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Makeup Monday: 6 Step Makeup Routine

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Kierra Lee

One of the reasons why I never wanted to buy makeup was because I knew I didn’t have the time to actually use it. I could never (and still don’t) understand those girls who wake up an extra hour earlier just to apply their makeup. Personally I would rather sleep!

Over time I did start to enjoy certain makeup items; like a cute lipstick to spice up my outfit or simply just wearing eyeliner. I also started to dabble with lashes but they took so gosh darn long to put on, that I only used those for special occasions (although now I wear them on a more consistent basis thanks to my lash gripper). For now my makeup takes me roughly 15-20mins; my ultimate goal is to get it down to 10mins, but for right now I’m happy with 15.

Step 1: I apply my Clinique 3 step system. I actually use my moisturizer as a primer

Step 2: Maybelline Fit Me foundation: Liquid, I apply with my Real Techniques Foundation Brush

Step 3: Maybelline Fit Me Powder; I use it to set my liquid foundation, I apply with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Step 4: Concealer under my eye and my nose to contour, I apply with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Step 5: Blush, I apply with myReal Techniques Stippling Brush

Step 6: Bronzer, I apply with my Real Techniques Contour Brush

Then to finish I add some eyeliner, mascara( sometimes false eyelashes but rarely), and lastly lipstick!

Ps: This is my 100th post! Super exciting!

XOXO

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Just A Little Space

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Kierra Lee

This morning I woke up to loud cars, the dogs pit patter and the obnoxious buzzing sound of my boyfriend’s liner as he was shaving his face. I laid in bed (far longer than I should have) dreading to get up because of all the surrounding noise. It then dawned on me…….I neeeed my own space. Not my own apartment but just a small part of the house that is actually mine. When you live with someone; particularly in a small one bedroom apartment, you share everythingggg; making it difficult to rightfully claim anything.

I’m realizing one of my biggest pet peeves is having chaos while I’m trying to get ready in the mornings; so I figured creating a vanity would be my little space of freedom. Here are a few looks I’m going for!

PS: It will also serve as a desk for blogging!

Love this clear option where I can see all my stuff; plus perfect size for my current makeup collection

Im a stickler for organization so I think these clear boxes are fab!

Similar option to the one above but with drawers to hide the makeup for a cleaner look. This would be better for dual purpose

Love the mirror effect with all of these. Having the right kind of mirror is key for my daily makeup routines

Something simple. Very minimalistic and I love the chair!

XOXO

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Ballin on a Budget

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Kierra Lee

NYX Concealer and Blush When I was in college I used to buy expensive items without a care in the world. No buyers remorse, and no second thoughts; if I wanted it I just went for it! Now that I’m no longer livin in my mama’s pocket (aka an adult), I have a whole new found love for the saying “Ballin on a budget” and the word “sale” just makes me weak in the knees. From my previous post you all know that I just bought a bare minerals makeup brush for $32 bucks! I knew when I was standing in line to buy it that it probably wasn’t the smartest purchase but I really needed a makeup brush and I had searched all day to find the perfect one. I finally get home and I’m lying in bed thinking, wow I just spend $32 bucks on a makeup brush. I could have bought two mac lipsticks for that much and been ecstatic or better yet have an entire makeup brush set!! Next day I went back to Sephora and returned the brush. I looked up some other budget friendly options and stumbled upon real techniques; where I bought their stippling brush (obsessed) and I will be going back for more of their brushes (details on that here!) My plan was to get as much as I could for my $32. I went to Ulta and here is what I got.

NYX Blush Cinnamon and Summer Bliss: These colors actually look red or like a really hot pink but when applied it’s the perfect blush for my face. NYX hasn’t always been the best brand for me but their blushes are really pigmented. Buy one get one 50% off, $8 total

NYX Concealer in Tan and Nutmeg: I use the tan to contour and highlight; and I use the nutmeg to conceal any blemishes or for days when I don’t want to apply any foundation I use just this concealer under my eyes. Buy one get one 50% off, $8 total.

All in all my total was $28(including my brush); and I got everything I needed. I had been searching for some good concealers that were affordable and I also didn’t have any blushes. I walked away really happy with my purchase and for the price of one item at Sephora I got 5 at Ulta. Definitely a great bargain!

Tip: I went to Ulta and had the makeup artist try different concealers and blushes on my face; they were using products from smashbox, nars etc but I didn’t want to spend another $25-$30 on concealer. Once I realized what I liked I then went to the other side of the store and bought the same thing but drugstore brand. I love Ulta because unlike Sephora it carries both high end brands and also drugstore products. They always have great sales; sometimes better than target or your local store so I will definitely be shopping here again!

XOXO

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OOTD: Feeling Fabulous

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Woke up feeling a little fabulous today! Not your traditional OOTD but I wanted to share some looks I saw that just made me melt. Hope you Enjoy!

All black everythanggggg

Don’t mind me while I sit on my private jet

Love these cat eye sunglasses

Morning prep; with sunglasses of course

You can never go wrong with Jessica Alba

Blowing you a kiss Farewell!

Which is your favorite look?

Ps: Totally just noticed that they are all wearing sunglasses!

XOXO

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Pretty Thrifty: Maybelline vs Mac

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Hey everybody! Welcome to my new segment on my blog. I thought I would do a few blog posts about more affordable options for some of my favorite beauty and fashion products. Today is going to be all about foundation!

Maybelline vs Mac

I love my Mac lipsticks but often times I find their other products overpriced; overhyped and just not worth it. There are some ride or die Mac users; but personally the more bang I can get for my buck the better; which is why I love drugstore products. Every girl; no matter what brand your loyal too has walked into a store looking to get one thing (in my case lipstick) and walked out with something they didnt need-Mac foundation-. Overall I have good skin and I couldn’t figure out why my foundation never looked right. At first when using my Mac foundation I thought I was applying to much, so I lessened the amount. Still didn’t work. Then I thought “maybe it’s the brushes that I use”; so I bought new brushes. Nope nothing! I finally decided to try something different; which is when I stumbled upon Maybelline fit me. My Maybelline fit me is perfect (shade 340) and I knew it as soon as I put it on. I have both the liquid and powder so I can switch between a heavy or light look. Here is the low low on both products

Finished Look

Mac: Very thick look. Great for winter or nights that I’m going out and want a full glamorous look

Maybelline: Both the liquid and powder offer both a light and heavy look. Great for everyday natural makeup and the powder is easier to pack for daily touchups if needed

Feel

Mac: Often makes my face feel heavy. I can always tell I’m wearing makeup and my face sometimes feels like it’s going to melt when it’s hot outside.

Maybelline: Light and airy. Even when I wear the liquid foundation it still feels very fresh.

Color match

Mac: My Mac is a touch darker than my actual skin tone. Takes me a little longer to blend

Maybelline: Perfect skin match. I only have to use a little bit to get a flawless finish

Overall I love my Maybelline fit me foundation way better. I knew when I bought the Mac foundation that it wasn’t for me but because I spent $50 bucks on it I figured I should use it. I bought both the powder and liquid fit me foundation for $16. At the end of the day purchases like these happen to everybody but when it comes to makeup make sure you are clear on what works best for your skin. Don’t let those makeup artists get you like they did me!

XOXO

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The Youtube Gurus I Live By

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Kierra Lee

On Saturday I went shopping for a new TV. I’m not one to go all crazy for technology so I didn’t want the fancy SmartTV or anything with a ton of gadgets. Well apparently having a dumb TV is too hard to ask for because nowadays every TV big or small is now a SmartTV. I didn’t even know what the difference was until my boyfriend explained that I would be able to automatically connect my TV to the internet and have everything stream from there. I literally got so excited and was like OMG I can watch my YouTube videos on a bigger screen! I’m almost ashamed to admit it but I have a YouTube addiction; and I don’t even do videos. I initially started getting into YouTube for hair tips and now I’ve slowly expanded into fashion and beauty; its beyond captivating. It’s like it just lures you in with all its different options and then right when you’re done watching one video it gives you a list of related videos to watch as well! I can spend hours watching and taking notes. It’s endless. Over time I’ve developed a list of gurus whose videos I literally live by. The people I follow all have the same skin tone and type as me and they have the same hair texture; so when they recommend something I go out and buy the exact same version. They have yet to disappoint so I figured I would share them with you all!

Lakiastar: She is my alllll time fave. I watch her mainly for beauty routines. She just so happens to be obsessed with lipstick and lashes just like me. We also have the same skin type so I get all of my cosmetics via her reviews( she was how I got hooked on my Clinique 3 step system). She offers a little bit of everything for anybody and everything she does is always effortless.

Msjazzy2classy: She was my first youtube guru that I followed. I love her for hair reviews. She has a totally different skin type than me so I don’t get my beauty reviews from her but when it comes to hair I just can’t get enough. I go to her for all my hair styling tips; she taught me all the do’s and don’ts for wearing extensions.

DollFaceBeautyx : I go to her for most of my lipstick swatches. She has a great selection for mac; which we all know is my fave so whenever I need to see a live demo on what it actually looks like on my skin tone I go to her!.

Twingoddesess(no photo): So this channel actually has two people and they are twins! One has natural hair and the other has relaxed hair so I love getting the dual hair tips. They also do reviews on affordable hair extensions and companies that aren’t so popular but still produce good product. I would say the other gurus show big blockbuster movies and twin goddess show independent films. Weird analogy but it’s the only way it made sense to me. Whenever I’m looking for something different I go to them!

Obviously this is geared towards African Americans but there are still universal things to learn from all of them; these are just a few Youtubers that personally work well for me. Which youtube gurus do you live by?

XOXO

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OOTD: Kimono

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Kierra Lee

I’m not a huge fan of cardigans. In fact I find them rather obnoxious. They never quite fit me right and the constant slumping and falling over my arms drives me crazy. Howeverrrrr this kimono trend has me thinking otherwise. First off we all know my obsession with flowy clothes. The looser the better! I love these kimonos because they all offer something different that would fit for anybody’s wardrobe including mine!

(Left to right)

1. I love how light this is; you can tell by the way the wind is carrying it that it isn’t too heavy of a fabric. The added fringe at the bottom is also very trendy. This is perfect for summer when you want a quick throw over

2. Lets just take a moment to marvel at Rachel Zoe……..ok moving onnnn to why I like her cardigan. First of its long which is totally my style. I find a long kimono/cardigan is just far more comfortable. Plus the chevron print is super cute!

3. One word: BOHO! Love the way this looks and it also looks like it’s a thicker fabric which is great because im the type of girl who either needs a jacket or I doesnt. I rarely wear “quick throws”( as I like to call them), because normally LA weather doesn’t call for it.

4. This floral cardigan paired with white pants is a great light but formal look. I could wear this to just about any event.

5. It’s rare to see a solid colored kimono; let alone in white. This is a must have for my closet!

XOXO

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Makeup Monday: Beauty Haul

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Kierra Lee

This weekend I spent my lovely memorial day at Ulta anddddd a BBQ, but the BBQ is for another day! Anyhow I got some great goodies at Ulta as I do always and in fact I actually used money from a return I made at Sephora. Even though I did make a return I do have to give Sephora some credit. I bought the benefit primer and it started to make my skin break out. I realized that my face was extremely oily and it was because I was using my Clinique 3 step system( that includes a moisturizer) and then adding primer on my face as well. Big NO NO. It caused my skin to be overly oily and I instantly broke out. I returned the primer; used and in a broken box( I had only used it twice). I had my receipt and they gave me a full refund; in cash I might add with no questions asked. I then used that money to go to Ulta and bought some different beauty products. Here is what I got!

Real Techniques Core Brush Kit: I bought my first real techniques brush last week; the stippling brush and I loved it; but quickly realized it wasn’t going to be able to cover all my needs.

Buffing brush: I bought the kit just to get my hands on this brush! I noticed when doing my makeup that my face wasn’t quite blending well together. This brush buffs out all of the harsh lines and creates a cohesive look on my face even when I contour and add blush.
Contour Brush: I use this to contour/highlight right below my cheekbone. Works great!
Detailing brush: I use this to help contour my nose and then use the buffing brush to get rid of the harsh lines
Foundation brush: Haven’t really found a need for this yet. I prefer to stipple or to use the buffing brush for foundation but I may use this foundation brush to apply and then use the buffing brush to blend it all out.

Urban Decay Setting Spray: I read a ton of reviews on this product and have heard nothing but great things but decided to pass when I heard it was $30. Then when I went to Ulta the lady told me there was a smaller version for $14 that I could buy and see if I liked it before I got the big one; so of course I was sold! If you’re anything like me you forget that you’re wearing makeup and constantly touch your face. My makeup always smudges or rubs off and it drives me crazy. So I’m excited to use this setting spray!

Maybelline Falsies Mascara: First off I must say how cool it was going to Ulta and seeing a whole display of mascara for Maybelline. It showed you how the lashes look with different mascara and then you pick out which mascara you want based on that. It’s like a mini demo! I use this on both my false lashes and regular.

Maybelline Fit Me Powder and Liquid: This foundation is amazing! It truly does “Fit me”. I use the liquid first and then the powder to set it. For days I want a lighter look I use just the powder; particularly in hotter weather.

XOXO

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OOTD: Wear Yo Height Girl

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Kierra Lee

I’ve been tall my whole life. I awkwardly hovered over all my friends, people were endlessly jealous of my long legs and my super power ability to reach anything and everything. People always say “wear yo height girlllll”, or “omg your legs are too die for”. Since I can remember I haven’t quite embraced my tallness (if that’s even a word); but every now and then a trend comes along that makes me grateful for the 5 foot 8 inches that I was blessed with. I crave a good maxi dress (we’ve been buddies for quite some time now). Maxis are perfect for those days you don’t want to wear jeans/shorts or my all time fav-when you want to wear a dress but realize you forgot to shave (it happens). They are super versatile; coming in all sorts of fabrics, some that are more casual and others that are a little dressy. You can wear them to a wedding or to the grocery store and it also transitions well with the seasons (add a blazer or jean jacket for days that are cooler). Here are a few looks I love!

The touch of boho feel to this dress is what makes this look irresistible. I would also wear this to a wedding (minus the white), or for a day of shopping and hanging with friends. The embroidery makes it both playful and sophisticated. The heavy on top and flow on bottom creates a balanced look.

I actually just bought this dress; currently waiting patiently to get it in the mail. My figure is long and slender; I have no curves. So a color blocked dress like this will give me a bit of an hourglass appearance (at least that’s what I’m hoping for). A jersey dress is needed in every closet plus black and nude go with everything so I would wear this anywhere and everywhere.

This lavender color and the draping of the dress is really nice. The pastel color is perfect for spring/summer and the fabric makes it easy to wear. I like that it’s styled with a belt and a clutch to break up the color a little bit.

Now I’m not a fan of the color but I love the cut of the dress. I have to wear a bra with everything and often times Maxi dresses come backless; so this dress in particular would be perfect for me. Plus the added slit is sexy!

XOXO

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7 Things I Cant Live Without

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Every woman has that one item-clothes, accessories etc- that she just can’t live without. You pack it for every trip, you can wear it to dinner or to the grocery store, and it’s the thing that makes you cry when you realize you’ve forgotten it. Below are a few things that are needed in my day to day.

7 Things I cant Live Without by prettythought featuring mid-rise jeans

Nude Sandals:These are my favorite pair of sandals. They go with everything and they are super comfortable. I’m flat footed so I’m not supposed to wear sandals without some type of cushion, but with these I’m not bothered at all. This is my first pair of sandals from Aldo and I will definitely be going back for more.

*In the winter time my favorite shoe are my Uggs (but we shall save that for another day).

Studded Silver Earrings: My juicy couture studded earrings: these earrings go with everything (obviously they are studs). Usually I end up taking my earrings out during the day but with these I can practically sleep in them

Smell Good: This lotion smells so good! I use it for my feet and it keeps them moisturized all day. Butter lotion is a lot thicker than regular lotion so it’s perfect for when my skin is really dry.

A great denim jean:This is the perfect wash and fit more me. It’s a great skinny and it goes with just about every shirt I have. The only thing I don’t like is the flap pocket but other than that I love it. This is my go to when I need a quick throw on.

The Slip on Dress: I wear this dress everyyyyyyywhere. I throw it on when I need to go to the store or when I’m looking for a causal easy look. The fabric is very stretchy and comfortable and the vertical lines make me look slim!

My favorite cup: So here is the thing about this cup. I have a full kitchen at my job but the dishwasher is broken and everyone is too lazy to wash dishes so the cups are never reallllly that clean. The Mason jar is too big to fit in my car cup holder so I started bringing it to work. This thing is the best. I love ice with all my drinks and the ice literally never melts! It keeps my drink really cold no matter how long it’s been out. Definitely a keeper!

Jammin with my Apple Earphones: I got these earphones when I bought the iphone 5. I’ve never really been a fan of apple headphones; I prefer the gummy headphones, but these are giving gummy a run for their money! The thing I love the most is that you can adjust the volume on the actual ear plug itself and it also has a speaker there so you can use it as a headset when you’re driving (which is perfect for me because I’m a commuter).

XOXO

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