A Boost To Your Step

For The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost

What it is: A skin boost/primer with instant smoothing radiance for dull skin.

Key Ingredients: Mica, parfum, glycerin, linalool, limonene, silica, vitamin C, brazil nut oil.

How it feels/smells/looks: It smells like straight up Vitamin C, a citrus smell that is sweeter than oranges. It smells really good and I’m a sucker for anything citrus scented. It is a yellow gel with shimmer in it. It is very mattifying and the shimmer is very subtle. It glides on smoothly with a velvet finish. I used less BB cream or foundation, since this made my base easier to smooth out and blend on the skin using less.

Why I like it: I like that this has a pump for mess free applications and it does a great ob of moisturizing the skin as well as filling in the pores and smoothing out the skin. I find that my BB cream or foundation blends into my skin better and seemed to enhance the look of my skin. I would not repurchase this though. This retails for 20 USD, but I got it in a kit for 20 USD (so it was like getting the other two products in it for free). I would rather spend that kind of money on Pores No More than this product, unless found in a kit again.

With Love,

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Plan With Me: Week 2

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

Here I am again with last week’s spread. Some sudden things did come up like remembering a hairdressing appointment for my dad and having to get my blood work done for the second part of the maternal blood screen. Those two were the only things that came up though. I also got paid this week, so that meant that a few bills needed to get paid as well.

So, I used the side column this week for my cleaning schedule and things that I need to keep in mind to buy. I also reminded myself that it is week 16-17 of my pregnancy this week. I turn 17 on Saturday. I work a regular job during the week, so I like to add some decoration to fill up space. I remind myself in the mornings when I have to get up earlier or later. I keep track of my nightly routines as well. I like to remind myself in the middle of the week to stay hydrated, which is really important to me and my health.

I have Thursdays meals outlined. The extra space on the bottom I like to have for my dinners and anything that suddenly comes up that I need to do like write a letter or get gas for the car. Things like that I like to have the extra room for. Friday is payday, so it is just filled with all of the bills that I need to check off as I pay them. Saturday is a blogging day and I need to get a few errands done. Sunday, I have more things that I need to take car of in the morning, blogging, and probably going out to eat or seeing a movie.

What were you up to last week?

With Love,

Summer Reads

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I thought that I would share with all of you what I have been reading recently. I usually read around 3-4 books at the same time, depending on my mood. I’ll usually read one book with my dad, a fluffy read, a dramatic read, and one on my kindle. I’m very diverse when it comes to what I read and I pretty much read anything within my own personal tastes. I think that I will do this once a season, since it tends to take me a while to read. I’m just getting back into the swing of things. I have a review almost done and another two waiting to be worked on. I have a bit of a backup in reviews, just because I am so thorough in reviewing them. Well, let’s get to it!

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

This book is really dramatic and haunting. I am almost done with it and will be reviewing it soon. I really enjoyed this one a lot. It is a bit different than the typical Sarah Dessen books. I’m actually really impressed. She breaks away from her usual plot to create something amazing.

Elixir by Hilary Duff

This is a book that I am reading with my dad and we only have a third of it left. I was surprised at how much this book has picked up since the beginning. I am enjoying it more than I thought that I would. I understand that Hilary Duff didn’t really write it. She had help, but I still love the fact that she branched out to try something else. I am totally into this story and will be getting the rest of the trilogy!

Inner Demons by Sarra Cannon

I am reading this box set with the first three books in it on my kindle for free, which I always enjoy. I am already finished with this and will be writing a book review on it. It was my paranormal fix with demons, which I enjoy the genre quite a lot. I am going to be starting the third one, when I review this one. I don’t want to get them jumbled up together.

Those are the three books that I am finishing at the moment. Once I write one review, I will start another book. I might just give you guys updates every time I start a new book. Then, do a season list of the books that I am still currently reading. Sound good? I think I like the idea of it. Well, that is it for now. What are you currently reading or finishing as in my case?

With Love,

What’s in my bag?

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

My friend just recently did this post and it inspired me to do one as well. This is just going to be a quick post today of the contents of my bag. A few weeks ago, I streamlined what I kept in it, because it was getting too heavy for me to carry with the baby and all. So, I hope you enjoy this simple version. Also, if you have any ideas for posts, I would appreciate them in a comment below. Next week, I am going to be showing off my small color pop (I think) collection (or my whole nail polish collection since I only have like 20?). Let me know what you want to see next.

I had to stand up to fit everything in the picture. I have my tote bag from Lucky Magazine, my Erin Condren Life Planner, two snacks, two packets with napkins and wet wipes, a straw, a small baggy with two sample sunscreen bottles, my wallet, my glitter Ipsy bag that I keep my Ipod in, my work badge, and my banking packet where I keep checks and stuff. Well, that is my bag! I hope you enjoyed it and if you posted this before, give me a link below. I’d love to see/read it!

With Love,

A Whiter Smile

Listerine Whitening Freshening Whitening Rinse in Refresh
Around 8 US DOLLARS
32 fl oz

4 out of 5 stars

FTC Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and I bought this with my own money.

1. Usage: I did not realize that when I bought this that it was a before you brush your teeth rinse. I filled the liquid to the line in the cap and swished it around my teeth. I think that I got around 6 months worth of nightly usage with forgetting some nights and some times doing it in the morning. I would have prefered a regular mouth wash, but I wanted a whitening effect. I won’t get a huge bottle next time. I think the taste was starting to worsen this last month. I want to buy one every three months to avoid bacteria growth if contaminated. 3 out of 5 stars

2. Packaging: This is a mouthwash people! Plain is way better. You will pay less for simple packaging and more for the actual product. I like the simplicity of Listerine and that the bottle is opaque unlike other mouthwashes. Being opaque protects the product from expiring faster from direct sunlight. The bottle is easy to grip as well. 5 out of 5 stars

3. Scent: The smell of this mouthwash is very strong and the taste can sting your taste buds in an unpleasant way. As long as I see results, I will endure the pain. This is a strong product, not for the faint of heart. 4 out of 5 stars

4. Performance: This product foams up in your mouth as you swish it around, so do not be surprised if it gets harder to swish as you go along. I have noticed a decrease in surface stains and my teeth are definitely whiter. They are not that bright blue-white smile that are artificial looking. It’s the kind of white that people compliment you on taking care of your teeth, not asking you where you got your teeth whitened. I like the subtle white better. When I have more money, I might try out the Crest Whitening kit for my blog followers. 5 out of 5 stars

5. Ingredients: The only ingredient I do not like on this very short list is sodium lauryl sulfate, since I am trying to go chemical sulfate-free. I will try to shop around for one that does not contain sls, but if not, I will probably try Crest White mouth wash to compare, because Crest is the cheaper of the two. Other than that, I have no complaints. 4 out of 5 stars

6. Results: I love te results that tis mouthwash gave me. I am a daily coffee drinker and not looking like one is amazing! If I can treat and prevent yellowing, I will do it. I mean, who wouldn’t if they could afford it? I can fit oral hygiene in my budget, since a smile can be life changing. [Loving my Eucalyptus Mint candle right now. It’s keeping me on track as I write this.] I would recommend this product, if you do not mind sulfates and a really strong taste. It works and is worth the money. 4 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this product 4.1 out of 5 stars. I want to see if there is a sulfate-free product out there that would be five stars for me. This one came pretty darn close though.

My Boyfriend’s 20 US DOLLAR Makeup Challenge!

Heya Beauties!

Okay, I will admit that I had to help my boyfriend with the challenge of buying my makeup. He checked to make sure he was getting mostly sales items, but was completely overwhelmed with all the aisles and choices. His quote: “You really need this much of a variety?” Apparently, the men’s aisle is just a single aisle. Anyways, he didn’t know what most of the stuff was. I assisted him by directing him to the eye shadows, which he picked up two of them that he liked. Next, he asked me if I had an eye shadow brush, because he knows that I hate those foam things and only use them on the go. I said no, so he got me one along with an eye primer. He remembered me saying that I needed one because of my oily eyelids. We then looked at the blushes and my boyfriend picked up one that was a novelty and said it went with my purple personality. He ended up spending 21.50 US DOLLARS, not bad fo a guy without a clue.

I will now list everything he bought with pictures and my first impressions of them.

*Pulling out randomly*

CoverGirl Eye Enhancers in 205 Tropical Fusion
5.29 US DOLLARS
0.19 oz

I really like the bright vibrancy of these colors and the pigmentation in one swipe is great. I will have to build up the bright yellow eye shadow, but as is, it will make a pretty highlight shade for the inner corners. My boyfriend picked the best summer time palette, but I will confess that I will probably continue to use it into the Fall. I like that the foam applicator has a tip on one side. I look forward to trying out these colors tomorrow, because it is too late today. I’ve already done my look! These are powder, shimmer colors.

E.L.F. Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer in Clear & Natural
2.99 US DOLLARS
0.09 oz [Primer] / 0.14 [Sealer]

I love the concept behind this duo. I love that I can prime my eyes for shadows or use it as its own color. I really like the liner sealer for turning eye shadows into liner. No more trying to find fun eye liner colors, when you can make your own in colors tat you know you’ll love. I cannot wait to try this! Maybe I’ll use the green from the Tropical palette. My boyfriend just picked this, because it was the only eye primer. So glad he did!

*picked out Mentos*
Opps! How did you get in there?
*coughs*

E.L.F. Studio 84010 Small Angled Brush
2.99 US DOLLARS
1 Brush

I like that this brush is perfect for lining the eyes as well as applying eye shadow. I could use it to fill my eye brows and apply lip color, but I think that I will purchase separate brushes for that. This I will keep for my eyes. I don’t do much smokey eye looks, so a simple brush is what I need. My boyfriend picked this one, because it “looks like it’s for eye shadow, because its small but not too small.” Go figure!

Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush in 45 Orchid Hush
7.99 US DOLLARS
0.19 oz

I like that this color is a purple tinted sheer blush that is a powder, but turns into a cream. I enjoy touching the bouncy texture of the blush, but it doesn’t bounce back up. 🙂 The purple isn’t too purple. It is a purple pink with a pearly shimmer to it that is really a lot prettier in person, hence why my boyfriend thought that this purple would really suit me. I have yellow undertones, so purple really brings my face alive, but too dark of a shade of purple, just makes me seem bruised. I am eager to try this on my cheeks!

CoverGirl Eye Enhancers in 270 Crystal Waters
5.29 – 2.65 = 2.64 US DOLLARS
0.19 oz

I love how pigmented these colors are!!! My boyfriend got this palette, because he thinks that they would go with my grey eyes. Most people call them blue, but it isn’t a true blue color. I honestly only see grey in the mirror like a storming sky. These colors will flatter them and hopefully make them seem more grey by pointing out the fact that it looks less blue with a blue eye lid! These colors also contain shimmer, but I am in love with them. Especially the shimmering green, it looks very lovely! These are no-season colors, which makes them appropriate for every occasion.

Have you had a beauty haul lately? Feel free to link it in the comments sections and questions and comments are always welcome.

With Love,
Hannahxoxoxo

My Ultimate Beauty Stash/Storage

Hey beauties!

I wanted to do a quick post today, since I did a lot of shopping and am a little too tired to do anything too long. I thought that I would show you guys how I store my makeup, skincare, hair care, body care, perfumes, and everything like that. The new stuff that I buy are not organized yet. There are still in their respective bags, until I photograph them to write a haul post. That is soon to come. These pictures will hint where I went. Please, excuse my lack of makeup at thew moment. I spring cleaned a lot of my products that turned funky and now, I have almost nothing. It is a fourth of what I used to have. So sad. But my boyfriend is doing the 20 US Dollar makeup challenge, so I’ll have more makeup. He’s sleeping over tonight and I’m going to have my second glass of wine. If you have any questions about the pictures, products, etc., feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you.

With Love,
Hannahxoxoxo

This S#*$ Is Bananas!

The Body Shop Banana Shampoo
8 US DOLLARS
8.4 fl oz

4 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I purchased this item with my own money.

1. Usage: This is the only shampoo bottle that I have ever owned that does not give you directions on how to use it. I do not know if that is a gift or a curse, but it didn’t bother me. I used a quarter to a half-dollar amount of shampoo, since my hair is medium length and thick. Although, I do have layers that makes my hair thinner and easier to handle. I massage this onto my scalp for two to five minutes, then rinse out. My scalp tends to get oily, so I really concentrate the product there. The shampoo is a bit on the runny side, so it is not always easy to handle. 4 out of 5 stars

2. Packaging:/b> I like how the clear bottle comes with a stuck on label. The yellow of the product and the green label really complement each other aesthetically. The packaging is simple and sweet. What drew me to the product was the description of the scent, not the packaging, but that is not to say that the packaging took away from the experience. 3 out of 5 stars

3. Scent: The product smells more like candied bananas than the real thing. Do not get me wrong, it still smells delicious. There is an underlying scent of shampoo chemical smell, but that is something no shampoo can hide. It’s the smell of its cleaning power. Still, the scent is the best aspect of this product. 4 out of 5 stars

4. Performance: The product has the yellow look of real bananas with a runny consistency. I need a goid amount to really clean my scalp. The bottle lasted me a good 5 months for such a small amount, but I wash my hair 3-4 days a week. The product lathered, but not too much. I do not think that it overly stripped my scalp of essential oils. 4 out of 5 stars

5. Ingredients: This is not a sulfate-free shampoo. It does contain real bananas, which was a plus for me. I just wish they had left out the added fragrance, which made it smell a bit artificial. It has honey added, making this product not vegan, but that does not bother me. They could have done without the added coloring as well. 3 out of 5 stars

6. Results: The shampoo effectively washed my hair and for how long it lasted, the price was reasonable. The smell was delicious and made me like the product more than I should have, since some of the ingredients weren’t that great. 4 out of 5 stars

Overall, I give this shampoo 3.6 out of 5 stars. I like how the bottle is made out of 100% plastic and has fair trade key ingredients. I will not be rushing out to repurchase it, because I have to use up my old shampoos and have my eye on something new. Thos product would be great for traveling, though. So, if I am going to be traveling, I would pick this up for that purpose.

#Julamorous

Welcome to Julamorous!

I am going to be posting everyday in July! That is 31 blog posts for the month of July. I do not know how I am going to pull this off without any suggestions. So, please help me by giving me ideas about what to blog about for the whole month of July. I already had the Favorites suggested by my best friend, whose own blog is http://www.daniellec1992.wordpress.com/ and that is going to be a five part series! I need fresh ideas please. I know that I am going to make this happen someway, somehow. All you viewers and followers out there can look forward to My Boyfriend Buys My Makeup. He really wants to do this. It is a 20 US DOLLAR makeup challenge, so you can look forward to that. I have a few other things planned for #Julamorous, but I am open to suggestions. I want this to be fun and entertaining for all of my readers and followers. This post marks off the 1st day of #Julamorous and I am certainly excited for all of the fun to come. Who knows?! There might be a giveaway, so stay tuned! And stay Glamorous!

With Love,
Hannahxoxoxo

My Crazy College Life

So, now that I am done with college for the summer, I have many things that I want to do, including finishing the last few chapters of Finding You. I am going through some health issues right now and my computer got fried during an electrical storm. So, my posts are going to be very different from now on and they are going to be done by my Kindle Fire. I am going to be doing a lot more beauty reviews and book reviews. They are just going to be done a bit differently. I cannot upload photos, but I can recycle old ones. So, it will be interesting to keep things fresh. I’m just sad, because I really like uploading photos of the product and writing really long reviews. I am going to write everything in long hand, before writing on here. I do not want to get too rambly. I am going to try to write a post everyday, but in July, I am going to be posting everyday and doing a special Julamorous. All throughout July I will be reviewing cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and other things. I am also going to be posting book reviews and writing my beauty hauls. If any fashion hauls happen, I will post that as well. I will also he doing little life updates to keep you guys posted. I want to be very active again. I am super excited! I’m posting a review of bath salts tomorrow, so check in soon!

Love Ya!

Hannah xoxo