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

The Autumn Tag

 I saw this tag on Adalia's Closet and decided to answer it myself because, why not? After all it's not like I have a bunch of homework waiting to be done... Oh wait maybe I do. Anyway...here it goes!

1. Favorite thing about it?
Definitely the temperatures. I live in the desert to it's usually REALLY hot, but once autumn kicks in the temperatures drop a bit. On that same note, it also allows me to layer a bit more, wear scarves and nice sweaters. 

2. Favorite drink?
Hot chocolate, definitely. 

3. Favorite scent/candle?
I am probably one of the only people in the world who hate fall/spicy/holiday scents. I stick to fresh and floral scents.

4. Best lipstick?
Lipstick isn't really my thing but I really like the Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet and the Jordana Twist & Shine Balm Stain in Cranberry Crush. 

5. Go-to moisturizer?

Last year I used the Neutrogena Oil-Free moisture for combination skin during the day and for my nighttime moisturizer I used Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. However, this year I will be using the L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector day/night cream, which I've never tried before.

6. Go-to colors for the eyes?

I like golds and deeper neutrals. My favorites are probably Urban Decay's Half Baked, Smog and Hustle. I also have a L'Oreal HiP duo in "Saucy" and I always use it during these months.

7. Favorite music or band/singer to listen to?

Muse, Fall Out Boy, The Script, Imagine Dragons and whatever's popular on the radio

8. Favorite outfit to wear (i.e. boots and scarf combo)? 

Simple top, a cute pleather jacket, dark skinny jean and combat boots. If I feel like it needs some spice, I'll throw a fun scarf.

9. Autumn treat?

I'll definitely be buying a new fall handbag. I want a large satchel in a tan or caramel color. I'm probably not going to splurge, but it is on my wishlist.

10. Favorite place to be?

I mean this isn't really special to autumn. I just like being at home :)

I'm tagging anyone who hasn't done this and wants to do it! This was fun to answer (:

Gabriela xx

Review: Neutrogena Naturals Night Cream and Acne Spot Treatment

Hello again, everyone!

For the past 5 months I've been trying out two of the products from the Neutrogena Naturals line and I'm going to review them for you today.

The first thing I tried was the Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Night Cream. I have oily skin, but before using this cream my face was really dehydrated and even had some dry patches. I decided to pick this up because the price didn't seem to bad compared to other drugstore options (it was around $13 at Walmart). In addition, I liked the claims it made and the fact that it is mostly a natural product made this even more attractive. Anyway...after the first time I used this I already saw visible results. My dry patches disappeared in less than a week and my skin felt so soft! I've seen a lot of people complain about the odor of this product, but personally I love it. It absorbs really quickly into the skin, but it's thick enough to feel the moisture. 

Bottom line is that I really love this and I am kind of sad that I only have a few more uses out of it. I won't be repurchasing this right now because I bought the L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector day/night cream to shake things up and try something new, but I know what this is a product I can count on in the future. I recommend this product to anyone, especially if you have young skin and you really just want to keep it looking healthy and moisturized. 

The Acne Spot Treatment, however, is another story. With only 1% of salicylic acid, this product was not effective at all. I would use this to treat active breakouts and to prevent some for coming out but it wouldn't really do either one. It left a white residue once it dried out and left my skin feeling rough where I applied it. You would think that the fact that it is drying is good (after all that's what we want it to do to our spots) but it did nothing to them! I'm all in for natural products, but they have to be effective. This one is definitely a skip in my opinion!

P.S. I bought the store brand of the Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 Acne Medication and it works like a dream! It has 10% Benzoyl Peroxide so it's pretty strong (but effective). Good alternative if salicylic acid isn't working for you. 

Hope this was somewhat helpful to all of you. If you have experiences with these products or have any recommendations on what I should try next, leave them in the comments!

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: Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser

Hello lovelies!
 I went on a little shopping trip to CVS and ended up buying the Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser. I was running out of my Philosophy Purity and for the summer that was not really working (and it's quite expensive). In addition, using my CVS ExtraCare card I got a 20% off my purchase and two additional coupons that applied to the beauty products I ended up buying. The original price was $7.99, but I only paid about five dollars for this thanks to the coupons. 

I was a bit skeptical about this product because I've tried cleansers to reduce oil and shine and they all make my face feel dry and rough. However, this product really surprised me. The texture is like a very thick cream and it has a slightly pearly appearance. It doesn't have any overpowering fragrance, but it smells really fresh.
 As I was applying, it felt really soft and creamy but my hands started to feel a bit dry as I was washing off the product. In terms of my face, it really got rid of all the oil and impurities (much better than Purity), but it didn't feel like it completely stripped off my face like some cleansers do. I've also tried it with the Clarisonic Mia 2 and it works just as well (although I prefer not to use the Clarisonic every morning). 

Now, let's get onto the verdict. The claims Olay makes about this product on their website are the following:

"Add this cleanser to your morning regimen for a fresh and deep clean:

• Removes 2x more dirt, oil and makeup vs. basic cleansing

• Kaolin clay lifts away impurities and helps minimize shine

• Deep cleansing action for a fresher feel" 

And I would have to agree. The difference in easily noticeable. This is a deep cleansing product, it has helped me minimize shine and I didn't have to use a lot of product to get these results. Since I've started using this every morning, I rarely have to retouch my makeup or use blotting sheets throughout the day. 

For my combination skin and the current hot weather this is the perfect item to help me not look like a ball of oil halfway throughout the day. However, I get some dry patches on my cheeks when the weather cools down so I am not sure this is suitable to use all-year round unless you have really oily skin. 

Bottom line: Yes, I would repurchase this product and recommend it to anyone who tends to get shiny or oily mid-day. Just make sure you still tone and use a light moisturizer before applying makeup.

Rating: 9/10