Manicure Monday :: Wet N Wild Undercover

This week, I have Wet N Wild's Undercover on my nails. This time I can actually say that I have actually tried many of the nail polishes from the Megalast line! You can find this brand at your local CVS and I want to say that this particular nail polish is $1.99, but don't quote me on that. I remember it being very inexpensive.

One thing I noticed about this specific nail polish was that it was very liquid-y when compared to the other ones. However, I didn't have any problems applying the nail polish. In this picture, I am wearing three coats, and it turned out to be the perfect pink-rose shade that is slightly see-through.

I also love the brush applicator of this nail polish. It is very wide and can pretty much cover the entire thumb nail in two strokes. For all my readers that have a lower-budget for nail polishes, check this brand out. I can guarantee that it will not disappoint you!

Talk It Out Thursday :: Blessed

This past week has been a blur.

Does anyone else have those kind of weeks? Or month, maybe? Actually, now thinking about it, this entire month has been pretty strange--a good, new type of strange. 

I took my NCLEX in the first week of August and got my passing results within 48 hours. Woohoo! So, now what? The infamous and most dreaded  job hunt. 

I had been applying to various new graduate programs in California since March, but didn't have any luck. I had one interview, but didn't get chosen for the second interview. That was okay, because I (at least) got interviewing experience. There were some hospitals that I got instant rejections from, and others where I never got rejections (even till this day). 

Days passed. Weeks passed. I started getting nervous as a noticed more and more people in my nursing cohort scoring interviews and getting into new graduate programs. I wasn't even getting a call for an interview, so I kept thinking, "I wish I had been a CNA. I wish I had more certificates. I wish I had volunteered continuously during school. I wish I knew someone on the inside that could hire me. I wish... I wish... I wish..." The more I kept thinking about things I could change, the more depressed, anxious, and upset I got.

Product Review :: The Face Shop Lip & Eye Remover

Hey Everyone, 

This week, I want to review this Rice Water Bright Lip & Eye Remover from The Face Shop. 

Before purchasing this product, I used the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. Even though this one said, ¨oil-free," I always felt like it left my eyelids oily. So when I went to The Face Shop, I asked the lady if she could recommend a product to me without this ¨oily¨ factor, so this is the product I ended up buying. I actually used quite a bit of it, so I feel like I can properly review it. 

One thing that is similar to the Neutrogena product in that you have to mix the two solutions together. This removes ALL of my stubborn eye makeup (ie. waterproof mascara)! I also love how it's very cooling and gentle to my eyes, especially after a long day. It has a slight scent, but it's refreshing. This one is a definite repurchase. Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the product. 

Rating: 10/10    

Manicure Monday :: Revlon China Flower

I realized that I mostly used of my teal nail polishes for previous Mani posts, so let's spice it up a little this week, shall we? For this week's Mani-Monday, I've decided to go a little bright with Revlon's China Flower. I know, I know, I'm kind of late on the trend. This color has been a favorite among many Youtubers for a while now. It has become one of my favorite summer colors as well, and that's saying a lot because I usually gravitate toward the teals and blue-greens when it comes to nail polish. 

This nail polish is also SCENTED! I am very sensitive when it comes to scents, but I actually love the smell of this one. The scent also lingers for a long time after it's applied. So, that is my Mani-Monday post of the week :) Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Talk It Out Thursday :: Life Moving in Fast Forward

Hey Everyone,

It's inevitable, the majority of my blog posts are going to be beauty related. If you are here, on my blog, I'm sure that's something you won't mind. However, at the same time, I don't want to be a faceless blogger, I want to find a way to reach out to my readers on a more personal level. I'm going to starting calling this series of posts Talk it Out Thursday :)

Me speaking at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony 2014
Photo Credits: Simplybokeh.com Photography

In this post, I want to talk about education. I still get jittery when I say this, but this past June, I graduated from college. Looking back on the last five years of my life, it seems like everything moved in fast forward. I feel like it was just yesterday when I walked onto campus as a freshman, clueless as ever. I remember signing up for classes during orientation, and finding out halfway through the quarter that I was registered in a senior level course. But HEY, I still made it out alive!

During my first two years, I was a ¨pre-Nursing¨ student, so I was taking all the prerequisite courses required in order to be qualified to apply to nursing school. I feel like general education classes were easier than some of the classes I had in high school, especially the AP courses. But I can also say that I studied a lot during my first two years because I made sure not to forget the fact that my parents were paying for my full college tuition out of their own pockets, so I couldn't let them down.

DIY :: Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Hey Everyone! 

Today, I'm coming to you guys with my first ever beauty-DIY blog post. I made my very own Apple Cider Vinegar Toner. (Disclaimer: This is not my own recipe. I came across it on Pinterest. I don't remember exactly which blog/website I got it off from, but I am so thankful for such innovative people in our beauty world!)

Manicure Monday :: Butter London Poole

This past weekend, Ulta had their 2 for $15 deal on their Butter London nail polishes. Like a lot of the other products I've been blogging about, this is my first time buying a Butter London product. 

I was excited to try out this product because many beauty bloggers and Youtubers seem to love it, but I started reading the label and got even MORE excited. This company is a cruelty-FREE company! And another plus is that they don't include Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP in their nail polishes.

Okay, okay, so moving on. This week, I have the Butter London "Poole" on. When I bought it, I thought I was buying a mint green shade, but turns out, it's more of a minty-aqua color. The picture above doesn't do the product justice. It's a bit more of a darker pastel in person and a whole lot prettier. 

I applied Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear Invisible as a base coat, and applied two coats of Poole. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am extremely low maintenance when it comes to painting my nails, so I skipped the top coat part. We shall see how long this lasts. 

If you also love minty-blue shades like me, you will not be disappointed by this product! :)

Mini Haul :: Ulta, MAC, Sephora, & Image

Hey Everyone,

So over the past month, I went out an bought a couple of things. They're nothing too expensive, but these are some products that I have wanted to try for a while. 

First, at Ulta, I bought the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The description says that it's for applying liquid foundation, but who really follows directions anyways? ;) I personally started using it to buff out the blush that I bought at MAC. This blush is called "Pinch Me." I first saw it in meejmuse's recent Makeup Collection video. This blush is a deep rose color and it is VERY pigmented--a little definitely goes a long way. 

Manicure Monday :: Essie Where's My Chauffeur



Today, I have on one of Essie's teal nailpolishes called "Where's My Chauffeur." I have tried out a lot of different nailpolishes in the past, but this is the first time I am trying the Essie brand. I was surprised that I never thought of trying it before! I have definitely been missing out on all the nail polish action.

To be honest, I'm really bad when it comes to putting a base and top coat. In this picture, I'm not wearing either one. I will update you guys on how the longevity of this polish is without the extra support.

Product Review :: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Hiii everyone!

This is such a long overdue makeup review on the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

First of all, looking at the Sephora website, this is what this primer claims to do:

"What it is:

An iconic primer that preps skin to create a perfect canvas for flawless foundation application. 

What it is formulated to do:

The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smooths and perfects skin, while the unique formula supports natural collagen and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish.

What else you need to know:

Use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection. This skin-soothing blend of antioxidants, which can be worn alone or under foundation, works overtime to fill in fine lines and even out skin texture."

So the main things I look for in a primer is: covers pores, keeps skin from becoming oily, doesn't make my foundation cake at the end of the day, and doesn't feel like a thick layer when applied. I bought this small travel size from Sephora in November 2013 because I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. If I remember correctly, I believe I paid around $10 for this tube, and after months of using it, the tube still looks as full when I first bought it. Unfortunately, I'm still not 100% sure if I like it or not, and here's why.

I mainly apply this primer on my T-zone because that's where I tend to get the most oily and I can say that this primer truly works with the "oil control." I have worked 12 hours shifts and barely saw a shine at the end of work, so that's a definite plus! (Side note: I am really really bad about touching up my makeup too). 

However, there are a couple things that I'm not a big fan of. When you apply this primer, it had this silicon feeling and it doesn't do a really good job covering pores. I know a lot of people use the Benefit Porefessional and I feel like it has the same type of texture. I've also noticed that my foundation cakes as the day goes on. 

So my final thoughts, I would give it a 3.5/5 because although it protects my skins from becoming oily, I think it should do a better job covering your pores. Would I repurchase it again? Maybe, but I'm more on the probably not side. I am definitely on a hunt for looking for new primers that have the qualities I look for in a primer, so any suggestions are welcome.

xoxo, 

I'm Baaack!

Hellooo! 

I'm back to the blogging community! Yay me, for getting my act together and finding time to blog again. 

I'm returning with a NEW semi-finished blog design from one of my good friends, Jeffrey Lorenzo. I came up with a quick sketch of how I wanted the layout to look, and he worked his magic with Photoshop and HTML, which are two things that I really don't understand at the moment. Major props to everyone out there that are pros at both!

I have been makeup shopping a little too much since graduation, so I will definitely start doing a lot more product reviews. I will also do my best to start posting weekly Mani Mondays! Please let me know what other topics you would be interested in! I will be sure to consider them in my future blog entries!

Lookout for a product review post tomorrow! :) See you all then.