasons for me being where I am today are Zoe (zoella) and Louise(sprinkleofglitter). But enough about that...

I have been thinking about starting a beauty blog for a long time but I just never had the time or courage to do it. I am constantly trying new products and reviewing them on Amazon and manufacturers’ websites, but I wanted something more. To me, reviewing products and being helpful to other people is really fun so even if no one reads this blog, I will do it because I truly enjoy it. 

You can expect to see anything from hauls, posts about my favorite products of the month, great beauty deals at the drugstore, and more importantly, detailed reviews about the products I have tried. I am still not sure how often I will update this blog. It might be every other day, once a week or twice a month. Let’s see how this goes.

Come join this adventure with me and let’s have fun!