Cruelty Free Faves So Far- Lips Edition

   It's been a while since I've posted an installment into my "Cruelty Free Faves So Far".  So far I have done face makeup and eyes.  Today's post focuses on lips!  I found lips one of the easiest beauty categories to find cruelty free favorites in.

Chapstick

*The Honest Co. Organic Lip Balm in Lavender Mint*

I don't even remember when I received this balm, but it was quite a while ago.  It stayed in my collection unused until a few months ago and it's been LOVE ever since.  It's very emollient without being too greasy or sticky.  The scent is nice, yet not overwhelming.  If you are to try any Honest Co product, I would recommend this as the first one.

Lip Gloss

*Silk Naturals Kisser Slicker*

I have only one of these in the color Rare Berry.  It's not your typical lip gloss packaging, but when applied on the lips it does appear quite glossy and lightly pigmented.  I really want to try more of these lip colors from Silk Naturals

*ELF Essential Super Glossy Lip Shine*

I have quite a few of these $1 glosses, but this shade in Goddess is my absolute favorite.  These are a bit on the sticky side and not really pigmented, but they add a beautiful sheen and shimmer to the lips and act as a nice topper to nude or pinky lip looks.  For only $1 how can you resist?

*Younique Lucrative Lip Gloss*

This is the most opaque of my favorite glosses and acts more as an actual lip color than just a lip gloss.  However, this does provide a very glossy finish and is a bit on the sticky side.  This color in Loveable is the perfect milky pink and a great compliment to smokey eyes.

Lip Liner

*Younique Moodstruck Precision Pencil Lip Liner in Pouty*

I must disclose that this is the only lip liner I own, as I am not the biggest fan of liners.  However, with the massive popularity of the Kylie Jenner lip, I had to get my hand on a liner and THIS is the perfect Kylie lip liner.  It's a great 90's inspired color yet is still flattering.  I really love this color and actually want to experiment with more of their lip liners.

Traditional Lipsticks

*Milani Color Statement Lipstick*

I'm not a huge lipstick fan as I usually find them very drying, but this is a great exception.  Milani lipsticks are insanely affordable and also insanely pigmented.  This one in High Voltage is an amazing Marilyn Monroe inspired red.

*Too Faced Le Creme Lipstick in Naughty Nude*

This lipstick I bought after the makeup artist used it on me for my birthday party.  This is a beautiful nude lipstick that is a bit more brown than a typical nude.  It's very creamy, yet long lasting.  Plus, how beautiful is this packaging? 

 * Lipstick Balm/Pencils*

*Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil*

During the Sephora Friends and Family sale I purchased the little tin of Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencils and I am ever glad I did!  This berry color, Rhubarb, is my favorite of the group.  These are super high pigmented and because it applies like a pencil you can get very precise application.

*ELF Matte Lip Color*

I got this when I saw a Youtube video where this was used to slightly overdraw the lips for a fuller look.  I haven't yet worked up the guts to exaggerate my lip size, but I do really like this is a base layer for a creamy nude gloss or lipstick.

*Liquid Lipstick*

*Mally Beauty High Shine Liquid Lipstick*

I have a few of these and they are such an interesting texture.  They apply like a gloss and have the sheen of a gloss, but have the pigmentation and lasting power of a lipstick.  I heard these are available at Ulta now so I would go play with these ASAP!

Have you tried any of these lip products?  If so, which one is your favorite?? 

Cupcakes and Cashmere Book Review

    I love a good lifestyle book, as some of my previous book review posts may show (Mally review, The Every Girl's Guide to Life).  What I love even more is when a fellow blogger "hits it big" and gets a book of their own published.  This is the case with Emily Schuman's "Cupcakes and Cashmere".

   My local library just got this book and I had to snatch it up.  I didn't know much about it other than I love Emily's blog and it was an all in one life style book.

   When I got this book home I finished it one sitting and a few hours.  It's such a beautiful book with a lot of great information!  I am considering purchasing it for my first coffee table book at the new place!
 
   This book was broken into seasons and for each season there is a fashion section, beauty section, home section and entertaining section.  The information for each section is quite useful and the photography is just so beautiful!

Here are some of my favorite tips by season!

Spring

For each season Emily includes a closet checklist, a must have wardrobe list for each season!  I definitely took notes on this section!

One of my favorite sections from spring is tips and tricks on how to shop at flea markets.  Flea markets seems to be all the trend in Brooklyn lately, so I may have to head on down to shop with my new arsenal of shopping tips.

There's also a great article on organizing your closet.  I love watching closet organization videos on Youtube and this is another great resource.

Summer

My favorite idea from the summer section was this Summer Nostalgia Party.  Get some friends together and serve kool-aid and push pops and bring out the skip-its.  I don't have a lot of friends who have outdoor space, but you better believe I will find one and have this little party!

The summer section had a beautifully photographed article on organizing your bookshelf.  As a book nerd I love a beautifully style bookshelf and this article had some great tips to keep it from looking like a library.

Fall

I've always loved the look of tights or of patterned tights and the fall section had a beautiful article on how to pick the right pair of tights for the right outfit.

Fall also had a great article on how to take a good photograph.  I always hate the way that I photograph so I will be putting some of these tips into effect!

Finally, winter

With a foot of snow heading my way, this article on layering was of great help!  So often my layered outfits come out bulky instead of sleek.

There was a great article on how to find art on the cheap.  As I have to buy EVERYTHING for my new place, cheap art is definitely going to be helpful!

All in all, I LOVED this book!  If you have ever read Cupcakes and Cashmere or really just enjoy a beautifully photographed book, I highly recommend this!

Book Review: Love, Lashes and Lipstick by Mally Roncal

    I don't know about you, but when I can't find anything on tv I automatically turn on QVC or HSN.  I've purchased quite a few things from both networks, but I must say I prefer QVC.  One of the biggest reasons why I prefer QVC is because of Mally and Mally Beauty.  If you have never watched Mally, I urge you to find out when she is on QVC next and sit back and enjoy.

    Mally is adorably happy and confident and gorgeous.  Her makeup line is fantastic and she is the makeup artist to some big stars, including Beyonce.  When I found out that she wrote a book I automatically snatched it up from my library.

   Mally's book, Love, Lashes and Lipstick: My Secrets for a Gorgeous, Happy Life, is part self-help book, part autobiography and part makeup book.  It's a very quick read and a book that I must say actually made me happy reading it.

  Mally, whose real name is Melissa (more of a reason for me to love her), tells her life story including the death of her mother from breast cancer.  She tells how her mother knew she was going to die so squeezed a lifetime full of memories into a few short years.  I must admit, I cried while reading some of this chapter.  Some people can be very bitter about suffering such a loss in their life, but Mally used it to create something beautiful in her life, which is very admirable.

   Mally also shares stories about her start in the makeup industry.  She stresses the fact that no job is too small and to say yes to everything.  You never know when a small opportunity can lead to a big one, or if you can meet someone life changing (she met her husband on a list minute shoot) by just saying yes.

   Dispersed throughout the book are pages with makeup tips and tricks.  There were a few that I really liked.

The first makeup tip I liked (and already started using) is the "starburst" mascara tip.  When I normally put mascara on I bring the wand towards the outer edge of my eye, giving a cat eye like effect to my lashes.  Mally says to bring the lashes towards the bridge of your nose which gives your eyes a more open eyed effect.  I've been doing this and I really like the result!  Especially under my glasses and with tired eyes, this does help my eyes look a bit more awake.

The second tip I really liked is her natural eyeliner tip, which it turns out is a tip I've been using for quite a while.  Mally says to use a darker liner on your top lash line and a lighter shade on your lower lash line.  This gives a more natural look and also helps cut down on such a stark contrast on your under eye.  For my daily use I prefer using an espresso brown on top and a bronze on bottom.

All in all, I must say I really enjoyed this book and I think next time I see Mally on QVC I will enjoy watching her even more.  

Have you ever used any of Mally's products or watched her on QVC? 

Fitness Friday: How to Not Go TOO Crazy Over the Holidays

   The holiday season is officially upon us!  I hope everyone had a beautiful and delicious Thanksgiving Day.

   As someone who has zero willpower, I know how easy it can be to overindulge over the holiday season.  I myself am usually the first to overindulge.  However, a big birthday is looming right after Christmas as well as a hot little dress I have my eye on, so this season will not be an overindulgent one for me.

Here are some tips and tricks that I'm going to make myself follow this holiday season:

*Don't starve yourself prior to an event

I used to subscribe to the idea that if I starve myself before a big event than I would be able to enjoy myself at the event.  Well, this plan usually backfires as I'm SO famished that I end up over doing it.  If you are going to an event where you know you will be eating a lot or drinking a lot, make sure you have a well balanced breakfast or lunch and to include some protein and lots of water.

*Have one "good thing" for every one "bad thing"

Finger foods are my absolute weakness.  At a party I usually skip the veggie platter and go right for the cheeses and fun stuff.  No more of that.  For every finger food I take, I'm stocking up on a veggie.  This way even if I'm eating a lot of crap, I can still know that I got a good dose of vitamins and minerals.

*Try a little bit of everything, instead of a lot of one thing

I can sit and have a meal of pasta anytime I want, but this is the time to try a little bit of everything that a party has to offer.  Trying a little bit of everything turns into a meal and you won't be overindulging on one fatty meal.

*Drink a large glass of water for every alcoholic drink

I'm queen of the hangover, which is not a title that I want to have.  If I have more than one drink I am almost guaranteed at least a headache the next day.  If I really go for it, I wake up the next day sick as a dog and with a raging fever.  Do I think a drink of water between boozy drinks will keep my hangover at bay? No, but it may help!

*Know when to say no

While my taste buds have matured quite a bit over the last few years, I am still incredibly picky.  If there's something I know I don't like or have no interest in trying, I am just going to politely say no.

*Throw in some active dates

It's the season to get together with friends and loved ones, but who says these get togethers have to involve dinner and drinks?  Why not get together and try a fitness class?  Or walk around the mall and get some steps and shopping in?  Even getting together and wrapping gifts or going for a wintery walk is better and healthier than the typical drinks and dinner.

*Don't forget your exercise routine

Things may be a bit more active for you this time of year, but it's not the time to forget about your exercise routine.  Everyone can squeeze in a minimum of 20 minutes of physical activity a day.  If you find yourself too swamped in the evening, make time for it by waking up a bit earlier.  I know it's a pain in the ass, but it will help you in the long run.

*Try some healthy swaps

I know it's definitely the time for baking, so check out some of these healthier substitutions to use in your baking.  It won't make your cookies healthy, but any little difference in something you are going to eat anyway can definitely help.

Here are just SOME of the healthy holiday tips that I will be forcing myself to follow this year.

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain? 

Please comment below!

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