One of the details I nearly forgot to sort out was garters. I’m a big fan of all the traditional, a-little-too-old fashion wedding practices and really wanted to find something fun for my garters. So of course I headed straight to Etsy to hunt around and found just the thing.
What’s old, new, borrowed, and blue? The Tardis of course! A Doctor Who themed garter set seemed so beyond perfect since it’s what brought Alex and I together in the first place. There were so many options to choose from, but this set by
PikesPeakCreations called to me right away. The details on these babies are just amazing down to the little Tardis and sonic screwdriver charms.
It’s weird but these garters really brought everything home for me. Sure I’ve tried on my dress a handful of times and have been to the venue time and time again. Heck we just started to send out the invitations. But all of that still felt somewhat dream like. There’s just something about holding these in my hands and not having to hide them from Alex (he wants to be surprised about the dress) that makes it so much more real. I’m getting married in less than 80 days and these cute puppies will be going along for the ride.
xoxo Kayla
This one is kind of like “duh,” but so often I see and hear people complaining about palette storage that I thought it time to write up a quickie about how I do it. I picked up a bunch of these storage bins from Target a few years ago, but they definitely
still have them in stock in the storage section of their stores. They’re awesome because they’re affordable while coming in tons of different colors.
I store all of my palettes in one bin so it’s nice and full and they don’t flop around inside. I used to separate my face palettes from the rest of the herd, but I just love how full and organized they all look standing in a row. I arranged them from smallest to tallest in the back so nothing gets lost out of sight. Then I pop the whole thing into one of the larger drawers in the
IKEA Alex tower. The Alex system is still my favorite way to organize makeup and stationery supplies in a simple, non-breaking-the-bank sort of way. I’ve thought about keeping it out on a counter somewhere in my office, but I’m working on a clean counter lifestyle and it fits like a glove into the drawer.
Don’t have as many palettes as me? Find a nice small bin so they can all stack up next to each other so they aren’t flopping around and possibly breaking. It’s simple, but gets the job done. And that’s my life motto.
How do you store your palettes?
xoxo Kayla
When I first dove into the high-end makeup pool I spent a lot of careless money on products that just didn’t work for me. From foundations that cost a pretty penny to mascaras that just didn’t work for me, I could have definitely used a guide to help me along the way. I picked products that aren’t over the top for this starter kit. The base is light and the colors neutral and simple. A starter kit should ease the transition into a new category rather than shock the system and make you never want to try anything new.
I love the
Stile One Step Correct so much it had to be the primer of choice. It kind of acts like a moisturizer as well as a setup for makeup and I love how hydrating it feels on the skin when I wear nothing but it. Moderation is key with this product though because you can run out of it quick if you aren’t careful.
For base there are literally tons of options in the high-end makeup world, but if you’re just starting out something on the lighter side is best so you aren’t finding yourself with a seriously heavy foundation and no idea what to do with it. The
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue has a mousse-like texture that blends out easily and lightly on the skin with any tool (sponge, brush, or fingers). Plus it’s not nearly as expensive as most of the other foundation options and the shades are pretty forgiving if you go for the wrong one.
The
NARS Creamy Concealer is a great choice if you’re looking for something light to medium coverage that doesn’t slip around or crease. It’s definitely not the most coverage, but can be built up and worked with for desired effect. Brows are not a high priority if you’re just getting into makeup, but if you do by chance want to give it a whirl nothing beats the
Anastasia Brow Wiz. It has a spoolie built in and a small little nib so you don’t have to worry about making a huge mess on your brows.
If you’re looking for a solid brush that won’t let you down I’m sure you already know about
Tarte‘s options. Pick one that’s good for all occasions and you’ll never need another one. You can explore a lot more when it comes to eye shadow. A lot of the luxury brands have very similar shades in consistency and pigmentation, but if you want to buy one palette and be set for years,
Urban Decay is your promised land. Pick up one of the
Naked palettes and you won’t need anything else. Mascara is the trickiest of the high end products because a lot of drugstore brands are just as good if not better at it. If you are looking to splurge and try something though anything by
Lancome is good and
Marc Jacobs also really brings it.
Lipsticks is another category that you really can’t lose for high-end makeup. Almost all the brands produce high quality lipsticks that last, but I always gravitate back to
MAC if I want just a basic, solid lipstick.
Urban Decay will be releasing their new VICE collection with a lot of great color options. For liquid lipstick
Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks have some funky shade options, but the consistency and lasting power can’t be beat.
Now if you want to step up your tool game,
Real Techniques is a good middle of the road option, but I can’t help but reach for
MAC ones. They’re definitely higher end on the brush ladder, but my MAC 217 is my most used brush as it really packs on the product and eliminates a lot of fallout issues.
If you are interested in getting into the more expensive, luxury side of makeup, definitely don’t be like me. Do your research and carefully select products you think will work for you and what you’ve enjoyed from drugstore makeup. Take your time with it and enjoy feeling pampered and fabulous every time you put on makeup.
What was your first high end makeup purchase?
xoxo Kayla
The blogging world is definitely abuzz with the minimalist trend lately. Gone are the days of hording makeup and enter ones filled with less things and more purpose. I’m definitely so on bored with decluttering and have shared
my two cents on
Marie Kondo’s book to boot. Yet a capsule wardrobe of only a few shirts and things each season just isn’t doable no matter how hard I try. So if you want to get on board with less is more but can’t hack a 37 piece wardrobe, here’s how to streamline your closet.
- Go Marie Kondo and empty everything out of your closet. Literally everything. Throw it into a large pile and decide what stays and what goes. You can be as strict as Kondo demands, or your own version. Just as long as you’re being honest about what should say and what should go.
- Pretend you are making a capsule wardrobe, but don’t limit yourself on pieces. Seriously consider what you wear most often and fill in wardrobe gaps where you see them.
- Organize your closet based on categories so you can really see what types of clothes you have more of than others. I personally have at least 10 different colored cardigans. For some that would seem nuts, but I love wearing them over tank tops or blouses. This method could also help you realize you have way too many tshirts and you need to get rid of some more.
- Keep clothes that reflect your lifestyle and get rid of those that don’t. If you have dozens of formal dresses but never go to anything formal, they’re no longer needed in your closet. I have a lot of office casual clothes that I recently parted with now that I work at home. Sure I might find the need for them one day, but if that time ever comes around I’ll just buy new ones as my current ones will be worn out and moth ridden by then.
- Try the hanger trick and flip all your hangers around backwards. When you wear something, put it back the hanger with the hanger turned back the normal way. After three months see which clothing items you haven’t worn and say goodbye to them. You can’t argue with a clear visual representation of what you do and don’t wear.
These are a few quick ways to streamline your closet if you just can’t muster the courage to try a capsule wardrobe. You’ll feel so much better with a cleaner closet, feel a part of the minimalist trend, but still keep your sanity.
xoxo Kayla
Eye shadow palettes are my Achilles heel of makeup products. Regardless of how many I have, there’s always a reason to get just one more. With more eye shadows than my eye lids will ever use, I’ve learned a thing or two about palettes and which one is good for what.
Before we dive in it’s safe to say that all these palettes are top notch. Although they vary a little here and there, they’re all buttery, pigmented, and the cream of the crop of eye shadows. No risks here.
Which palette…
For everyday use
If you’re looking for just a solid, all-around perfect palette to accomplish everything you could possibly need,
theBalm’s NUDE ‘tude or the
LORAC Pro Palette are the ticket. Their shade range varies enough you’ll be able to pull off multiple looks without ever leaving the palette.
For travel and on-the-go
For special occasions
The LORAC Pro Palette and any of the
Urban Decay Naked palettes are exactly what you’ll need to create any type of look for a special event. The LORAC palette has a lot of non-neutral shades to mix things up and add a pop of color. The Urban Decay palettes have the longest staying power of any shadow I’ve tried so they’re not going to disappear during the night.
For specific tones and shade families
Look no further than the Urban Decay Naked palette family. The first palette has your warm tones, the second your cool tones, the third is all about rose-gold, and the smokey palette does what it says on the packaging. I would say you’ll never need another palette again if you pick up whichever shade family works best for you, but we all know once you get one it’s an obsessive addiction to collect them all.
For beginners
Nothing beats the Naked Basic palettes if you’re just getting into makeup and aren’t really sure what’s what. They have just enough shades to create a standard look without being too overwhelming. Plus they’re more affordable since they’re smaller so you won’t be spending an arm and a leg on something you aren’t sure will work for you.
Nothing beats a good ol’ eye shadow palette, but if you’re in penny saving mode it’s best to get one that meets your needs rather than going heart-eyed emoji and buying them all up in one frantic motion!
Which palette is your go to?
xoxo Kayla
I popped a little teaser in last week’s
March Favorites video about this post coming on the horizon. and now it’s officially arrived. I’ve known about IT Cosmetics since the brand first came out, but I never went farther than a few swatches in the store until recently. Now I’ve fallen head first into the brand and am resurfacing to share my thoughts on their most popular products.
The
Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream was the first product I tried and totally made me do a full stop. Dang is this product fabulous. It’s a light to medium coverage foundation that packs a serious 50+ SPF. No sun is getting to my cheeks with this stuff. It’s super easy to apply and looks great blended in with a brush, fingers, or beauty blender. It covers up redness and any discoloration without looking too obvious or cakey. It lasts practically all day and has the most lovely satin, glowy finish. Plus it’s a squeeze tube with a pump. Two of my favorite things.
IT Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye is the product I’ve heard about most over the blogosphere and I can get the hype, but have some mixed feelings about it. I love how thick and great at covering under eye circles it is, but it never feels to really sink into the skin. If I happen to brush my under eyes I come away with a bit of product on my fingers. Yet I love the coverage and how it brightens up my eyes. So maybe I need to get more serious with my blending and adapt a setting powder routine…
The
Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil made an appearance in my March Favorites as a product that’s giving the Anastasia Brow Wiz a run for its money. I really like the soft brown taupe shade and larger nub for application. The spoolie is nice and big and I love how natural my lashes look after use. The only downside is the fact that it’s more expensive than the Anastasia offering.
One product I haven’t really gotten behind yet is the
Bye Bye Pores Finishing Powder. I rarely use finishing powders to begin with so I’ve struggled working it into my daily routine. When I have used it though I really enjoyed its light texture and ease of application. It didn’t settle into my pores or wrinkles, but I couldn’t tell if it was really doing anything. I don’t like applying makeup just for the sake of applying it. I’m just not necessarily sold on its effectiveness, or any finishing powder for that matter.
IT Cosmetics’ Super Hero mascara on the other hand I can totally get behind. The packaging alone is adorable and uniquely shaped. It’s great at separating the lashes to create a nice, natural looking end result that holds a curl. It doesn’t clump and adds a decent amount of volume to boot.
Overall IT Cosmetics really has it going on. Underestimating brands is kind of my thing and this one is no different. The packaging is on point, there’s quality in every product, and the results are exactly what I’m looking for. My biggest concern is the price. It rivals a lot of the bigger name brands and just has me a bit standoffish to fall in love completely. Everything feels five dollars more than I’m comfortable spending. A bummer, but definitely not a deal breaker if the quality is there.
Have you tried IT Cosmetics before?
xoxo Kayla
