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Is Ipsy worth your bucks? | collab with Budgetgirl

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Makeup tea0

Hello this is Budgetgirl and I am taking over yolauralikesbeauty’s blog to give you guys some info on Ipsy and my personal thoughts for including this on my monthly budget.

Well, what is exactly is Ipsy you may ask? Ipsy is a monthly makeup subscription box that is $10 a month. This box includes a make up bag with 4-5 different products. The items are mostly full size products, which is great! I am not much of a makeup girl so when I receive these items they are great for me because they hook me up for the month. All you really need is a good lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow and bronzer and you’re set!

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Benefits:

  • You get to try out new products
  • Products are small and travel size
  • You get the essentials; mascara, lipsticks, eye liner
  • You get more than what you pay for
  • Cute new makeup bag every month

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So is it worth the price?

Absolutely! You only pay $10 and you get 5 items! That is an amazing deal, and trust me you will use everything you have. I have not had to purchase a new Mascara for months! All the sample products I’ve received have lasted me for ever. I got a shimmer stick that I literally use every day.

I’ve received products from:

  • Smashbox
  • Tarte cosmetics
  • Benefit
  • Ciate
  • And so much more…….

Customizable:

You can include your skin tone, eye color, level of expertise with make up and so much more. Each Ipsy bag is catered to you! Do you like skin products? Well you can include that when you choose what products you are interested in.

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Thank you so much laura, for collaborating with me! Two budget girls with awesome taste just HAD to join forces. Keep doing you girl!

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Here is a review I did for my March 2017 glam bag;

https://www.budgetgirlife.com/single-post/2017/03/16/IPSY-March-2017-glam-bag-review

Check my out on in the interwebz:

Blog: https://www.budgetgirlife.com/

Instagram: @Budgetgirlife_blog

Racism in the Beauty Industry #1 | Kathleenlights is Racist

Beauty, Makeup tea0

There has been A LOT of drama in the beauty industry as of late. Most of it is tied to racism. These are conversations we need to have because YouTubers and beauty gurus think they’re devoid of criticism because they label it a mistake. They weren’t actually sorry; they’re just sorry they got caught. At this point, there’s no need for crocodile tears.

This is the case with esteemed Miami YouTuber Kathleenlights. She said the N word on Jaclyn Hill’s SnapChat. This is the reality: Jaclyn Hill is a snake. She claimed she didn’t hear Kathleen and her husband telling her to not post the SnapChat. If your “friend” is saying something risque or problematic, chances are you wouldn’t’ post them doing that, right? This isn’t slander; this is REALITY.

Kathleen went on Twitter to address the fiasco and as expected, fans weren’t happy. She apologized, BUT it was faulty ?‍♀️ This is why:

(1) She said that’s a word that’s not in her vocabulary and that she was just drunk ? Um, no lmao. You don’t say words that are not in your vocabulary when you’re drunk. Chances are, you’re very true to yourself when drunk. Your true colors come. Her colors point she’s racist. NEXT ?

1.png (2) She said she’s very sorry she did it, BUT she never said why it’s wrong. She was quick to beg for forgiveness, but not address the issue of the word at hand. White passing Hispanics can be racist, and I say that as a fellow Hispanic myself. YES, the N word makes you racist. It’s a derogatory term and it isn’t permissible ☝️

2 (3) A few days passed and she started saying that at the end of the day, she and her loved ones “know her heart”…so they know you’re racist? Congrats lmao ? NOT AN EXCUSE. We all have that one racist family member that we love dearly, but we know they’re in the wrong. They can be great, but they’re racist, and that makes them less great ?‍♀️

3.png However, her white fans came to the rescue to kiss her ass and shelter her. They also made it clear that they forgive her and that she’s amazing, even though that’s not their place and her “amazingness” is besides the point ?

4.png Having black family, being half-black or being fully black DOES NOT doesn’t give you permission to excuse people for saying the N word. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR AN ENTIRE GROUP ?

65 Other fans admired her too much to call her out, but wanted her to acknowledge what she did wasn’t okay:

7.png I was pissed and commented on her video that she needs to address this issue. And yes, you guessed it; more white fans came to her rescue! ?‍♀️?

910111213 Listen, Kathleen is a grown ass woman. I don’t care about what kind of anxiety she suffers. Mental illnesses are not excuses for racism. Hiding behind your fans and not directly discussing the matter on YouTube, which is her largest platform, proves she’s a coward and a racist. As seen in the comments from her fans above, they said she apologized on Twitter, but she made her account private…so much for an apology lol…

I couldn’t care less if it’s harsh; it’s the truth. She’s someone famous who had a massive slip-up and can’t even address it. PR students, this is a great example of what NOT to do in a crisis management situation lmao. Whoever manages her failed. She’s NOT a victim; don’t fall for her game of victimization. This extends beyond the beauty industry and has always existed within the makeup community; they’re capable of great damage and MUST be held accountable. Mark my words, this WILL happen again, and next time it won’t be as innocent as she’s playing it off right now.

Hold your favorites celebrities accountable. We all have problematic faves, but there’s a line. You choose who you support and watch, but remember this. If you keep watching a racist on YouTube, you’re making that racist richer. Use your time and dollars wisely ?

What do you think of Kathleenlights and what she did? How do you feel about this series so far? Who or what else needs to be addressed?! ??

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter. Thanks for reading! ? 

e.l.f. “Flirtatious” Luxe Lash Kit

Beauty, On Fridays we wear falsies0

What better way to start off the weekend than with some falsies?!

I had an e.l.f. haul a few months ago and saw that they had some new lashes. They’re AMAZING. Wayyy better than House of Lashes imo ??‍♀️

These are the e.l.f. Flirtatious Luxe Lash Kit. I also think that these lashes compliment my eye shape and look great with winged eyeliner. I feel like I run into my lashes not matching up well with my eye makeup.

These lashes are also very lightweight! The band is the perfect thickness and I feel like these are easy to pop on. I sometimes feel like some lashes I own don’t stick regardless of the glue I use.

How do you feel about this lil series? Maybe I should make this consistent and recommend my favorite lashes and pair them with kinds of eye looks!

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

NY Itinerary for Makeup Lovers, Museum Geeks + Foodies

Beauty, Things besides the glam, Travel0

As you might’ve seen, I went to New York for Labor Day Weekend. I made makeup shopping one of my trip’s main objectives ? I also threw in some clothes shopping. Below is my itinerary and some tidbits from the stores I visited!

Day 1

  • e.l.f. Studio

SO BEAUTIFUL! Wow, this store was breathtaking! It was tiny, but it suited e.l.f.’s vibes and product range. e.l.f. has a lot of products, and I feel like the store layout emphasized that. Is it weird that their store reminded me of their website lol?

  • Superdry

This was across the street from the e.l.f. Store. The Japanese letters on the outside caught my attention because my boyfriend visited Japan and loved it. I wanted to go inside to see if I found him something, and I ended finding things for myself instead lmaooo. Got him something, too ?

  • SoHo

OH. MY. GOODNESS. SOHO IS A DREAM.

I didn’t stay for long because I was hungry, so I went to get some food. I came back afterwards.

  • Tacombi Fonda Nolita

BEST MEXICAN FOOD OF MY LIFE. HANDS DOWN. AND AMAZING SERVICE. Learn, Miami!! It was very spicy. I can’t even handle mild spiciness lmao, but it was delicious!! I don’t even know how I handled it. It was the perfect touch for my quesadilla.

I also had the BEST guac of my life here. So fresh and so perfect. I’m so speechless. Chipotle guac feels soooo mediocre now compared to this. This food was so authentic overall and now I can’t settle for faux Mexican food.

And I tried my first Modelo beer. I’ve had better lol, but it was still a great touch for the meal!

And we’re back to shopping!

  • Uniqlo SOHO

I loved this store in France. I prefer that one over this one in SOHO, but it was still nice to look at. Maybe it’s because all the winter clothes were rolling out here, and I don’t need that in Miami lol.

  • Forever 21

Cutest Forever 21 I’ve ever been to! It has an additional floor below, which was so cool to me. There was so much variety and even the men’s section had a great selection. I like this one more than all of the ones in Miami.

  • Ricky’s NYC

It’s been a dream of mine to visit Ricky’s because they’ve liked my Instagram pictures a few times. When I say this is makeup heaven, I’m not exaggerating! So many great online and professional brands are sold here. The staff is also super friendly and knowledgeable.

The best part of all is that mostly everything was in stock! Similar stores to this back home, like The Makeup Club Fl. in Hollywood has almost everything out of stock consistently and that’s so annoying ?

  • St. Ives Mixing Bar

I was super excited to visit the St. Ives Mixing Bar, but I was gravely disappointed when I realized the products were over the carry on travel limits. I traveled with a carry on because it was a weekend trip.

You can basically create your own lotions, face scrubs and face washes here!

I love St. Ives’s products, so I was nearly crushed that I couldn’t make my own products lol.

  • Artists & Fleas – Chelsea

I was also super excited to come to Artist & Fleas to buy some Pamela Barsky (@pamelabarsky) goodies! I found her on Instagram, and I love her work. She makes the cutest pouches with hilarious phrases. Check her out!

  • Carlo’s Bakery – Hoboken, NJ

I’ve seen snippets here and there of Cake Boss and I was also curious about his desserts. I decided that if I were to visit the Cake Boss, it had to be the original one ?

I took a PATH train to New Jersey and eagerly waited in line to try his cannoli. He’s said on his show to try it. There was even 2 TV screen inside on loop talking about the shop and how the cannoli is a must-have…It was okay lmao. It was my first cannoli ever, but i expected more ☹️

  • Whitney Museum of Art

I was the most excited to visit the Whitney Museum of American Ar! I’ve seen some of their pieces thanks to my Instagram feed, and I was so intrigued.

The museum was way better than I imagined. The first floor I visited, the top one, had Alexander Calder works. I nearly died!!! I’ve been dying to see his art. I wanted to see his exhibit at the Tate. I had no idea his works were in NY, so I was pleasantly surprised.

The other floors were just as amazing or even better. This museum chronicles pivotal moments in American history. There’s even works in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality. It was beautifully curated and displayed. These works are so relevant and capture the triumph of socio -political movements. It’s interesting to see the year these were made because some of these issues and movements still persist. This is a must-see. It totally puts the American experience for non-white folks into perspective. It’s an amazing way to expand your horizons, so check it out if you’re ever in New York!

Even the stairs showcased an exhibit!

  • Vinnie’s Pizzeria

After a long day of shopping and indulging in fabulous art, I scarfed down the best pizza I’ve ever had. This lil spot is almost easy to miss because it’s tucked into a shopping center. There aren’t many seats inside, so I was lucky to snag a booth. The only downside is that they only accept cash, but they conveniently have an ATM right inside the restaurant. You gotta have the chicken parm pizza and barbecue pizza like I did! ?

Don’t forget the garlic knots!

Day 2 – Sun. Sept. 3

  • Food Tour of NYC — Murray’s Cheese Shop

I really wanted to do something different in New York this time around. I wanted to learn more about New York’s culture and history, so I stumbled upon Foods of NY Tours. I actually searched for things to do a second time in New York.

I’m a very picky eater, so I was looking forward to expanding my horizons! I was pretty nervous if I must be honest lmaooo. I also wanted to have New York’s best eats and this was great way to do it.

Meatball in marinara sauce

Eggplant rollatini

Chocolate chip cookie

Cannoli

I won’t share the names of these places just so you can check out the tour. Support a local business! ?

This tour shows how New York came to be the melting pot it is today. My tour guide Steven was excellent. He was very informative and made the tour very lighthearted. He had great recommendations outside of the food tour as well. I also enjoyed interacting the people on the tour. They were so friendly!

I highly recommend the specific tour I did — Greenwich Village. It’s some of the most diverse and delightful food I’ve ever had!

  • SoHo

Of course I went back to look at what else I can snag ?

  • Palma

Steven highly recommended eating at Palma. He said it was so romantic and the type of place you take the love of your life too lol. I agree with him. It’s such a nice and sultry atmosphere. The ambiance feels so chic. I felt important there lmao. The service and food were fantastic. I also had the best rosé I’ve ever had here.

I left my heart in Greenwich Village! ?

Day 3 – Mon. Sept. 4

  • Joe’s Pizza

I thought Vinnie’s Pizzeria was the best. Girl, I was wrong. Joe’s Pizza is on another level. I loved it so much on the food tour (only place I’ll share lol) that I had to have to again. It’s indisputable why this is considered the best pizza in New York. And of course I had it for breakfast [upside down smiling emoji]

  • Sephora

You know I had to visit Sephora on this trip. Naturally, I had to go big, so I went to the one in Times Square ?

Biggest one I’ve ever been in!

  • Superdry Times Square

And of course I had to visit Superdry…again… ?

  • MET Museum

And the last thing I had to do before jumping on a flight back home was visit an art museum. I checked it different exhibits this time around — Chinese art, Japanese art, Korean art, Egyptian art and some Australian art. I swung by for a bit around the modern art exhibit and found some works I didn’t see last year in New York.

I love you, New York!

What are your favorite thing to do in New York? Do you love it as much as me and want to plan an annual trip lol?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Beauty Influencers and the Power of their Platforms

Beauty, Makeup tea0

YouTube has grown and changed exponentially in the past 5 years. Many people are making a career out of YouTube videos and possibly online sponsorships. It’s increasingly becoming a career option for many people seeking to be their own boss. As a YouTuber, you are essentially a brand and manage yourself as a business. It’s also a dream or option for makeup enthusiasts and artists. However, only a select few get the opportunity to become a YouTube sensation.

With YouTube fame, there comes unsaid responsibility and power. Large platforms grant a pundit and an audience that’s most likely going to listen to you religiously. If you’re a budding or hot makeup guru, it’s guaranteed that products will sell out if they have your blessing. Your reviews are golden and consumers will sometimes not buy a product until you review and recommend it.

This clout and influence is powerful. It begs the question about how it should be used. Some beauty gurus boldly and unapologetically talk about other topics on their channel and platforms. A handful expressed negative sentiments towards Trump. Others chose a non-confrontational approach and encourage general action like voting. It’s a sticky subject because some audience members say it’s not a YouTuber’s place to discuss such topics. They claim that they’re not qualified enough to discuss it.

Others prefer no controversial topics to have a safe space. I have to disagree with those wanting a “safe space.” I want people to be awake and discuss uncomfortable issues. That makes me feel safe because it lets me know that the people I essentially support financially with my views aren’t complacent and care about regular people like me.

I’m not an influential member of the beauty community, so I can’t speak on behalf of the ones that are. However, even as a micro-blogger (barely) and a consumer, I feel like my opinion is valuable and worth mentioning. I wish I had a larger platform, so I can advocate for things like corporate responsibility, brands with questionable behavior and boycotting problematic brands. The only way to get to that larger platform is by discussing those issues NOW.

We, as the audience, have the power, believe it or not. The same way you choose who’s worthy enough to be your friend is the same way you should choose the media you consume or who you help become richer.

I had to say this and bring it to the forefront because I plan to discuss and dissect unsettling things taking place in the beauty industry. The beauty industry is too saturated with talent for us, as consumers, to be supporting the problematic ones. Remember, influencers are NOTHING without our support. Some people may think it’s not that deep, but anything involving money is complex. Are you really going to give money away to bad companies and people when you have choices?

I’m going to be using my voice to demand better from brands and influencers. Are you?

Stay tuned…

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Makeup Souvenirs | Study Abroad 2017

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Things besides the glam, Travel0

I caught the travel bug last summer and decided to uphold my makeup souvenir tradition in my new adventure. I signed up for study abroad a few weeks after I came back from New York for the first time. I visited Spain, Morocco and France. BEST AND WILDEST MONTH OF MY LIFE.

I was SO HYPED to visit Sephora in Europe, especially after I read that sephora is a French company and their HQ is in Paris *squeals* lmaooo. I’m pretty sad to report that I was gravely disappointed ? Europe doesn’t have all the brands American Sephoras have. I should’ve expected that because not all brands are all allowed to sell in Europe or just don’t. Nonetheless, I found great things to take back with me to the states!

Study abroad things: calling the U.S. “the states” and avidly comparing everything to home lol

Spain:

Let’s just appreciate this view from my room. I stayed in Madrid for 5 days (I think lol). I was in Petit Palace in Gran Via (excellent hotel btw). To my surprise, there was a Kiko Milano store 2 minutes away. I visited the Miami store in Sawgrass Mall the weak before coming to Europe. I almost screamed lmaoooo.

I went inside and fell in love. The product line felt expanded. Kiko seemed hot because many lipsticks were sold out, including some I wanted ?

I ended up picking up another lipstick: Kiko Milano Smart Fusion lipstick in 434 Chestnut. This was like a cooler/ more neutral version of Mac Velvet Teddy in my eyes. Mac Velvet Teddy looked warmer and pinkier on me.

Chestnut on the left; Velvet Teddy on the right.

This lipstick was a light, creamy matte. It was so flattering and the perfect everyday nude to wear in Europe. I also think it wore nicely even after I ate. I was tempted to buy 10 more, but I decided that I should wait considering Europe had more makeup waiting for me and it was only the third day ? I really enjoyed this formula!

I rate the Kiko MilanoSmart Fusion lipstick in 434 Chestnut 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found a Sephora about 10 minutes away from my hotel on the way to Museo Nacional Del Prado and decided to pick up a Beauty Blender. One of my classmates said it was cheaper in Europe than Miami so I ran to pick one up lmao, but it was closed.

Museo Nacional Del Prado ?

I finally went to Sephora when I went to Sevilla and picked it up. I actually tried the pink Beauty Blender back home, but hated it. I think I got a faulty one because it was oddly shaped when it got wet. I’ve always heard the black one is the best one and that always low-key pissed me off because a color shouldn’t affect how good a sponge is ?

Excuse my dusty beauty blender ?

I ended up really enjoying the Beauty Blender. It’s good, but I don’t think it’s as magical as YouTube made it seem lol. I owned the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge before and loved it. They honestly feel exactly the same to me. I feel like neither sucks up a lot of product and that neither leaves streaks. Also, the sponges also help foundation look smooth and great on my skin.

I feel like the only differences between the two is that the RT one is larger when wet and has a flat side great for cutting the cheeks with powder to bake and blending out cream contour. The Beauty Blender is great for precise blending because the tip is slightly more precise.

I rate the black Beauty Blender, and conversely the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Morocco:

Yeah no lol we couldn’t even eat food that wasn’t provided by our tour guide ??

France:

Even before my trip to Europe began, I dreamt of going to a Sephora in Paris. I visited the one in Champ Elysees and I nearly died of excitement lmfao. THERE WAS A RED CARPET LEADING INTO THIS SEPHORA; I FELT SO ROYAL.

I was set on buying a French company’s makeup in Paris. It just felt like the right thing to do. I decided to try MakeUp Forever’s new liquid lipstick. You can BET I almost cried when I saw that this Sephora didn’t have it. This Sephora was so large and the biggest one I’ve ever been in, so I couldn’t believe it. Like damn. I was crushed lmao. I decided to pick up their traditional lipsticks instead.

MUFE has such an extensive shade range in their lipsticks and foundations! I swatched like 10 lipsticks before deciding on the one I bought. I got MakeUp Forever Artist Rouge lipstick in shade M102.

This lipstick is breathtaking. It has such an amazing and lightweight formula. It’s sheer, but the pigmentation still packs a punch. This color looks so natural and stunning on my lips. It makes my lips look juicy, making it perfect for days where I barely wear makeup or focus on my skin. It surprisingly doesn’t bleed, despite being so sheer. Also, the packing is very sleek and feels expensive; I’m not really one to care about packaging, but this cost a pretty penny and it was so worth it!

I rate the the MakeUp Forever Artist Rouge lipstick M102 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you been makeup shopping in another country? Have you tried anything I’ve tried? Are my reactions in the Sephora in Paris too dramatic lmaooo?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Makeup Souvenirs | NYC 2016

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Things besides the glam, Travel0

Summer of 2016 was big for me. It was the first time I visited New York; I went with my family. It was also the first time I began to truly love a city. I mostly traveled within Florida or to the Dominican Republic to visit family. You can definitely say I caught the travel bug that summer and that it motivated me to go on study abroad ?

I decided to start a new tradition during that New York trip — buy makeup as souvenirs. That way, I’d be reminded of that trip whenever I used the product. Seeing the Mac store in Times Square was my excuse for this tradition lmaoooo.

I was so mesmerized when entered that store. I was already floating and felt like I was in heaven when I first got to Times Square, so this elevated me to new heights. The Mac store in New York is small, but beautiful. It’s carefully decorated to match their current campaigns; it was Trolls at that time.

Once I registered that this was real life and not a dream lol; I decided to buy Mac Velvet Teddy. I owned the supposed dupe of this: Milani Teddy Bare.

Funny story: one of the employees asked what lipstick I was looking for and I said Teddy Bare instead of Velvet Teddy lmaoooo. She must’ve thought I was lame because I mentioned a drugstore name in a high end place. Her facial expression said it all ?

This lipstick was NOTHING like the dupe. Velvet Teddy is the most beautiful and softest nude. Don’t get me wrong; I love Milani Teddy Bare and it’s the lipstick I’ve used the most, but this was lighter and a lot less rosy. Teddy Bare is a light pinky nude that’s like my lips but better. It’s also matte, where Teddy Bare is satin.

I’ve heard people bad mouth Mac matte lipsticks, but I actually love it. It is a little drier than my other matte lipsticks when I apply it, but it doesn’t bother me. I don’t think it weirdly accentuates my lip lines either. It’s just perfect and looks lovely paired with a deep brown lip liner — like NYX Rose Brown lip liner.

I rate Mac Velvet Teddy 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What souvenirs do you usually look for when you travel? Am I the only one to have felt star struck in Times Square lol? What are your fave lipsticks?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Wet N Wild Gel Polish Review

Affordable, Makeup Product Reviews0

Long time no see… ? I didn’t correctly welcome myself back in yesterday’s post! I came back from study abroad and I’m finally getting settled with my blog again! I have lots of interesting things to share. However, let’s focus on some nail polish I’ve been using for quite some time: 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color.

I first bough this nail polish last year when Kathleenlights was raving about it. Disclaimer: whatever Kathleenlights says goes. Naturally, I picked up the first color on the left: Condensed Milk. 

This color, unfaithful to its stickers on the bottle, is a neutral nude polish. It isn’t streaky, but it’s fully opaque with two coats.

The brush tip is pretty large, making it easier to coat the nail with one dip into the bottle. I can get away with painting my smaller nails with one stroke.

As for the wear of this nail polish, it definitely doesn’t last 2 weeks like a typical gel manicure. I can get a good week out of this nail polish without major chips. I get tiny lil chips at the sides and ends of my nails that aren’t noticeable until I examine my nail or look at them in a specific angle.

This nail polish is more suited for those that change their polish color weekly. I’m that person ?? so this polish meets my needs. I only rock nail polish for 2 weeks when I have acrylic nails.

I think the price and color range are excellent. At only $5, you’re getting a nice manicure for a week with nice colors seen at nail salons. Wet N Wild recently added 3 new shades, further catering to the need to have our nails looking fleeky.

If you enjoy weekly, at-home manicures, I give this nail polish a 4/5. If you seek manicures that last at least 10 days without major chips, this won’t be your jam and it’ll be a 3/5.

What nail polishes do you recommend? I can’t stand OPI or Essie ??

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Favorite False Eyelashes

Makeup Product Reviews0

I love to make a look “extra” with some false eyelashes. If I’m in the mood to feel glam, I’ll draw a sharp wing, pop on some falsies and wear a bright or bold lipstick.

My favorite kind of lashes are the ones that are wispy and seemingly feathered. It’s hard to find styles like these are affordable. I just can’t bring myself to purchase $20+ mink lashes!

Luckily, I stumbled across my ideal falsie style on eBay. Yes, eBay. They don’t really have a name so click here! eBay is actually a hot spot and my preferred place for buying eyelashes. My favorite in store alternative are Ardell and Andrea Lashes.


Makeup details: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in Medium Brown, e.l.f. Cosmetics Clear Brow Gel, Kat Von D Beauty Tattoo Liner in Trooper + Wet N Wild, Maybelline Big Shot Mascara

I meaaaaannnnn, these lashes are so sultry and delicious lmao. The band is perfect and feels comfortable on my eyes. I can barely feel these eyelashes when I wear them. They blend easily into my natural lashes.

I know that some people might be skeptical about purchasing anything related to cosmetics from eBay, but it’s all about trial and error! It’s so affordable and worth trying. I honestly haven’t had a miss yet, so I’ll keep trying. Expect more eBay makeup reviews!

Would you try these lashes and more from eBay? ?  Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook ?

Empties #1 2017

Makeup Product Reviews0

Something I find difficult to do is use up makeup and beauty products. I feel like I have enough products to last me for a couple years without replenishing them. Cosmetics products, for the most part, bring a great amount of product, in my opinion. Whenever I use up a product, I get excited lmao. It’s an opportunity to repurchase it or try something new.

I’ll create a list every few months or so with my “empties.” I’ll give mini reviews and go more in depth later on. I think it’s cool to track what I use up, so I can cap the amount I’d ideally spend on these products and make a list of new ones to try. Let’s begin discussing my empties ?

Eyebrow pencils— the products I use the fastest. I use about one pencil a month! ?

  • L’Oréal Brow Stylist in Brunette (3) — MY FAVORITE BROW PENCIL OF ALL TIME❗️  Nothing compares to this. I’ve tried several other eyebrow pencils and this still owns my heart. Precise tip, ideal amount of pigmentation and stiffness + best color to match my brows.
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil — a good brow pencil from the drugstore. The colors pull red, so be careful. I’d repurchase if I was in a pinch.
  • e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil in Natural (2) — amazing brow pencil at such an amazing price; its $2❗️ The color is great for a natural brow lol hence the color). The tip is a lil thick, so concealer clean-up is required.

Mascara

  • L’Oréal Telescopic Mascara — would totally repurchase! It’s my favorite mascara of all time…so far. I feel like I can love another mascara more, though. It lengthens, separates and darkens my lashes. It looks great with eyeshadow and doesn’t make falsies necessary. (I truly feel that not all mascaras are meant to pair with eyeshadow. I’ll elaborate l8r ?).

Skincare

  • Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening and Smoothing Daily Moisturizer — great moisturizer with sunscreen + looks nice under makeup. It’s not my favorite, though. Sometimes it makes my skin slightly burn for a few seconds. I’d repurchase if I tried other lotions and didn’t like them. Still on the hunt for my fave.
  • Garnier Micellar Water Waterproof (3) — BEST MAKEUP REMOVER ON EARTH❗️ I’ve used 3 bottles of this❗️ Nothing has taken off my makeup quicker and better. Best part is that I don’t have to wash my face afterwards (even though I have the habit of doing so).
  • Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater (2) — CHANGED MY SKIN AND MAKEUP FOREVER❗️ It provides the necessary hydration for my dry skin so my foundation doesn’t look like cake batter. This made me like foundation.
  • Rainwater Botanicals Intensive Eye Cream with Antioxidant — I bought this from an Etsy shop per the recommendation of a friend. I bought the sample size and it transformed my undereyes! I’m still on the hunt for the best eye cream before I decide to splurge on this (full size is a lil pricey).

Lips

  • Aquaphor Lip Repair — LIFE SAVER❗️ Lips are instantly rejuvenated if you sleep with this on. I can’t live without this. I don’t leave my house or go to sleep without it. S/o to my former coworker Brittany for putting me on this.

Concealer

  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer  — first concealer I ever owned. Great for highlighting, concealing pimples and using as a light base layer when I’m not feeling foundation. Also great for cleaning up my brows and evening out yellow foundations. Repurchasing UNTIL I DIE❗️
  • Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer – same as above, but I like this a bit more because it’s pretty pink toned and that’s my skin’s undertone (well that + neutral). Love this for priming my eyelids as well. I need both of these concealers at the same time.

Eyeliner

  • Maybelline Master Skinny Gel Pencil (2) — I love how skinny this is. I can easily line my upper and lower waterline. It’s long wearing for my upper waterline. I’m in the market for a better one; I feel like there’s something better out there!

 

Which of these products have you tried and what’s your thoughts on them? What do you recommend I try instead? ?

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Photo Editing: Harmless or Lying?

Makeup tea0

Even if you’re not involved in the makeup community online, you have surely heard about the stigma and controversy around retouching images. Well-done and flawless makeup is immediately labeled as Photoshopped. Any sort of adjustment is scorned online.

What people neglect to discuss is the degree of photo editing. Editing a picture to bring out its true colors is not a crime; it is something you must do as a digital photographer. Many photographers have told me that every picture NEEDS to be edited to some degree. Adjusting the picture’s aesthetic just crafts the image to the photographer’s vision.

However, there are beauty influencers that alter their pictures significantly and lie about products. You’ve seen it all if you’re interested in makeup — smoothed out pores and lips, no sights of pimples, altered colors, etc.

Bloggers will tell you that a product hides their pores when it’s actually the trusty clone stamp tool on Photoshop. They lie because they’re after coins like Pac-Man. Some brands convince bloggers to lie about product performance in exchange for money. They just want positive reviews and will do anything to obtain that. The guiltiest culprit of this is Gerard Cosmetics; we can discuss that another day 😉

Not all photo editing is this extreme or done with malign intentions, though. Sometimes you’re having a bad skin day and want to edit out a problem area. You’re can just be showcasing your work and not promoting the product to cover up your troublesome spots. You shouldn’t feel guilty for doing that; even event photographers do that for their clients.

I’ve actually done that myself. I edited the first picture below to remove a troublesome pimple. I was doubting myself when I did this, but all I did was show a look. I didn’t claim that a miracle product did this for me. I just wanted the picture to look nicer. I was feeling everything but that pimple.

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Editing out that pimple didn’t mean that I’m insecure with myself. Another assumption about the makeup community is that women wear makeup because they’re insecure or edit pictures to purposely deceive others. UM NO LOL. Sometimes we just want to feel and look flawless and that’s totally up to us ?

I liked how the edited picture came out and decided to edit another one. Mind you, my clone stamp tool skills are still very premature, but I’ll soon be a wizard ?

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I posted the first edited picture and not the second one because I don’t think I did a great job lol. It was interesting to see how the image would’ve looked if I wasn’t breaking out a bit and having trouble with my pores. These edited pictures honestly motivated me to uphold my skincare routine more religiously lol. I want my skin to look that good forever!

Editing pictures doesn’t make you a bad person if you’re not trying to fool your audience. We all know the problematic faves of the beauty community that edit their pictures to make their highlight pop even more, smooth away their pores when “truthfully” reviewing their products and denying it all. Maybe that’s a topic for another day ??☕️

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Illamasqua Refuses to Stay Silent | Controversial Brands

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Beauty seemed to be the one of the few places unsoiled by politics. Illamasqua changed that forever when they announced their Anti-Facist Pledge.

Basically, in order to purchase Illamasqua products, you must pledge to their Human Fundamentalism values. They are advocating against discrimination and urging others to join the fight for human rights. They claimed to be realistic about this and urged consumers to not purchase from them if they disagree with their views or casted a vote for Donald Trump.

Illamasqua’s statement is very bold and can seem like a PR taboo for most companies. Picking a side in what seems like one of the most divisive elections of this nation can be very tricky. Our lovey ex Uber picked Trump’s side and is facing very serious repercussions from consumers. #DeleteUber was born and was easily the company’s worst nightmare.

Consumers want companies to take a political stance. Consumers seek for their favorite brands and companies to share and upload their same values. The brands that stay quiet are questioned and potentially boycotted. Brands and companies have no choice; either you’re standing with your consumers or you’re forced to find new ones.

Illamasqua’s stance was very unique. When Starbucks took a stance, they pledged to hire more refugees and offered legal assistance to their employees in response to the latest executive order on immigration. Apple openly criticized the executive order on immigration and the revocation of trans students’ bathroom rights. Illamasqua declared their views on Trump, but also declared that “they will never knowingly sell their products to people who support President Trump’s values.”

This statement was very striking and certainly garnered Illamasqua a lot of attention. It could’ve been a publicity stunt because no brand has gone as far as to bar Trump supporters. It could also be seen as hypocritical because Illamasqua clearly used Blackface in one of their campaigns and didn’t really give an apology, yet they’re criticizing Trump for his discriminatory policies and unjust actions.

I applaud a brand that proudly takes a stance against injustice, but I am forced to question the basis. For example, Starbucks openly supported immigrants, but they treat their coffee farmers very poorly. They claimed to have a system to help these farmers, but some of these farmers said otherwise. On a more local level, they also exploited their employees. I now know to take Starbucks’s statements as a grain of salt.

Apple also had their scandals, not limited to child labor and workers committing suicide because of the poor and extreme working conditions. Apple is a titan in the technology industry, so this is something to be wary of when lusting over their products.

Granted, brands can change, but as consumers, we must be aware of the brand’s behavior, past statements and their objectives. Illamasqua took a stance a against Trump, but stayed silent during the Brexit situation, which was also a very hot topic and apart of the brand’s reality. They are a British company and their headquarters are in London. Why did they stay quiet about Brexit, but not about Trump? Why pick and choose? Why not consistently fight for causes? Using social issues and controversial topics is only worthwhile as marketing and PR material if you consistently fight for those causes.

I am all for respecting others and guaranteeing everyone the rights they deserve. With that being said, I have to disagree with Illamasqua’s statement. The American two-party system has failed us all, led to a lot of pent up frustration and created the election we endured in November 2016. Everyone has their reasons to vote for certain candidates. People very dear and near to me have disagreed with me politically and it upset me at first, but then I put down my mental walls and heard them out.

I admit that I am very opposed to Trump, but I give others the benefit of the doubt to understand them. If we are going to progress as a nation, we must hear others out. Some of his supporters are wild and hateful, but they don’t represent all of them. The same goes for liberals being depicted as being thoughtless Millennials; they are just a slice of the cake.

I am not promoting the toleration of his policies; I am promoting the right we have to think freely and speak freely. Illamasqua is essentially undermining democracy and their human rights pledge by choosing to single out his supporters. Not all Trump supporters are radical KKK members. Not all liberals actually care about the causes they claim to devote themselves to. We are people, our ideas are diverse and we are allowed to act like people and have our own ideas. Nonetheless, it is a shame they didn’t care enough to speak about this in their own country because Brexit was also rooted in discrimination.

Everyone has a reason for believing what they do. People really thought that Trump would champion change and his actions are saying otherwise, but that’s a topic for another day ?  just remember that you vote with your wallet. Illamasqua is never getting my vote!

The majority of the brands we support have an ugly past and it’s up to us to pick and choose what aligns with our morals and value. Learn more about controversial brands in my past blog post. Feel free to give suggestions so that the list can grow!

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