Fall Favorites 2016

*The shade below labelled as "Club Hopper" was originally identified incorrectly as "Vintage" - another great shade of Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick by NYX Cosmetics.*

It's mid-October and the weather has been considerably autumnal. I've really been digging a few specific products lately. Some of them make me feel like I've got fall and winter handled; others I've just discovered or re-discovered recently. 

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Hair Care Boost It High Lift Creation Spray

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I use this spray on my dry hair after I've heat styled it. Whether I'm going for a stick-straight style or one with some curls and dimension, adding this spray to my roots and through the rest of my hair gives some nice volume and texture to my hair. This spray transforms a simple straightened look into something salon-worthy (says my humble, not-a-hairdresser self). Styling Tip: flip your head upside down, randomly spray this lightly all over the top and bottom of your hair, flip right-side up and run your fingers through those strands to reorganize. 

Essie's Nail Lacquer in "Smokin' Hot"

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I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to transition to "fall" colors on my nails this year. This summer brought a lot of clarity to my nail polish preferences and I ended up passing along shades that I was holding on to for no reason. The nudes and pastels are still calling my name, but I have a ton of fall-fresh shades that I need to try in my collection. "Smokin' Hot" by Essie's deep brown-taupe-grey-purple-ness has restored some of my love for this season's colors. I have a feeling this will be back on my nails before Christmas. 

NYX Hydra Touch Primer

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I purchased this primer not too long ago, and as my skin has transitioned to being a little drier with the cooler weather, I have been loving this baby. I love to layer hydrating products with mattifying ones because I love the balance that comes from doing so. This primer has been performing beautifully under all the foundations and concealers I have tried with it. I especially love that as the day goes on, it does not make me look greasy or oily; it just mixes with the natural oils in my skin to make me look fresh and dewy even after several hours of wear. 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

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I will be the first to tell you that the price point of this puppy is a little scary. I purchased this as a splurge a while ago, and for a bit I was only using it on special occasions. Now that I'm pretty much completely out of my self-tanning routine (until next summer), the shade "Fair Neutral" (which is the only shade I own bc it is dang expensive) is perfect for highlighting my face. I love the coverage and blend-ability of this concealer and I have been reaching for it much more often. I have plenty of concealers that I love that are much less expensive, but I will say this is worth the money if you can afford it or want to treat yourself like I did.

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks

Pictured: "Sandstorm" / "Soft-Spoken" / "Club Hopper" / "Foul Mouth" / "Brooklyn Thorn"

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I think this is every shade of this formula I own. While I'll wear what I want when I want, I think these are all amazing shades for those fall feelings as well. I love the Liquid Suede formula because it looks and feels like a liquid lipstick, but without the super dry and crumbly feeling that can come with some formulas. I'll be working through wearing all of these within the next week, so stay connected with my Instagram (@kteacupcake) to see all of them in action. 

NYX Plush Gel Lipstick in "Nude Beach"

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This has become my "wear-anywhere-with-anything" nude lipstick since I purchased it just a few weeks ago. I love how juicy it makes my lips look and the color is a perfect nude for me: not too pink, not too peachy, not too anything in particular. Because of the super glossy gel formula, it reapplies really well throughout the day and stays comfortable through anything. 

What have you been loving this fall? And what books are y'all reading? I'm working through some Dickens novels, but I'd love to know what you're into right now. Thanks for spending some time with me, and see you soon!

a little ULTA haul and some first impressions.

I've recently been using SnapChat as a way to share what I'm doing, using, and loving concerning makeup. Also, I post a lot of pics of my dog. Filming and editing videos is not very realistic for me right now; I don't have a great lighting situation that would allow me to create quality content, and Zach and I are living with my family while we house hunt, so there's a lot of background noise and activity. 

SnapChat's been great for spontaneously posting tutorials, product shots, and pictures of my nails, but it's not a permanent way of sharing anything, so after I posted some items I "hauled" recently on my story, I also wanted to do a quick post here in case you missed it :). If you're interested in following me, search ktea.cupcake.

Anyway...

ULTA's been having a summer sale for the past few days, so I felt morally obligated to stop by. I'm very excited about every product I purchased, and none of them were really part of my game plan going in there, but I think that's just making me more excited. 

I bought two products from Soap and Glory. This is not a brand with which I have a lot of experience, but I'm currently using their Peaches 'n' Clean cleanser and I really like it. I'm pretty sure this brand is relatively new to American stores and their makeup is just new in general. 

I've used the One Heck of a Blot Instant-Perfecting Power Primer a few times so far, and I think I just need to figure out how much is really enough. Primers can be tricky because using too much can actually have the reverse of the effect(s) you're trying to achieve. Really laying it on thick might seem like your best bet for a flawless makeup base, but you might just be causing your makeup to break down and wear off sooner if it can't really work into your skin. (I find this especially true of very "siliconey" primers.) I actually think I have yet to use enough of this primer to really get the pore-smoothing benefits, but I'd rather play it safe. 

The Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator intrigues me because, in general, when you add shimmer or glow to an area that has flaws, the flaws only become more obvious. BUT, appropriate diffusion of light in the form of an illuminating product CAN help to soften and hide flaws like scars, texture, or large pores. (If all the light around you is bouncing off your face in all different directions, focusing on one blemish becomes more difficult.) I love the look and feel of this product (it smells oddly nice, too). I used a little bit of it for the first time today on my cheekbones and the flat of my nose. I do think it helped give me a little extra glow, but I'm definitely not done figuring this baby out. 

This NYX Hydra Touch Primer felt so nice when I swatched in the store. I did wear this today, and it definitely slicked over any dry patches and helped my makeup go on very smoothly, but I need more time to know if it is a for sure winner. My skin type has been changing and I am getting a little more dry-skinned at times, so I wanted to work this into my routine on days when I just wanna feel quenched, ya know? 

I already know that I love the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure line. The formulas are almost always amazing and the brush is bomb. This color, "In Full Blue-M" caught my eye while I was waiting to check out and I couldn't leave it behind. I've been eliminating a lot of nail polish from my collection recently and I've discovered I really gravitate toward nudes and pastels, so this baby had to come home with me. Even if the formula isn't the 10 out of 10 I'm anticipating, I will make. this. work.

I also couldn't leave without a lippie. I really like the formula of the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks, and this shade is gorgeous. "Brooklyn Thorn," I have a feeling, is going to be a new favorite. 

Lastly, lashes. This was a pragmatic purchase for me; it's a good deal ($9.99 for three pairs, plus I got 20% off), and I am running low. These Eyelure Texture No. 117s remind me of the Ardell Demi Wispies. I wore them for the first time today and they are great: very similar to the Demi Wispies, just a touch more dramatic.

Thanks for stopping by. Have you tried anything new recently that you love or could go without? Let me know!

Summer 2016 Polish Lookbook.

I'm kinda done with spring. Zach and I moved very recently, and where we are now is much more rainy than where we were. And, like, I'm done with the rain. And the clouds. And the chill. 

I was cleaning out my nail polish organizer and getting rid of some shades that just don't speak to me anymore. It had rained for days and was still raining so my rebellious little self decided to pull out some of my most summer-ready shades and share them with you. 

These are shades that I love for the summer months, and if they don't shout summer to you, hopefully you'll get inspired and find some colors that rock your summer world. (And 'scuse my chipped thumbnail polish.)

Wet 'n' Wild 1 Step Wonder Gel in "Pardon My Peach"

A coral with a little bit of heat to it and simple application theory--tell me what is not to love here, I dare you ;). I wore this shade a few weeks ago and posted it on the Instagram (@kteacupcake), in case you want to see it in action. The formula of this polish is pretty easy to work with, but I do try to avoid really thick layers with it. The fact that you don't *need* a base or top coat makes this one great for summer traveling as well. 

You can get this color directly from Wet 'n' Wild, or from any number of retailers that carry the brand. 

Another coral I love: Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in "Coral Reef"

Revlon's "Fearless"

This red orange just jumps right off the nails. I love it, and I don't love reds and oranges often. The formula is A+ and the price is too right. I have a feeling this would be fabulous on any skin tone and any shape or length nail, simply because the polish just speaks for itself. It transcends the wearer, you feel me?

You can purchase "Fearless" and other Revlon products from a ton of retailers, but I find the lowest prices and best color selection on their nail enamel at Wal-Mart.

Revlon's "Copper Penny"

Rose gold came into style and we realized it was what the world was missing. There are a ton of these light, coppery polishes, but this one by Revlon is a great option. It reminds me of hot sand and sunsets, and will complement any blues and greens in your summer wardrobe fantastically.

Once again, I would suggest Wal-Mart.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "Barracuda"

While the formula on this one can be a little sketchy, the color is worth it. It's a pastel blue with just a little bite to it. No I'm not being punny, but that worked out nicely. Pale girls (like me) can rock this polish, too, but I think it really pops against medium and deep skin tones. 

Normally I would suggest Wal-Mart for the price point of the Complete Salon Manicure line, but I couldn't find "Barracuda" stocked online there. Here's a link to ULTA.

Wet 'n' Wild's Megalast in "Skipping Stones"

This. Polish. The color is perfect. The formula is perfect. It wears well and lasts a decently long time. I wore this about a month ago and I've never had so many people ask what was on my nails. I love this shade, and I have to ignore its calling to my soul every time I do my nails. 

I picked mine up at a Dollar General; they have the largest selection of the Wet 'n' Wild Megalast polishes, and I didn't have any luck finding a link to purchase it online. 

Revlon's "Sultry"

This is a cobalt blue with some pink-ish/purple-ish shimmer action. I'd say it's a unique shade in the nail polish world, and I love it for summer. I think I tend to gravitate toward flat, bright, simple colors for the warmer months, but this a great multi-dimensional shade for the season. 

Just to keep things interesting, here's a link to this one on drugstore.com. 

Another bold blue winner: Sally Hansen Hard As Nail Xtreme Wear in "Blue It"

Essie's "Romper Room"

Nudes and neutrals are always my favorite, regardless of the category. "Romper Room" is a pretty, milky pink that is decently opaque and has a good formula, and, trust me, those are difficult to find. I think it's perfect for summer because it's clean, fresh, and bright.

I picked mine up in store at Walgreens, but you can also get it here online. 

What is your favorite shade for summer? Let me know, and if I haven't tried it yet, I probably will. Besides, I definitely need another reason to go nail polish shopping...

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you're here again soon :)