Interactive! 7 Things For 7 Days! || September

Hello There!

 August has finally come to an end, and not a moment too soon. I am ready to throw on my boots and chunky sweaters, and get cosy with some hot tea! But I have to admit that I have not exactly followed through with everything I wanted to do.

HERE'S the blog post to join in the fun!

Exercise:: Ha ha! That's funny. After my job a tennis instructor ended, I did not do squat. I just wanted a break from exercise before my insane dance schedule at school. I did exercise this summer, but not quite as much as I would have liked to. 

Eat Healthily:: I do eat healthily, but I was not eating "more healthily" than before. Is that a fail? Who can tell. 

Craft:: I will be making some crafts this weekend, so this one is technically a success! I will be DIYing some jeans and makings some bracelets. Would you like to see them?

Journal:: I have been journaling a lot more than usual, and really enjoying it! I have really been making an effort to journal, and it has been paying off! I feel a lot more calm and relaxed, and it's a good feeling. I think I will be journaling a lot more often. 

Check Off My List:: I have picked up almost everything I need on almost all of my lists. There are a few things I still need, but otherwise I am set for fall! 

Shop Less:: I have been shopping less as well! Even though I only buy things bit by bit, and not in one big haul, I had been controlling my urge to pick up little bits and bobs here and there, and I am doing well. I would like to save up for some big things, like an Inglot palette, or a cute pair of shoes. 

Enjoy:: For the last few days of summer, I was racing to finish homework. I had loads of summer assignments, and it was a lot more work than I had expected. I was very stressed, and I was unable to enjoy the finals days of vacation. But we have some breaks coming up, and I need to promise myself that I will just RELAX. Wish me luck?

~Success: 4/7~

So what are my plans for September?

Stay De-stressed:: I can predict that I will be stressed this year, so I will do my best to relax during breaks and on the weekends, and just take a breather when I feel like I need to pull my hair out.

No Sweats:: I am making a pact that I will try not to wear sweats to school. While it may seem silly, I feel more put together when I am not wearing sweats. Plus, I have so many nice things to wear, I want to try to wear my clothes before I wear my sweat pants and jumpers. 

More natural makeup:: I have been wearing fun and wild makeup recently, and have really been experimenting with bright colors. However, I have been breaking out quite a bit and I think it's partially because I have been wearing a lot of face makeup recently. I am planning on wearing just concealer and powder, or just powder if I think my skin is a lot better. I will let you know how I get on, and perhaps review some concealers?

Lots more sleep:: I am going to try to get more sleep this year. Not only do I think it makes me more stressed when I don't rest, but I work harder and I am more energized when I have at least 5 hours of sleep. So I will work to manage my time so I can get to bed by 10:30. 

Blog every day:: When I started this blog, I was blogging every day, and I really enjoyed it. I stopped when I got overwhelmed with school work, but now I want to start blogging again, and do it consistently. I will try my best to blog every day, but don't hold me to it!

Use my day:: Some days I feel like the day has just wasted away, and all I have done is sit on the couch watching "Two and A Half Men" re-runs while eating yogurt. So my goal is to do one productive thing each day. Today I went to school, and that's good enough for me. I just hate to think I have been unproductive. I'm one of those kinds of people. 

Keep my room clean:: I can be lazy when it comes to cleaning my room, but I hate to walk in and find it looking so messy. So I want to just put my clothes away when I take them off instead of throwing them on my chair. 

While I did not exactly succeed in August, I plan to be victorious in September! This is such a great idea, and you should do it too! Le me know if you have, and I may just noodle around on your blog! I will check back in in October. It seems such a long way away.

What things are you trying to accomplish this month? 

xx BB

~If you want to see Sprinkle of glitter's blog, it's here!~

Tweet Pet Peeves!

Hello There!

Today I thought I would do a chatty post. As an avid blogger and tweeter, I spend much of my time looking at Twitter, and I have come to find some things that people tweet that make me go "Arghh!" I can't be the only one who gets annoyed by these silly things, so maybe you will look at this post and think "Oh, then it isn't just me!" 

Here I am:

It's great that you are at a cafe, on the couch, or in the bathroom. But no one else really needs to know.

I Liked:

Liking a video is great for the You tuber, but please delete the likes, or program your account to not show your "likes." It just takes up my news feed, and then I can't see the tweets I actually want to see.

What am I eating:

The fact that you have now "Instagramed" your iced tea from Starbucks four times, and you still think people want to see it makes me think either your priorities are wacko, you think people care, or you have short-term memory loss. 

No Makeup But Still Beautiful Pics:

At first, I thought this was a great way to give women confidence, and I respect girls who have the courage to show themselves "naked-faced" on the internet. But, after the fifth time, we know what you look like without makeup. It's not that I think you're ugly, it's that I think the compliments have gotten to your head.

Every 5 Seconds Tweets:

I don't care if you are bored, tweeting every five seconds takes up my twitter feed dagnabit! Yes, I saw that you are live on on "Younow," and I know you have a new video up, because I just saw it a few seconds ago. If I had wanted to see it, I would have by now.

Sorry if you thought this was a bit cruel, but these are just things that really get me going! With that being said, feel free to check out my twitter here, and it would mean the world if you would follow me! I won't take up your news feed!

What have you been tweeting lately?

xx BB

Where have I been?

Hello There!

It has been so long, I almost forgot how to start my posts. Yikes! I thought you might like to know where I went when I dropped off the face off the earth. The answer is school. I went back to school on the 21st, and ever since I have been wrapped up in homework, new teachers, and all things school, and my blogging has dropped to the bottom of my priority list. 

But don't fret! Dry your eyes! I won't be gone for long! I have new posts coming soon, and some new installments from my "Back to School Beauty" blog week. 

Thanks for being so patient. Please follow my blog! And please share this blog by retweeting or sharing on your Facebook page, and help bring everyone into the "Britica Beauty" world!

What would you like to see from me next?

xx BB

Back To School Beauty|| Beauty Bag!

Hello There!

As part of my themed blog week, "Back To School Beauty," I thought I would show you some basics that I find necessary for school. If you don't have time to put on makeup, or if you need to touch up throughout the day, this bag may just save your life. With my long school days, and extra long workouts, these few items make a makeup look new again.

Brush:

Whether you have a kabuki brush or a brush like mine (this one is from clinique) a brush is great for reapplying blush, bronzer, powder, or even a light wash of color across the lids. I use this brush for powder, but if you need more coverage a powder puff would work as well.

Bobby Pins:

If you are like me and find makeup is more important than hair, these are very useful. Just pinning back your hair for a "half-up do," or throwing your hair in a topknot looks more put together and can cover up a mediocre hair day. I carry four pins because for me pinning down a topknot requires four pins. One just won't do it!

Q-Tips:

Q-Tips have an infinite number of purposes. They can be used to clean up feathering lipstick, smudged eyeliner or mascara, or remove excess foundation or concealer from fine lines. I even use them multiple times a day! Even if you don't want to carry around loads of makeup in your bag everyday, just grabbing a few cotton swabs before you leave in the morning makes all the difference. 

Quarters:

I usually have a five dollar bill in my makeup bag in case I forget my lunch, but quarters are great in an emergency. You always need them when you don't have them!

Elf Tone Correcting Concealer- Light Beige:

While I would not call this a "holy grail" concealer, this product has just enough coverage that you can reapply it without making your foundation or under eye makeup look cake-y. *Quick Tip- applying a wet product like a concealer to dry foundation or concealer will make it and easier to blend dry foundation or concealer if it was not fully blended.* Plus, if you did not have the time to do your makeup, this concealer will give the coverage needed to cover up small blemishes or dark circles. 

RP: 1.00

Elf Clarifying Pressed Powder- Light Beige:

This powder is medium to full coverage, and can give coverage that the concealer may lack. Like the concealer, it's just one dollar! I use it after I blot my face to keep the skin matte. I would recommend blotting before reapplying powder, otherwise it can appear cake-y. *Quick Tip- If you don't have blotting papers, toilet seat covers are actually made from the same material as blotting papers. Who knew! You may look crazy blotting your face with a toilet seat cover, but it will save you a bit of money and make all the difference in your skin.* 

RP: 1.00

Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara-Black:

When I crack and buy a high end mascara, it will be this one. I love the tapered brush, because it can help grab all the lashes. It gives you voluminous, fluttery lashes that don't look overdone. If you get mini mascaras in the freebie gift bags given in department stores, they can be great for your makeup bag because they take up little space, but you don't sacrifice the size of the brush. Even a bit of mascara can make you feel less naked.
mini RP: FREE! large RP: 16.00

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers:

This product is a natural color, so it does not look to overwhelming for school. It's pigmented and quick to apply. Plus, their minty taste is so potent you could just about skip brushing your teeth (yikes!) because the minty scent makes it seem like you have minty fresh breath! I love these chapsticks and have them in a multitude of colors. For a look at more swatches go to my Back To School Makeup blog post.
 RP: 5.00

Labello and Lipsmacker Lip Balms:

I like to have a variety of lip balms in my bag in various colors. For my foreign friends, Labello lip balm is a great option for you! This lip balm is creamy, nourishing, and has enough pigmentation to give a slight tint to your lips. However, I use this chapstick as a cream highlight. It is almost the same type of color as Benefit High Beam- a light pink-y toned highlight shade. It lasts all day on your skin and does not look greasy.
RP: 4.00 (Euros)
 Also, I love the lip smackers lip balm not only because it is a nice pink color that looks good on almost every skin tone and is creamy and nourishing, but because it smells like raspberry melon! It's just lovely. If I don't have time to swipe on some shadow or liner, a tinted lip balm is a great way to add color to your look without looking overdone.
RP: 3.00

Top: Labello Bottom: Lipsmackers

Liz Claiborne and Anchorblue Perfume:

I used to keep a big Bath and Body Works spray in my bag, but I was always afraid it was going to leak. So I decided to start keeping roller balls and small bottles in my bag. Both of these smells are nice, although the Liz Claiborne scent is more "grown-up-ish," and they are easy to grab and put on if you are in a pickle and don't smell your best. Even popping a little on your wrists can make you smell better. Plus, a perfume will last much longer than a spray.

Anchorblue RP: 6.00 

Liz Claiborne mini RP: 20.00, large RP: 72.00

While I don't think it is necessary to get some of these exact products, I think grabbing a small perfume and a tinted lip balm can really help you in a "beauty" emergency. Keeping them all in this little bag from Sephora makes it easy for me to find everything, and taking what I need to the bathroom is easy if it's all in one bag, instead jumbled among pencils and erasers in some random pocket. 

I hope this was helpful and gave you some ideas what to pack for school, work, or even every day. 

What are some of your favorite travel beauty essentials?

xx BB

Back to School Beauty|| Makeup!

Hello There!

As part of my themed blog week, "Back To School Beauty,"I thought I would talk about some great products that are easy to use and perfect to throw on before school. They all work together to create a natural look that doesn't look too fake or cake-y for school. But the best part is that all the products I will show you add up to just *drumroll* $30.00! That includes a cream eyeshadow, cream blush, mascara, BB cream, and a tinted chapstick. I love all these products, and have been wearing them this summer. 

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream- Light/Medium::

At first, I didn't like this product. It being my first BB cream, I expected it to give more coverage. However, I got used to the fact that it is a light coverage product, and I am now in love with it! It's creamy and long-wearing, and it doesn't feel sticky on the skin. Even with oily skin I find I don't get super shiny too quickly. It's great for school because you don't look cake-y, and if you need more coverage a bit of concealer may do the trick. I know that some people have severe acne or discoloration on their skin, so something like Revlon Colorstay may work for you (review coming soon), because it gives coverage and lasts all day. But for those who only want a little coverage and some concealer under the eyes, this is the perfect solution. RP: 7.50

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Shadow- Bad To The Bronze::

This long wearing, pigmented shadow is great for sweeping across the eyes for a one-shadow look just before school. It doesn't budge, and the color doesn't fade! It's a taupe-bronze shade that looks great on just about any skin tone. I just love this product, and will be picking up more from their new fall collection, which is all neutral cream shadows. These have been so raved about, and I can see why. They are a contender for the Paint Pots by MAC. If you do want to splurge, MAC's Bear Study Paint Pot is a lovely neutral color as well. For more bronze-y products, check out my "Bronzed Goddess" blog post. RP: 6.50

Philosophy "Lit From Within" Healthy Cream Blush- Look On the Bright Side, Feel Warm All Over::

First, of all, I just love the names of these products. Second, I cannot believe I found them for just three buckeroos! What a bargain! These blushes are creamy and pigmented, and so long wearing. They work by themselves, or you can layer them under a powder blusher too. Feel Warm All Over is more of a peachy color with gold shimmer, while Look On The Bright Side is just a bright pink with a cream finish. I would say you don't need both; Feel Warm All Over is more for people with warm color palettes (i.e. browns, oranges, reds), while Look On The Bright Side is for people with cool toned palettes (i.e. blues, pinks, grays). But since they were only three dollars I just had to get both! I picked these up at a Big Lots, which is a discount store in America, so foreign friends may not find this product. Do I need to do a giveaway? RP: 3.00

Covergirl Water Resistant Lash Blast Fusion- Black::

This is one of my all-time favorite mascaras. It does not smudge or flake, and gives the fluttery lashes I love. I use this on my lower lashes almost every day! For school I personally don't use mascaras that will give me crazy volume, so a mascara like this is just perfect for me. It never clumps and it grabs every lash. I hate putting on mascara and ending up with about four lashes! If you want a mascara that will give you more volume, check out this post where I talk about the Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara. It's a great one as well. RP: 8.00

Burt's Bee's Lip Shimmers- Papaya, Raisin, Nutmeg, Penny::

I think I love these more than my Revlon Lip Butters! They are creamy and moisturizing, and have a lovely minty taste. They are so pigmented, it looks like you're wearing a lipstick, with the hassle of a lip balm. Plus, they are less expensive than the Revlon Lip Butters! The colors are all great and range from natural to more "out-there." Nutmeg and Papaya are peach-y shades with gold shimmer, Penny is a nude-pink shade, and Raisin is a more subtle take on the vampy purple shade. You can throw them in your bag and top up when you like, without having to reach for a mirror. RP: 5.00

All together, this natural but fun look retails for just $30.00! All these products are complete bargains, and products I would definitely repurchase. A quick tip: check out Bed Bath and Beyond for cosmetics. You wouldn't think of it, but they have some great deals! Plus, their coupons will give you an extra discount. 

I'm not excited for school, but I'm excited to wear these products! They were great for summer, and I am sure they will be awesome for school too. What makeup items did you love this summer?

xx BB

Lots Of Love For 500 Page Views!

Hello There!

I am sure the news that I have reached 500 page views is much more exciting for me than anyone else, but it just reminds me that people in the world are reading my blog, and becoming interested in it. I hope you enjoyed my blog thus far, and I appreciate the support. I remember getting excited over 25 page views, and now I feel famous! How petty. 

Thanks for the love and support! What would you like to see on my blog in the future? Do let me know in the comments!

xx BB

Welcome To Back to School Beauty!

Hello There!

Last week I really enjoyed writing about all things sun in my "Fun In The Sun" themed blog week, so I thought I'd do another one! This week is called "Back To School Beauty." Even if you are not going back to school, you can still find some ideas for great clothing and cosmetic basics, as well as some ways to de-stress. We could all use a good de-stressing! 

Even though school isn't the greatest, sometimes you just have to look on the bright side. Maybe these blog posts will cheer you up! Let me know what you would like to see this week, and if you have any more recommendations for themed blog weeks. I love them!

I start school on the 21st of August. When do you go back?

xx BB

wish, wish, want || etsy #1

Hello There! 

Today I thought I would talk about a bag I have and absolutely love, as well as a trendy bracelet. They are both reasonably priced fun pieces to add to any wardrobe.

The bag that I love is from a shop on Etsy called Bayan Hippo. It's a handmade bag company that makes great quality purses. They do not make leather bags or wallets, but their fabric satchels are just lovely. I have one of their older versions of their modular messenger bag (this one's in aqua) that had a bright blue lining and was a mustard color. I think the color transitions well into the colder months. However, this color is not available anyone. But dry your eyes! They have so many other great colors, and I have my eye on the aqua and grey. The best part about this bag is that you can throw it in the wash if it gets dirty and it will be brand- spanking- new again!

These bags are so effortless looking. I call it my Mary Poppins bag- it holds just about everything!

RP $35.00

Chains and neon have been huge trends this summer! By Bella makes beautiful jewelry for great prices. They are bargains compared to some of the high end options! I love these chunky chain bracelets that are half chain, half colored cord. They add fun pops of color to any outfit, and they look awesome stacked up too! Arm Party!
RP $15.95

I also love this chunky rose gold chain bracelet. Rose gold is very popular right now, and this bracelet is an easy way to get in on the trend!
RP $12.95

I love all these pieces! They are trendy and classic, and they are easy to wear throughout the seasons. Have you discovered Etsy yet? What pieces are you loving?

xx BB

*I am not sponsored by these companies*

A Quick Quote || LOTD

Hello There!

Today is another LOTD. I found a quote that is lovely, and that I thought I should share with you.  Sometimes it's fun to look up quotes and remind yourself of the little things in life. How petty! I hadn't heard this one before, but I really like it.



Have you found any nice or inspirational quotes lately? Let me know!

xx BB

Journaling is Good for the Soul

Hello There!

Today is going to be a bit of a chatty blog; it won't be as much about outer beauty and health, but about what is on the inside. I have been journaling for as long as I can remember. I no longer journal about what I ate or what season it is, but about how I feel and how my day went. I remember getting a fun "kiddy" journal for christmas from my dad that had designs for drawing and doodling, and I still have it. I love looking back, and feeling so silly for getting worked up over the most petty things. 

Now, I have a big journal with lots of lines that I try to write in at least once or twice a week. Journaling keeps me focused on my goals, what I want to do, and it helps me sort out some feelings that may have surfaced. It helps calm me down too!

Journaling is great for those who think about a lot but don't say a lot, or perhaps feel as though they are not being listened to. We've all had those days! To me, a journal is just like a clean space for spilling your guts with no judgement. Whenever I have a couple minutes, I'll sit down with a cup of tea and jabber about my life, my dreams and such. I feel so refreshed when I'm done! It's like spring cleaning for the mind!

I love to write when there is something on my mind, or when I'm feeling inspired.

I hope this sways you to pick up a journal and just start writing! Do you like these kinds of posts? Be inspired!

xx BB

Dupe Tuesday!

Hello There!

Today is another dupe tuesday! Today's dupe is one that I have recently discovered and been enjoying. This No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse is a great alternative for the Lancome Color Focus shadow in the shade "Soleil Vert."

Unlike my last dupe tuesday, this color is very unique. It's a gorgeous moss green with lots of gold shimmer. While the Lancome shadow doesn't swatch well, it's beautiful and pigmented in practice, and there's no fallout! I love this color because it's a great alternative to a more neutral eye. Unfortunately, this color was limited edition, so it is no longer available. However, "Designer" is a similar shade.

If you don't want to pay the $18.00 for this beautiful shadow, The No7 creme shadow is a color that is almost an exact duplicate to the Lancome color, with perhaps a bit more shimmer.

Left: Lancome Right: No7

While it is a creme shadow, it has a similar finish and awesome lasting power too. Plus, it doesn't crease, even without a primer!

I think I will be looking into more No7 products in the future. What No.7 products would you recommend?

xx BB