First Impressions: Native Deoderant

My sister has been trying to get me to go with a natural deodorant for years, but I really like my Secret Clinical Strength. I live in the desert, and with temps soaring above 115 regularly, I need something strong.

A few beauty blogger friends of mine have told me about Lavanila, which I do like, and the scent is amazing! But, it really can’t handle the sweat of someone who lives in the heat. I spent 2 hours at the DMV with no air conditioning! That’s right, it broke that day. I was sweaty, and honestly didn’t smell, but it did not last the rest of the day. By the end of my Costco trip, I was stinky, like maybe it had worn off.

I reapplied twice.

So next up is Native. A friend suggested this, and in a weird twist of fate, my sister texted me she’d just ordered a new deodorant she’d found called Native. I was like OMG I just bought it too!

If you use this link you can get a free travel size deodorant too!

So here we are, a week into it, and so far so good. It doesn’t smell as good as the Lavanila, but it holds up to my sweat. Now just a huge reminder, this is NOT an antiperspirant. You will sweat.

But I don’t smell, so there’s that! I don’t know if I’ll be able to stick with it, I really hate feeling sweaty, but I guess as long as no one else knows, and I don’t smell, that I can deal with it.

Their customer service is awesome, the price is cheaper than Secret Clinical Strength, and it smells better too. I’m on a subscription plan, so I’ll keep you guys posted.

Dark Past by Laura Hunsaker

I’m not sure how many of you lovely beauties follow me on Twitter, or my blog Got Fiction? but I’m a writer as well as a makeup lover.

My website

My latest book will release soon and I wanted to share the cover with you!

 

The small town was supposed to be safe…

Kate Landry is tired of running. Thinking she’s safe, she settles in the small logging town of Chester, California to manage a cafe. She may be keeping a low profile, but she’s hoping to return to a normal life.
When FBI agent Kyle Donovan visits to Chester to stay with a friend, and to recover from his latest case, he never expects to meet sexy barista Kate.

But someone is following Kate…

Kyle worries he brought trouble to her door, while Kate worries her dark past is coming after her.
With danger lurking around every corner, her safe haven isn’t as safe as she’d thought. Kate will finally have to trust someone enough to tell him her secrets. Secrets that may just get them killed…

 

You can add it to your Goodreads account here

 

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes

I bought the Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes mascara, and on first swipe, I was unimpressed. But for $29 you bet I was going to use it! And something happened…

It’s been two months of using this product and I’ve realized what the draw is. That brush!! It catches every single lash and brings it front and center! While the mascara itself is nice, it offers a lovely fanned out natural look, I prefer something bolder and thicker like Benefit’s Roller Lash or Urban Decay’s Perversion.

However, that being said, I think anyone who likes a natural look but wants each individual lash to show, this one is for you! I think I might try the legendary lashes to see if I can get a thicker mascara but with Charlotte’s amazing brush!

Here is a photo of one eye with Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes, and the other eye has nothing.

Okay, wow that’s a close up isn’t it? Well, you can see the difference in lashes, and  just ignore that I haven’t done my brows yet. But seriously, look at all of the lashes! I didn’t know I had so many!

So, TL;DR This mascara grew on me, and I would repurchase it.

Maybelline Great Lash Blue

The Maybelline Great Lash mascara in blue is a fun pop of color to add to your daily look. You can pile it on for a more vivid blue, or you can keep it subtle. I found that swiping it over my normal black mascara gave my look just a hint of blue that was still work appropriate and yet fun.

Now, my opinion of Great Lash has never been the highest. In high school I think most of my friends used it. By college I had moved on to other mascaras, but my friends stuck with Great Lash. From what I can tell, this is still a hugely popular mascara. But I hate the brush. I’ve never liked it. I’ve tried this blue version on top of my favorite black mascara, and I can definitely wear it that way, but to wear it alone, it’s not the blue that turns me off, it’s the brush.

The eyeliner that was sent with the mascara was surprisingly good. I liked it more than I expected considering I’m not a huge fan of Great Lash. It glides on nicely, stays put, and comes off easily.

Final verdict: If you already like Great Lash, this is perfect for you! The blue adds a fun pop of color that is buildable, or you can keep subtle. But if you don’t like Great Lash already, then this probably isn’t for you.

***I was sent the Maybelline Great Lash Royal Blue VoxBox free for testing and review purposes.

My New Skin Care Routine

I’ve fought dry skin all my life, and while I never had acne, I did get eczema and random reddish patches.

I’ve spent the past few years working on my skin care regime, and with help from the other Bookish Beauties here, I’ve discovered a few really cool products.

Face Oil. Holy cow, why did I never use you in my twenties?! Nourish Organics Argan Face Serum is my current fave, but if you prefer a dry oil, the Nuxe brand has a fantastic one.

Masks. Sheet masks, peels, overnight masks, so many masks, and so much fun! Pictured is my Pacifica overnight mask. It’s thick without being sticky or clogging my pores. I used it on a long flight and my skin never felt gross or dehydrated.

In my quest to dupe Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, I’ve discovered a few really neat products:

Pixi Day Dew Glowtion not a dupe for Magic Cream, but absolutely a dupe for MAC Strobing Lotion, and Tarte Brighter Days Highlighting lotion.

Pixi Primer which is extra sparkly, just FYI, but adds a fun shimmer underneath bb cream or foundation.

Pacifica Dreamy Youth Day and Night Face Cream. I bought this in travel size for a trip and have never looked back!

Boots No. 7 Botanics Night Cream (which I’d actually consider more of a dupe for Clark Botanicals).

Boots Botanics Toner feels so refreshing. I hate Clinique’s toners, so I figured that mean I just hated toner. I was so wrong.

elf setting spray which smells like cucumbers, holds your makeup and feels really nice on.

Acure clay mask smells amazing! It’s like aromatherapy while you mask! And the best part? It doesn’t get hard on your face! I hate dry clay masks. This reminds me a lot of Charlotte Tilbury’s Goddess Clay mask. It isn’t the same color or texture, but they feel similar on, and the results are also very similar.

I’m looking for a new BB Cream, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment and let me know!

 

Curly Hair Don’t Care

I have curly hair. My daughter has curly hair. Our curls are nothing alike. Her hair is super thick and her curls are tighter and well, curlier. These products work on both of our hair. I think the Don’t Despair Repair is good for any hair type, but the Curl Charisma line is pure magic for my curls. Mine are looser than my daughter’s curls are, and these products hold the shape so well for me! With my daughter’s hair, it keeps the frizz and tangles down. Amazing what the same product will do for different types of hair!

I highly recommend the brand, and if you have curls, grab at the very least, the curl cream. It’s so moisturizing and still holds your curls together. We curly girlies need to stick together LOL

Allure Christmas Surprise

I was really surprised when Allure sent me an email saying they were sending me one of their beauty boxes for Christmas! Holy cow!

I’ve been a subscription box junkie for years now, but I hadn’t joined the Allure one. For one, I thought it was more expensive than it is-it’s a super affordable $15 per month, but if you order now, you get the first 4 months for only $10 a month* and for another I didn’t realize how awesome everything you get really is!

*Disclaimer: I get no kickbacks or money or points if you join. I just really want you all to enjoy the beauty and makeup:)

My box came with a Doucce Freematic eyeshadow single in Kristi-a brown shimmery shadow. Gorgeous and fab for all skin tones.

A can of Klorane dry shampoo, a must have for every person out there with hair. Seriously it’s awesome.

A full-size tube of Mally Beauty mascara that has perfect timing as I’d just thrown out my last tube of mascara. (I go through mascara a lot. Like every 6 weeks, so this is great for me!)

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Body Butter which is amazing and delicious and luxurious.

Some Briogeo Curl Charisma gel that trust me, my curls love! I love this brand, but I’d only ever used their Don’t Despair Repair hair conditioner, so this was a treat indeed.

And last but not least, my favorite find in this beauty box, a Spongelle Body Wash Infused Buffer in Freesia Pear. The lather smells amazing, it’s thick and luxurious, and I have to keep stealing it back from my kids’ shower since they keep taking it!

Enjoy, guys, and Happy Holidays!

Revive Vox Box

I’m a little late in posting this review, but this was a neat little Vox Box. It has everything from coffee to protein shakes!

The coffee was all delicious, not that there was any doubt. The Shea Moisture hair products are some of the best out there. My daughter and I have curly hair, and Shea Moisture is always a fantastic choice for curls.

The Snackwells biscuits were a miss for me, but only the flavor. I’ve had some before, and liked them, but this was Caramel Macchiato flavor and I’m not a fan. That being said, I do like the chocolate mocha flavor.

The protein shakes were good, but nothing fantastic. I mean, they’re protein shakes. I love that they came with a little shaker, though.

 

***All products courtesy of Influenster

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Color

I received the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color Vox Box, and it has been pleasantly surprising!

I don’t like longwear lip stains, or liquid lipsticks, so imagine how excited I was when I tried these…AND LOVED THEM!

I was sent the colors Constant Toast and Keep Up The Flame, and I loved them so much, I bought More and More Mocha.

The directions say to use the pigment first, let it sit for 2 minutes (it doesn’t need that long), and then go over your lips with the balm on the opposite side of the stick. Let me tell you, it’s fantastic! They don’t dry out, they don’t crack, and unless you eat something oily (I ate a salad with olive oil and vinegar), it won’t come off when you eat!

It does say to use an oil based cleanser or makeup remover to remove it, but my normal makeup remover wipes worked, and so did Micellar Water.

These lasted from about 7:30 am until around dinner time, so for me 5:30. That’s a super long time to go with only touching up the balm (sometimes I cheated and only used my chapstick).

My final verdict:

These are absolutely worth the $8 or so that they cost, and usually you can find a Maybelline coupon. You can’t beat that price for the quality of lip product you’re receiving. I can’t stress enough how much I hate long wear lip products, and how much I love this one.

 

***Vox Box courtesy of Influenster and Maybelline

Gwen Stefani Palette

So I finally did it. I bought the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette. I’m a huge Urban Decay fan, but the Gwen palette didn’t really speak to me. I mean, I have plenty of champagne shades, and it seems to be full of neutrals. I have 3 different Naked palettes, how much different would this one be?

Boy oh boy, was I wrong. This palette is fabulous! The money is worth the shade Anaheim alone!  The other Bookish Beauty Girls told me I need this, and ladies, you were so right! This palette has been used every single day since I bought it!

I’m not sure how much longer it’ll only be $25, but for now, it’s only $25!! I bought one for my sister, I loved it so much!

GO. BUY. THIS. NOW.