I’ve been here :) Just quiet. I’ve been working on other projects and haven’t been as passionate about makeup lately. Working too much and not having the time to glam myself up or try new products. Life’s gotten in the way.
I’ve opened an Etsy shop where I’m selling budgeting supplies. Right now my listings are cash envelopes!
You can find me at BudgetPrincess.Etsy.com
And I’ve been working on my Youtube channel. More budgeting/money stuff. Channel name is Budget Princess if you’re interested!
Other than that… just working and finishing up my degree. I graduate in December so I’m almost there!
Yes! My favorite for contour is the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. I’ve been using it over my more high-end products because I love the natural look. Plus, it doesn’t break out my skin as much as other products.
As for blushes, I love any from Milani. Their colors are beautiful and the formulas are great too! I would also recommend Colourpop blushes.
What did you get for Christmas? I love hearing about people’s gifts!
Same! I’ve been watching “What I Got for Christmas” videos on Youtube all day :p
My boyfriend got me a Michael Kors wallet and some socks <3 My mom got me a pair of Adidas (which I desperately needed because I ripped a new hole in my old pair on Christmas eve) and a pack of my favorite beauty sponges. My sister got me a gift box from Lush with some shower gels and body lotion. I got lots of Barnes and Noble, Ulta, and Starbucks gift cards from family. My favorites :) Lastly, I’m buying myself a new iphone this weekend with cash I got from my boyfriend’s family.
I’m most grateful for being with my family and seeing my 3 year old nephew open his gifts. My grandmother is staying with us (I haven’t seen her in years) and I got to see my bff from high school and her son. We also found out my boyfriend is having another brother or sister O.O It was quite an eventful holiday!
Trying a new routine tonight. I’m testing these Garnier products for the first time. First impression is that they’re awesome! I can update you later when I have more thoughts.
10 FAVORITE MAKEUP PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR: DRUGSTORE + HIGH-END
In 2017, I came to the realization that I had way too much makeup. This was overwhelming for me because I disliked seeing a majority of my makeup sitting in a drawer and not being used. Some of my followers may have noticed that I’ve taken a long hiatus from my blog (I think January was the last time I was genuinely active). This was in part due to my no-buy attitude. I felt like I couldn’t talk to you guys about makeup if I wasn’t buying anything or trying new products.
Throughout the year, I have been de-cluttering my collection. I’ve disposed of expired products, given makeup to members of my family, and reevaluated the types of makeup I will buy in the future. This year has been full of lessons for me. As I’m taking marketing classes for my degree, I’ve come to realize just how much consumerism has effected my life and how it was unnecessary for me to live with so much stuff that was going to waste.
When I did have to find new makeup or repurchase products that I’d finished, I had to make some cutthroat decisions. I refused to spend the amount of money that I previously did on cosmetics. I love Anastasia Beverly Hills, but NYX has a fantastic brow pomade that works and looks just as great.
Now let’s get into my favorites of the year.
MORPHE X JACLYN HILL BLING BOSS EYESHADOW PALETTE
This palette surprised me. I’m a fan of both Morphe and Jaclyn Hill. I’ve had fantastic experiences with Morphe products, but with recent drama online I was having second thoughts. I was watching so many reviews on Youtube from influencers that didn’t enjoy the Vault collection. I bought this palette months after the craze died down when I saw the Morphe display in Ulta. I bought the palette on a whim because I fell in love with the colors. I was immediately inspired by this palette! I’d spent all of 2018 wearing the same warm toned reds, browns, and orange toned shadows. I was ready for a change and this palette gave me the opportunity to experiment with new colors. The mattes preformed like a dream. I haven’t had one issue with blending these shades. The shimmers are stunning! Absolutely gorgeous! They apply well with a finger or a wet brush. They really pop on my lids. I have created so many different looks with this palette. I love that all the shades compliment each other, but you can mix them in different ways and get a bomb-ass look every time. I’ve really enjoyed this palette and it’s easily become a favorite.
NYX TAME & FRAME TINTED BROW POMADE
Honestly, I was skeptical about this product. I haven’t tried very many NYX products, but the ones I have tried have been hit-and-miss. I didn’t like their translucent powder, their lipsticks can be nice (depending on the formula), and their highlighter was a chunky mess. But, I needed a brow pomade very last minute and I didn’t have many choices. This product was highly rated on all sites (Target, Ulta, Walgreens). I’m so glad that I gave this product a chance because it’s actually a really nice alternative to my favorite Anastasia Beverly Hills pomade. I bought a $2 Morphe brush to use with this product and they work very well together. This pomade doesn’t go on as harshly as the Anastasia one. It’s a much softer product, but you can build it up to get some intensity. As someone who has been using a brow pencil for years, I really appreciated that this product was easy for me to use. The only downside... I had some trouble choosing a color. The boxes don’t have a clear indication of the pomade’s color. The brown shades looked almost identical on the packaging. I was lucky that I picked the right color for me, but I definitely stood in the NYX aisle at Ulta for ten minutes going back-and-forth between shades.
MAYBELLINE DREAM CUSHION FOUNDATION
I bought this product specifically to wear to work. I wanted something that would take minimal effort in the mornings and would give me just enough coverage so that I wouldn’t look so dead to customers. This product was exactly what I was looking for! It was easy to use so I didn’t dread putting on foundation at 6 A.M. I applied the foundation with a beauty sponge from Real Techniques. The finish was great! I have dry skin, so this gave me a pretty glow. This product is marketed as luminous for all skin types, but I would have to disagree. I can sometimes look oily if I wear this foundation for too long. Thankfully, I only work 4 hour shifts so I don’t wear it for long periods of time. In the few instances that I did wear it for more than 4 hours, my skin was textured and overly dewy. I would not recommend this product for people with oily skin. This is a great product for me because it fits my needs and works with my schedule (plus it’s cheap and since I wear it every day to work it’s easy to restock when I need it).
MAYBELLINE FIT ME MATTE+PORELESS TRANSLUCENT POWDER
Again, another product that I love using on days when I want something lowkey. As someone with dry skin, this powder looks great and doesn’t crease. I normally have issues with powder because using a little too much can cause some serious texture and creasing. I have never had this problem when using the Fit Me powder. I use a fluffy brush to apply this powder on my face. This is a nice, solid product and I have no complaints! It looks great, feels great, and it doesn’t have a cheap cosmetic scent. It’s my favorite drugstore powder!
MILANI MAKE IT DEWY SETTING SPRAY (DEWY)
I ran out of my favorite setting spray: Mac Fix+. So I was in the market to try something new (and cheaper). I had seen many beauty influencers use this product on Youtube, so I definitely wanted to try it. I use this product as a setting spray and as an agent to wet shadow on a brush. Sometimes I spritz just a little bit onto a makeup sponge to blend concealer (if my face is extra day one day and I need added moisture). I’ve noticed that my mascara stays on much longer when I use this spray (which is amazing because normally my mascara bleeds). That alone sold me on this product! I also like the fine mist that comes from this bottle.
KAT VON D LOCK-IT SETTING POWDER
If you have dry skin you need this powder! I can bake my contour with this highlight without looking cakey. I put a lot of this powder on my nose where my glasses sit to really set my foundation so that when I take my glasses off for a picture I don’t get that red indentation. This also does a fantastic job of setting my undereye concealer. I love love love this product! As I mentioned before, if I use too much powder on my dry skin my texture becomes really prominent and my foundation will crease. I’ve never had that problem with this foundation!
BURT’S BEES LIP BALM
I’ve never been the girl that uses lip balm. The texture has always bothered me and the fruity flavors weren’t my thing. Honestly, lip balm was something I avoided at all costs. Until I found Burt’s Bees. I am obsessed with the products! This lip balm is so soft. I forget it’s on my lips sometimes and that’s the way I like my lip balm to feel. I use this every time I do my makeup. I put it on my lips while doing the rest of my makeup so that when I put on lipstick my lips will be hydrated.
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS LIP GLOSS IN “METALLIC ROSE”
This is my go-to lip product. My ride or die. If you see me in real life, chances are that I’m wearing this product. It’s so gorgeous. Anastasia Beverly Hills makes amazing lip glosses. They’re shiny without feeling thick and goopy on the lips. They’re extremely comfortable and wearable. I have so many great selfies with this lipstick and the shimmer just pops in the photo. Favorite lip gloss of all time!
COLOURPOP HIGHLIGHTER IN “FLEXITERIAN”
This highlight is what I live for. If I were to customize my own highlighter, this would be it. The tone is perfect! I love champagne highlights. The best thing about this product is that it is buildable. I can swipe this over my cheeks with a brush and then dab over it with a beauty sponge to get a more natural glow-from-within look. Or I can pile on this bitch with my finger, blend it out, and then top it with a Becca highlighter for a blinding highlight. I use this highlighter every day. I cannot live without it!
LOREAL INFALLIBLE PRO-GLOW CONCEALER
I have a hard time finding concealers that I like at the drugstore. This has become a new favorite of mine this year because it looks great on my dry skin. The coverage is nice and I will use it to spot-conceal. It’s helped me cover many blemishes this year. It doesn’t break out my skin, which is another issue that I have with drugstore concealers. If you have sensitive skin then I recommend this concealer!
I know my mom is worried but she had me get pepper spray because my dorm is a few blocks away from campus. She was upset over that fact that Molly (a poor girl in Iowa who was unfortunately murdered while jogging). I don’t want her to worry. I’ve got two friends plus some teammates in the same dorm. I know it’s comforting to her that I have pepper spray, but I don’t want her to worry.
I think moms will always worry. I feel that her giving you pepper spray will help give her a little piece of mind. And honestly, you can never be too safe. Maybe reassure her that you’re keeping it with you :)
Bought new makeup today and I’m getting a haircut. Who am I??!!?
The last time I bought new makeup was a year ago (since I’m trying to use everything in my collection) and the last time I got my hair cut was 3 years ago at Supercuts. I’m going to a salon today and I’m so nervous. I haven’t treated myself this much in so long!! It’s actually giving me anxiety o.o
I bet Dorkface (the boy who’s on my dorm floor) that I can handle my liquor wonderfully and now we’re challenging each other to see who can and can’t handle liquor, and good lord we’re ridiculous (we’re joking and teasing) but I am DETERMINED TO BEAT HIM. (We’ve already got opposing football teams, who’s ever team loses buys lunch) and I think this semester is going to be a hoot! (Don’t worry, we’re of age and I’ll be careful. I’ve got a friend in the same dorm who can help should I need her)
I’m happy you’re being safe! Sounds like a good outcome for both of you: a good time and lunch together :)
This isn’t a makeup question, but do you have any tips on flirting? The same boy who was on my from floor last semester is on the same floor with me again. We’ve hung out before, and recently he’s laid on some pretty cheesy lines, which I appreciate and am flattered. He’s basically a giant nerd, plays piano, sings, and is super sweet. I’m just so awkward I don’t know what to do.
Hi :) I’m happy to help! My best advice is to make a move. Ask him to hang out and do something that you both enjoy. My best advice is to let him know that you like getting to know him. And don’t be so nervous :) If you’ve hung out before and he’s been giving you some attention, he obviously doesn’t hate you so you’re already winning!! (sorry if that sounded weird but I hope you get my point)
A week ago, my boyfriend didn’t know who Jeffree Star was.
I introduced him through Shane Dawson’s series and now Jeffree has a new fan haha. My boyfriend has continued to watch the series without me and has been sending me photos of Gucci shoes he wants.
He called me from work and asked, “Have you seen the finale yet?” XD
