cosmetics | A Pretty Thought

Makeup Monday: This or That Tag

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Kierra Lee

I’m having this new found love or rather slight addiction with all of these “tags” I’m finding all over the blogging universe. I haven’t done a proper makeup Monday in a while, or a beauty post at all (I do have some goodies coming up next week!) so I thought this would be fun. I edited the initial tag for my beauty preferences but feel free to do the full tag if you like it!

Blush or Bronzer? For the longest time I didn’t even know the difference, and I still kind of don’t. The first bronzer I broke was Sonia Kashuk Goddess Bronzer and it broke me out. So I now use Mac Blunt Blush and love it!

Lipgloss or Lipstick? Hands down lipstick!

Eyeliner or Mascara? You honestly cant live having one without the other. But I would say mascara, lately ive been really into lashes!

Foundation or Concealer? Once again…hardly know the difference. I don’t understand the functions of concealers so by default I say foundation. I just want my face to be even!

Neutral or Coloured Eyeshadow? Neutral, not a fan of eyeshadow at all actually

Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow? Huh??

Brushes or Sponges? Brushes, My Real techniques brushes are to dieeeee for but I am looking into getting the beauty blender from Sephora!

Perfume or Body Splash? Perfume, lasts longer. I actually have my own perfume made and customized! Its my perfect scent!

Lotion or Body Butter? Lotion for my body, Body Butter for my feet and dryer areas of my body.

Body Wash or Soap? Arent they the same thing?? I prefer liquid soap though

Jeans or Sweat Pants? Is it cheating If I say both! Jeans are definitely a winner but sweat pants are a close second.

Long Sleeve or Short? I prefer long sleeves

Dresses or Skirts? Dresses, don’t like skirts.

Stripes or Plaid? Love both! Plaid is always more safe because not all stripes are flattering on me.

Jacket or Hoodie? Hoodie!!!

Feel free to do that tag also!

Kierra

Pretty Thrifty: Lip Scrub

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Kierra Lee

This Pretty Thrifty segment is all about lip scrub! For those of you just tuning in this segment is all about experimenting with certain beauty products, comparing one high end item vs the drugstore version of the same item. See my previous Pretty Thrifty segment here!

My favorite kind of lipstick is matte; which as we all know is really drying on the lips. So I’ve been using lip scrub/exfoliate to help get rid of all the dead skin so that my lipstick applies nice and smooth with minimal pilling.

Fresh Lip Scrub: ( $22 )I actually tried a sample from Sephora. Which I used for a week. Really loved it and a little goes a long way. I recommend using a toothbrush or an exfoliating brush (they sell them at Sephora) because it doesn’t really work when trying to apply it with just your fingers or rubbing your lips together. After I applied the scrub I took a warm towel and wiped off the dead skin. Now if you are using a toothbrush, it will probably remove most of it for you. It is brown sugar so its eatable- don’t freak out if you get some in your mouth! I then used my Eos lip balm to moisturize before applying my lipstick.

Note: If you want a smooth application of your matte lipstick apply a thick layer of lip balm so that the lipstick just glides on. However I noticed that this makes your lips more prone to pilling. What I do is apply a thin layer-one swipe of lip balm- and then apply the matte lipstick. It’s going to feel drier and may not be as smooth when applying but it will give your lipstick more lasting power.

Elf Lip exfoliate: ( $5 ) This actually is to be applied like a lipstick. I like this one because it’s both moisturizing and exfoliating at the same time. The beads are mixed in with the moisturizer so it starts off applying as rough and then as you keep wiping it turns into a lip balm. I wouldn’t recommend this for people who are advent lipstick wearers, especially those who love matte lipsticks. It is less of a scrub and more of dual purpose exfoliate so you get less rub but you do get the added moisture.

My preference: Fresh Lip Scrub was my favorite because it removed more dry skin. It was better for actually exfoliating which is what I needed it for. It is messier but a lot goes a long way so I think the price is worth it. If you don’t wear lipstick often, or don’t want to exfoliate often then I would suggest the Elf brand. It’s more convenient for the occasional lipstick wearer.

Beauty At Your Doorstep

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Kierra Lee

When I first started blogging I had no clue what to talk about besides fashion, beauty was completely unchartered territory. I watched countless Youtube videos( and still do), spent hours on Temptalia trying to compare products and then of course my ongoing battle with drugstore products vs designer brands. (It’s a daily struggle). Now I don’t even have to bother because these amazing beauty boxes are sent straight to my doorstep with awesome goodies tailored to my needs. I’ve rounded up a list of some beauty boxes I’ve been reading up on!

Birchbox: $10
• 4-5 deluxe samples
• Companies: Nars, Stila, Weleda, a combination of luxury and niche brands

Sample society with allure: $15
• Deluxe size samples
• StriVectin, Erno Laszlo, DDF, Deborah Lippmann, Oscar de la Renta

Ipsy: $10
• 4-5 deluxe samples and full size products
• Urban Decay, Tarte, and Philosophy every month.
• Each kit has a theme—nighttime, holiday—and the products are chosen so they go together;
• The look is demonstrated in a video

Beauty army: $12
• Every month, you choose six samples from a menu of nine hard-to-find brands,
• Skyn Iceland, Lucy B. organic makeup, and Lipsi cosmetics.
• You can cancel or skip a month at any time.

There are plenty more but these were just my favorite. You can find the full list at Allure.com. I will have one in the mail soon. Stay tuned to see what I get!

Have you signed up for any Beauty Boxes?

Kierra

Beauty Roundup & Reviews

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Can you believe we are already midway through summer! Crazy right! Summer has been a busy beauty month for me so I wanted to compile a list of things that I bought and give you all a mini review! So here we go!

Love Love Love

1. NYX Blush: Love these blushes because they are really pigmented. But by the end of the day they have worn out and don’t even show on my face anymore. I’ve heard that tends to happen with powder blushes so I definitely want to try a cream blush soon!

2. Real techniques brushes: All of these brushes are amazing!! The buffing brush is my favorite. I use it to apply my powder foundation and then to blend my makeup together. The core set is totally worth buying!

3. Maybelline Fit me Powder Foundation( shade 360): this foundation is perfect!! It gives me a very natural and light look. Perfect for summer

4. Maybelline Fit me Liquid Foundation( shade 360): More of a full coverage. I only use this for days I’m going for a more glamorous look. Not very good for summer because it makes my face feel like wax with the heat. I will probably get more use out of this when fall/winter hits

5. Urban decay finishing spray: Gives me a great dewy finish! Most of my makeup is matte.( I don’t like a lot of shimmer), So this is a perfect finish for me so that my face doesn’t look so flat

6. Lash Gripper: Works like a charm. Knew I would love it when I first bought it. Unfortunately I haven’t been wearing my falsies as often as I would like but when I do the gripper is perfect!

7. Maybelline Falsies Mascara: The mascara is just as it is described. My lashes look so full, thick and long when I wear these. I cant wait to use this mascara when I actually have my falsies on! ( I’ve also noticed Im developing a mini obsession with Maybelline)

Blah Blah Blah

To see what products I did buy but that didn’t work out so well check here!

XO
Kierra

Makeup Monday: Mac Collection!

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Over the past couple of months I’ve been adding to my little Mac collection. Here is my collection thus far!

Flat out Fabulous–Matte: It’s like a pink purple, borderline fuchsia! I love it!! One of my favorites and it goes with everything
Relentlessly Red–Matte: This red is pretty but it has a strong blue undertone that doesn’t fair well with my skin tone. I always have to wear it with a liner or put a gloss over it. It needs to played with before I can get it right so I only wear it when I have enough time to do my makeup
Rebel–Satin: My first Mac lipstick! It’s perfect; really easy.
Heroine–Matte: Very purple. Sometimes when I want an edgy look or I’m doing a smokey eye I go with this lipstick.
Twig–Satin: A good everyday lipstick. I don’t really like “nude” or “brown” so this light shimmer pink is exactly what I was looking for
Viva Glam–Matte: Now I don’t really know which viva glam I have but I would say both of them are my least favorite. The brown is pretty with my skin tone; good for natural makeup look. I usually wear this when I’m wearing a lot of white; or a contrasting color like yellow or red. The red lipstick is my least fav. I haven’t quite figured out how to work it yet.

Now I know everyone says that every girl should have a red lipstick but personally I prefer pinks and purples. What are some of your favorite Mac lipsticks!?

XOXO

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May Favorites

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Kierra Lee

June is here; but I couldnt leave May without doing a quick favorites list. These are just a few things I couldnt keep my hands off of!

may favorites by prettythought featuring low rise jeans

Mac Flat out Fabulous: For about a year now my leading favorite Mac lipstick has been Rebel; but Flat out Fabulous has won me over. It’s the perfect pink lipstick and it goes with everything. I also like that I can throw a quick gloss on it as well and it looks just as cute.

Hudson Jeans: They are the perfect stretch jean; super comfortable. I wear them all the time.

Francesca’s bag: I use this for everythingggggggg. It fits just the right amount of stuff and it hangs perfectly on me. Can’t wait to get another one.

Michael Kors Sunglasses: Obsessed with them. I’ve had them for years and they have never broken; they also go with everything.

What were some of your May favorites?

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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How I make my eyes pop!

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Kierra Lee

I absolutely love lashes. I think they are a simple makeup addition and they are super glamorous. Sometimes my eyes get hidden behind my glasses so lashes are a great spruce up for me and they bring out the shape of my eyes. These are all the lashes as well as other lash accessories that I got. I bought these off of a site called ikatehouse; I wanted to try several different brands to see which ones I liked. Thus far my favorite is ardell!

Sephora Lash Applicator

Lash tweezer from Sephora: I read a review on YouTube that this lash grip was great for beginners. Most people can apply their lashes by hand or by using tweezers but it’s very difficult for me to do that so I use this amazing lash grip. It worked like a charm!

Ardell Lash glue

Lash Grip Ardell: I bought this lash grip from ikatehouse that I read a review on and I absolutely hated it. So I went back to the drawing board and bought the ardell lash grip from target ( $3). It worked great! It dried fast and held my lashes all night. You have to be careful how much you apply because otherwise it dries and becomes flaky.

You’ll notice that a lot of the lashes are really long and glamorous. Since I wear glasses I can usually pull these off. If I wear small lashes they can often get hidden behind my thick glass frame! After a few wears I can definitely say that I like smaller but thicker eyelashes. In the photo below im wearing my Mac Flat out Fabolous lipstick!

Finished Look!

XOXO

Kierra

What I use for Flawless Skin

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Kierra Lee

I finally bought the Clinique 3 step system that everyone has been raving about. I don’t have bad skin; I hardly ever get acne and my face isn’t really to dry. But I do have a few dark spots that I wanted to clean up; and overall just have healthy skin. I went to Macys and bought it at the Clinique counter. They have 4 treatments; Very Dry, Dry, Combo, Oily. I purchased Dry. It was $70 total; and it came with these gifts:

Clinique Gift Bag

I don’t think every place that sells Clinique gives away the free goodie bag; I think it’s just because I went to the actual Clinique counter. So look out for that if you choose to buy it. They say to give it two weeks before you start seeing some results but I’ve already noticed a few subtle changes.

My face is moisturized allllllllll the time now! I used to carry lotion in my purse because my face would dry out and now it doesn’t. Even the little bit of lotion that rubs off on my hands keeps my hands nice and moisturized too.
I have a dark indent on my nose because of my glasses; and it’s already starting to go away. I never paid attention to it before but now that it’s starting to go away my face looks so much clearer.

Overall I really love it. You do have to use it twice a day and sometimes that can be annoying because you forget. I also looked online to see how to apply it to make sure I was using it properly. Click here to see the video!

What Skin Regimen do you use? For those that would like a more natural and lighter skin care routine check out this post! .

XOXO

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Makeup Monday: Flat out Fabolous

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Kierra Lee

Hello all! Welcome to the new segment on my blog: Makeup Monday! I purchased a few lipsticks and I will reviewing them as well as other makeup products on mondays! Todays lipstick is

Flat Out Fabolous

Normally I go for deeper colors; like browns and wines; but I wanted to try something fun so I went a little brighter and I’m really glad I did! This colors is great for summer or a night out on the town. My next buy from Mac will be a more subtle color. Something I can wear on a consistent basis and casual enough to wear to work. So stay tuned for those!

Why I love it: It has this purple undertone that is very cute! Its bright and girly, Perfect for a night out! Stay tuned for whats coming next monday!

XOXO

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