You may have noticed, I have a thing for pink. Not so much the bold, hot pink that once framed my teenage-bedroom walls, (cringe) but the soft, feminine notes of a blush or strawberry tone. & that shows in my lipstick shade choices. Sure, I love a good berry or red, but I feel things truly shine in a good old fashioned, Reese Witherspoon-esque pink.

Over the years I've found a few ride-or-die lippies that stand the test of times, & today I'm sharing some PINKS. SEO says I should be writing A LOT more under each description, but there are only so many ways you can drone on about a single lip product. So without boring you to death, let's dive in:

NYX SUMMER BREEZE

This color is such a subtle, pretty tone. It could even be known as the perfect pink: not too bright, not too light, but just so. I think there's a reason for its name; it's light & breezy, just like a summer day. Ooor maybe I'm getting too deep in the similes. THIS ISN'T ENGLISH CLASS. Nevertheless, I'm a fan.

NYX STRAWBERRY MILK

So pale it's nearly a nude, this one is for when you want something even more subdued than summer breeze. It looks especially pretty paired with darker eyeshadow or outfit. CONTRAST.

MAYBELLINE PINK N CHIC

Aside from the rather cheesy name, this is probably my favorite pink lip I've ever worn. It's an oldie but a goodie. It's a pop of matte pink without being so overpowering you don't know what to do with yourself. It's pretty much universally flattering and, well, chic. Okay, so maybe it lives up to its name. Who knew?

xo,

kae

February Favorites || Fashion Week & More

Hey, hello! Happy leap day. (Do people wish each other a happy leap day? Should we make that a thing? Please discuss.) I do think it's kinda cool that we have an entire extra 24 hours to do whatever we want with, like starting a new project or binge watching Fuller House. (which I haven't actually started yet, I'm so sorry)

ANYWAY, this month was definitely quality over quantity beauty wise, with Maybelline bringing it in. (not sponsored, I'm just more in love than ever) Their new Master Contour palette is so good I did a whole post on it. It's perfect for beginners (me) or for anyone who just wants to simplify their routine and it's quickly become part of my daily makeup. 

I also picked up their Dream Velvet foundation this month (my color is 05) and I love the matte finish of it. At first I was afraid I'd have to stop wearing it because I noticed it seemed to be drying me out some in random places on my face, but luckily if I add a few drops of oil to my beauty blender before blending there's no dryness! Crisis averted. 

To round out the beauty, The Rock Nudes was added to my nudes collection (that phrase out of context...) and it's safe to say I'm obsessed. I might do a full post, but for now I'll just say how shimmery and pigmented it is (especially the matte colors) and it can easily take you from a day to night look. Love!

Now for all the randoms......

At the beginning of the year I was in the market for a new blog planner and I'm so glad I found and ordered The Blogger Journal. It's got monthly & weekly planners, a place for notes and ideas each month, plus expense trackers, post ideas.... basically everything you could want in a blog planner. 

This month started Fashion Month and there were some shows I'm not in love with (I think I'm more picky about fall shows than spring?) but the ones I did love were perfectly chic. (Hugo Boss & Michael Kors in particular)

I've always been a fan of Julia's blog but this month it's been like never before. (I'm so dramatic today HA) Her style and aesthetic are always 110% and you can tell she puts everything into the blog. #inspo

So, your turn now. What have your favorites been this month? Tell me what I should try! xx, 

 

Maybelline Master Contour Palette

I'd say I'm fairly good at doing my makeup, thanks in part to years of practice and killer beauty gurus directing me. But contouring is the one art I could never quite master. Sure, I could sweep on some bronzer with the best of 'em, but the technique? 

I didn't really have one.

Then, Kallie came in and saved the day with this post and I was instantly intrigued. Somehow a palette seemed less intimidating, so of course I had to test Maybelline's out for myself.

Though there are only two shades, (light to medium & medium to deep) they seem to be pretty universal. I was a little hesitant about the highlight since it's a powder, and so many of the "big" highlighters are stick, but this one goes on super smooth and literally gives you a sparkle.

Instead of using the blush in the palette, I've been using my NYX HD blush in Hamptons, but it's totally a preference thing! Finding whatever blush works best for you specifically is key. 

I've been incorporating this palette into my routine so much that my face already feels a little exposed without it, so the WDAC seal of approval was inevitable. If you're not 100% sure about contour, or even if you just want to simplify the routine a bit, this is your bff. 

Have y'all tried this palette? How do you feel about contouring as a whole? Spill.

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy & Smooth Foundation

I've never been much of a foundation person. I feel like I have my BB cream and I'm set. 

But something in me recently decided to try some of the "real" stuff, if not for that good old fashioned dewy, fresh look we all hope to achieve. Or maybe it's just me.

I love the Fit Me line (Their concealer is to die) so I trusted the foundation would be just as good.

A tip: Figure out what your skin type is. I honestly have had no idea... all I know is my forehead is oil city. So when a foundation says it's for normal to dry skin, it should totally work on me, right? (I can feel the beauty gurus cursing me)

Yeeeeeah, not so much. 

Every time I touched my face it felt oily. And don't get me started on that forehead. Even when I wasn't touching it it felt heavier and just.... ick.

However, I absolutely love the look and staying power of this stuff. It kind of glides on and you get more of that dewy feel. With a powder on top, it lasts all day and the added coverage looks lovely. 

So it's not the foundation. It's me. As long as you get the right one for your skin, this stuff is the perfect addition to your collection. 

Do you pay attention to skin types? What do you love/ hate about the Fit Me line? Spill.

Maybelline the Blushed Nudes

Maybelline's The Nudes palette is a go-to for me, so it was inevitable that their newest palette in the collection, The Blushed Nudes, would come home with me. 

I've been testing it out for a bit and trying different looks, and by now it's safe to say that I'm actually starting to prefer this one over the regular nudes. The colors are mostly shimmer and it's got a nice mix of light and bold. I've been mixing a lot with colors from this palette and the options are endless.

"Blushed" looks are what I tend to gravitate toward for summer, so naturally I've been reaching for this palette almost daily. I particularly like the pink on the top right and the taupe-ish on the bottom. (The only thing I don't love is that the colors don't have names!)

These are highly pigmented colors and I've learned that some even go on better if you use your finger and blend it out with a brush. 

I think I've found a new favorite! (I say that every time I get a new palette. Oops.)

Tell me if you've tried Blushed Nudes! Which colors are your favorite?

My summer nail color picks

A pretty manicure goes hand in hand with summertime and can make all the difference.

Warmer months have me gravitating towards fresh and bright colors, and I've picked five of my personal favorites that transform your mani into instant summer magic.

Maybelline Color Show Pretty In Peach: I looove a good peach color and this is it. It's light and perfect for a day beside the pool, armed with peach tea of course.

Essie Blossom Dandy: I've done a post featuring this one, as it is the peeeerfect summer color. Bright but soft, it's a tropical escape in a bottle.

Essie Pret-a-Surfer: An electric blue, Pret-a-Surfer looks really nice on and the formula is smooth and pretty.

Essie Peach Daiquiri: I think this was my first experience with Essie polish and I adore this color! It's not peach so much as a coral, and after two coats it's the perfect summer touch.

Essie Tuck It In My Tux: White is a classic color that looks fabulous in any season. I like white nails in the summertime because it gives the illusion of a bit of sun-kissed skin. I've tried a lot of whites in my day and Tuck It In My Tux has my vote. 

Obviously I'm a bit obsessed with Essie polishes. #oops

Spill all your summer color/ brand picks!

April Favorites

Someone tell me how we're at the end of April?

In any case, I found my fair share of products, mostly beauty stuff, that I've become a little obsessed with. 

 

Tell me all the stuff you've loved in April! And to keep it interesting, anything you kinda hated? Spill!

Maybelline Color Sensational's Faint for Fushia

One of my finds on a recent Target haul was a Maybelline lip color that's perfect for spring/ summer.

And it's matte!

Sold.

The shade is in fushia, but it's one of those fushias that isn't too bright or loud. I absolutely adore it, as well as the way it glides on and stays aaaaalllll day. 

Seriously. Go ahead and eat and drink and whatever. No worries..... your fushia will still be there bright as ever.

Matte is where it's at (new catchphrase?) and I'm totally in love with the feel and look of this lipstick.

Go out and get ya some!

P.S. Not sponsored, just love.

My favorite... lipsticks

L'oreal Colour Riche in 179 Cherry Tulle

Maybelline Color Sensational in 615 Summer Sunset

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 030 Smitten

Maybelline Color Sensational in 870 Shocking Coral

I'm a bit of a lipstick hoarder. I can't help myself. The concept of putting all kindsa different pretty colors on your lips make me swoon a little bit. Even with all the different lipsticks I own, I still have a few that are the "go to" and I thought I'd share them with you!

Colour Riche: This is my most recent lipstick purchase and I must say I kind of love it. It's one of those "in the middle" reds; not too bright and not too dark and the perfect mix of flirty and sophisticated. The color glides on very smoothly and lasts quite awhile.

Color Sensational: Maybelline is no doubt one of my favorite makeup brands {they didn't pay me to say this, promise!} and there's a reason why two of their colors are on the list. I keep Summer Sunset on my dresser, ready for me to swipe on as I'm getting ready to go somewhere. It's perfect for simple things like errands, but you can also use it as a statement when you need to and I love that. The one on the far right, Shocking Coral, may look a little "worn in," because I wear it a lot. It's definitely shocking coral, so it's more of a summer color. {it's getting a lot of use these days} I think the thing I like most about this color is how long lasting it is. Sometimes I'll forget I'm even wearing it and then I look in the mirror and what do you know, it's still there. If you're looking for a long lasting bright, this is it.

Just Bitten: This lipstick is different for me, as it's the only balm stain I own. This one stays tucked away in my purse, because it's perfect for "touching up." It's smooth and pretty. Plus it smells like mint, so you can't go wrong there.

What are your favorite lipsticks?