Real Techniques Powder Brush: A Review

Real Techniques is a fairly new brush line made by Samantha Chapman a Youtube Beauty Guru. The power brush is described on the website for being the perfect brush to evenly apply powder and mineral foundations. 

Price: $9.99 

Availability: Ulta, Target and online at real techniques

Pros: 

• evenly applies foundation 
• the price 

Cons: 

• none 

Cruelty Free: YES

Overall I really love this product it does everything it claims to do and it has held up well. I wash this brush with the rest of my brushes every week and not one single hair has fallen off so far. Honestly this brush has reached holy grail status for applying my makeup. 

Rating: 10/10 

Mask of Magnaminty: A Review

The very first time I walked into Lush which was almost six months ago I came across Mask of Magnaminty. I was hesitant to buy it at first since I wasn't sure how it would work on my skin but the lady who worked there was kind enough to give me a sample to bring home. 

The Mask of Magnaminty is billed as a deep cleansing face and body mask. When talking to the lady that worked at LUSH she explained that it was particularly helpful for people with Acne Prone skin. While the product is not perfect I would say that it helps cleanse and rids my face of redness and helps control flare ups.

To use the mask apply a thin layer of it avoiding the eyes, nose and mouth area. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. 

Price: 4.4 oz $12.95 or 11.1 oz. for 24.95 

Availability: Lush stores or online at http://www.lush.com/ note: Lush has stores in over 45 countries so no matter where you are there might be one near you. 

Pros: 

• the minty feel 
• The green really does counterbalance redness 

Cons: 

• The price tag 

Cruelty Free: YES! 

Overall I really love this product, my face has broken out less since I started using this product twice a week a month ago. My only stipulation with this mask is the price point. If I could find one for cheaper I would. 

Rating: 9/10 

6 foods that are good for your skin

1. Avocados: Avocados are filled with essential oils and B vitamins that will nourish your skin. One specific B-complex vitamin is Niacin which is an inflammatory that soothes the skin. Avocados have 27% of your daily need of Niacin.

2. Mangoes: Mangoes are full of Vitamin A which repairs skin cells. If you have a deficiency in Vitamin A, you are likely to have dry, flaky skin. Bonus: Mangoes only have 70 calories per serving!

3. Almonds: Almonds are amazing for your skin since it is abundant with Vitamin E. In fact it has 150% of your daily need for Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps moisturize dry skin and it’s antioxidants protect against both skin damage and aging.

4. Cottage Cheese: Although Cottage cheese is filled with diary which is an essential need for humans. Selenium, not calcium is why we love Cottage Cheese for the face. Selenium like Vitamin E protects against skin damage and aging. But it also helps prevent Skin cancer and fights dandruff.

5. Acerola Cherries: These are not your regular cherries as these contain 100% of your daily need for Vitamin C. Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant it fights against skin damage and wrinkles. But Vitamin C also helps produce collagen which is the structural protein of your skin.

6. Oysters: Oysters are delicious to taste but they are also filled with Zinc. Zinc helps with the production of elasticity.

7. Baked Potato: Have a craving for french fries? Put those down and eat one baked potato. One baked potato will give you your daily need for copper which combined with Zinc and Vitamin C makes sure your skin stays healthy.

8. Mushrooms: Put down your concealer there is a natural solution that could help your blemishes. Mushrooms are abundant with Riboflavin(Vitamin B2) which helps improve skin blemishes.

9. Flaxseed Oil: For all non fish lovers out there rejoice! We all know that Omega3’s are great for the skin but did you know that Flaxseed does too?

Too Faced LockDown cream

Three weeks ago I started to use a couple of new products to clean my face, and decided that once a week I'd take pictures to document the changes over time. (Don't mind the pictures, they were just silly ones.)

That was me three weeks ago.

That's me today.

If you're interested in my system you should keep a few things in mind about my skin. I don't have dry or sensitive skin so while it seems like a lot to do to your face mine is harder to dry out.

Now my morning and evening routines are the exact same except every other night which you'll see. Also pictures of the products can be found in a post I made last week.

First step: Put the E.L.F zit zapper onto your problem areas, and let it dry for a minute.
Second step: Generously rub noxzema all over your face like so --->
(There's more product than shown in the picture and it also shows a huge zit I had between my eyebrows.)
And after a minute wash it off.
Third step: Apply L'Oreal Go 360 clean anti-acne break out. Wash off after a minute.
Fourth step: This is where it varies every other night. Apply L'Oreal Go 360 facial scrub. Wash off after a minute.
Fifth step: Apply E.L.F zit zapper to your problem areas (again) wait a minute.
Sixth step: Apply Neutrogena moisturizer.

-Nancy

Someone has been a terrible blogger! But between school and going home every weekend for five weeks I've barely had any time to catch up. As it is I have five weeks left of my freshman year in college. How INSANE is that? FIVE weeks LEFT of MY FRESHMAN year in COLLEGE! It's just...CRAZY! Plus I've been working insanely hard on two 12 page final papers I have to write, but I've given myself this week off to catch a breath before diving back into work on them next week. What a joy! Anyways I wanted to do this post on things I've bought in the last month and a few new beauty products I have fallen IN love with as well as how my posts will work from now on.

Yesterday I made a wal-mart run with my roommate. She needed to get a few products and I decided to just look around. I saw this E.L.F zip zapper for a $1. I was like "Well it's just a dollar. If it works, fantastic! Best dollar I ever spent. If it doesn't, well it's just a dollar." I used it last night and I woke up with my zits reduced SO much and in some cases completely gone. I am TOTALLY buying this product again. Well worth 10x it's costs.

I actually didn't buy this one. My roommate did, but decided to try a different product instead. We got two rave reviews from a friend of mine and her uncle who's mom used it. So far it's working amazingly. It's $4.50 for a HUGE container of it. I recommend it.

My baby<3 I am now OBSESSED with the L'Oreal go 360 clean products. I bought the exfoliate wash last week (farther in this post) and decided to invest in the anti-breakout wash as well. It was $4.50. All of which you can find at wal-mart. 

Okay, I personally did not purchase this, but it was an Easter present from my roommate and best friend. It's the Sonya Kashuk travel brush set from Target for $20. Best brushes ever. I am never using anyone else's

My roommate was the first to buy their moisturizer and once she raved about it I gave in (mostly because I needed one..)

The L'Oreal go 360 exfoliate scrub

I'm a huge Fructis girl. So of course when I ran out of heat protectant I ran right to them. $3.60 a bottle compared to $13 like the chi? Um yeah. I wonder why. Plus you get more!

Okay I'm not going to lie. I'm pretty obsessed with this 'gel' right now, let me explain why. In the bottle it's actually a gel, then when it comes out it's a spray, and when it's in your hair it gels again. It's actually amazing, and it's a fast and simple way to get beach waves in five minutes. Wet your hair, spray it, go.

I never heard of this before recently. My roommate bought a LED lamp and the special polish to go over regular nail polish to be able to use it. Basically you paint them like you usually would. Base coat, pain, just with a special top coat, and put them in this baby for 4-5 minutes and volia! You have beautiful looking nails that you can't mess up! All for $50.

Now before you judge me as a rich snobby type for owning a Vera Wang bag, this was actually my aunts. She wasn't using it anymore and knew how much I loved it so she gave it to me as a "I'm proud you're actually doing something with your life" gift.

These simple beauties were exactly $3! And so comfy!

Just a pair of shorts for class and working out it

A track jacket for cold mornings, I have a matching pair of shorts too.

Sperry knock offs. I love them though and only $7!

A beautiful tank top

A pair of yoga pants (I also went back and bought a pair with a hot pink band.)

My Easter dress

Nude airfoam foundation, I love it.

RED lipstick. I love their lipsticks!

I also recently invested in a brand new camera (a Nokia coolpix L26. Which all of these and my future posts will be using) and an ipad 2. Both of which I love!

Now for the fun part!

Tuesdays will be my college posts days (any advice you may want about classes, dorms, what to buy, what kind of classes to take, how to schedule, ANYTHING! I am more than willing to answer anything!)
Thursdays will be dedicated to any new fashion/beauty/hair products or styles I fall in love with that week or just anything beauty related!
Fridays will be my photography posts! I'll be posting a new (and exclusive!) photo on here every Friday from that week. If you're interested I also run a photography blog on tumblr Zellesphotography
and on Saturdays I will be doing food posts! Simple/quick/easy meals to make, what to buy, what's healthy, ect. So be on the look out for those!


I LOVE YOU ALL! (and mostly Charline for being so patient with me!)
Nancy

What catches my eyes in stores

Another haul? God I'm ridiculous! My parents came up to visit me yesterday and told me to buy whatever I needed. So I thought I would share!

My best friend's birthday and valentine's day presents. She's spoiled