NYE Nails! || NOTD

Hello There!

I know I have not posted since Christmas, but I wanted to take some time off to spend time with my family and enjoy relaxing over the holidays. But today we ring in a new year, so I thought I would show you a new nail "look" that I tried out in lieu of the celebrations. 

I went crazy for the holidays by amping up a sparkly polish with straight up glitter. I wanted to still be able to see the amazingness of Butter London's "Knackered," but I also wanted a bold glitter gradient. So applying glitter to every other nail was the perfect solution. Plus, I got to cover some mistakes I made! Glitter makes everything better. 

I love Essie's "Set in Stones" because I has itty bitty glitter and big chunky glitter, so you can really get a nice gradient effect. Plus, it is not too goop-y, so even though this look took about 5 coats of polish, it dried quite nicely, and didn't slide right off.

Underneath it all is Wet N Wild's "Black Creme." It's a simple black polish that is my favorite. I have tried a few other brands like O.P.I and so forth, but this one is a doll and only one buck! It's opaque in one coat. 

The star of the show is Butter London's "Knackered." I call it my "intergalactic" polish because it looks like a glitter-y galaxy, and it's amazing. It's 14 dollars, but so unique and worth the splurge. I talk more about this color in my "holiday polish" video, which I will link here. 

Here's the "sequence" of what I applied:

Wet N Wild- Black Creme: 1 coat

Butter London- Knackered: 2 coats

Essie- Set in Stones: 2 coats

In this photo, the polish looks aqua, but in other lighting it looks lavender too! I love this color and think it's just perfect for the holidays. 

What's on your nails for the holidays?

Happy Holidays,

xx BB

Happy Chrisma-Kwanza-kah!

Hello There!

Today I thought I would wish you a happy holidays and a wonderful new year. I will be taking a few days off to enjoy my family and be slightly more social. But I will come back with some great posts and videos too! Hooray!

I just want to thank you all. Since beginning blogging earlier this year I have found a passion and an outlet to be myself. While I love blogging and vlogging for myself, every view and new subscriber reminds me what a great community this is, and I am thankful for each and every one of you. Maybe I have inspired you to buy a new mascara, try a new lipstick shade that would have scared you before, or even start a blog yourself! Whatever I have done to inspire and help you warms me little 'ol heart and makes me so happy.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and may the new year bring you luck, joy, and a lot of love.

Happy Holidays,

xx BB

FOTD #1 | Drugstore Edition || Black Cherry and Bronze

Hello There!

Today I thought I would share what I wore on my face in my "holiday nails" video, which I will link here. I had a simple eye look paired with a dark lip, and I thought it looked really beautiful. Plus, I only used drugstore products. So here's what I wore!

~ Face ~

Revlon Colorstay foundation- Ivory

Maybelline Coverstick concealer- Medium beige

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- Sandstorm

Wet N Wild Color Icon blush- Berry Shimmer

NYC Bronzer- Sunny

~ Eyes ~

Mary Kay Brow Pencil- Blonde

E.L.F eyelid primer- Sheer

Maybelline Color Tattoo creme shadow- Bad to the Bronze

Loreal Infallible eyeshadow- Blinged and Brilliant

Jordana Fabuliner- Black

Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes- Black

~ Lips ~

Revlon lipstick- Black Cherry

I wanted to keep the eyes really simple, so as you can see I did not use a whole lot of eyeshadow. I love the dark, vampy lip for the fall and winter. I hope this gave you some inspiration and some ideas about what's new at the drugstore. 

What's your favorite from the drugstore?

Happy Holidays,

xx BB

Glitter Nails || My Top 10 Holiday Favorites

Hello There!

Today I thought I would give you some more in depth pictures from my "holiday nails" video. I love glittery, fun holiday nails, and so I thought you guys would like to see some more detailed photos, so you can really what they look like. I also made a little hiccup and lost the footage where I showed you guys the three glitter polishes that made my top 10. Have no fear, I asked for a larger memory card for Christmas, so I won't lose any more footage! I will give mini reviews for the polishes I missed.

R.P. 8.00

I love this Essie polish because it has small and chunky glitter. It applies with little goopy-ness, and it can create a beautiful glitter gradient. 

R.P. 5.00

I love this glitter because there are small and large glitter in this polish. The small glitter is not as small as the glitter in the Essie polish, but it can still give that same affect. What I also love is that this line from Milani is so inexpensive! It can get a bit gloop-y, but I can get over that because the price is just right.

R.P. 5.00

If you want straight-up chunky gold glitter, this is your polish. Warning: it can get a bit gloop-y. It does not give the same gradient affect like the other polishes do because there is only one size of glitter in this polish. But this chunky glitter is so pretty and it looks good over just about any color polish. 

R.P. 8.00

R.P. 8.00

R.P. 5.00

R.P. 5.00

R.P. 8.00 

R.P. 14.00

R.P. 7.00

R.P. 7.00

 These colors are beautiful, and some of my favorites for the holidays and any occasion.

Here's the video with in-depth reviews of all the colors:

What are some of your favorite holiday polishes?

Happy Holidays,

xx BB

 * I am not affiliated with any of these brands *

A New Video!

Hello There!

A new video is up on my channel. Hoorah! I know that it has been ages, but I finally found the time to edit and upload a video about my top 5 holy grail skincare products.

What are some of your "holy grail" skincare products?

Happy Holidays, 

xx BB

wish, wish, want || etsy #3 | Christmas Edition

Hello There!

I have not been on Etsy in AGES. So today when I went on there were an endless amount of things I found. I think I will buy some of these as holiday gifts to me. Tehe! I love handmade or homemade presents, so today I thought I would show you some things I found on Etsy that are so cute and great for holiday gifts.

I love this bag because it's so vintage and cute! And for $68.00, it's pretty inexpensive! For the purse enthusiast this bag is in really good shape, and it's the perfect size to hold everything without carrying around a suitcase. 

LINK

I love these handmade necklaces because they are so kitch-y and cute. I especially love the penny (and bought it for my sister) because it's a lovely quote and a joke at the same time! What's better? Plus, the prices are pretty reasonable for beautiful handmade jewelry. 

LINK

LINK

I really like this necklace because it's really trendy, and the colors are neutral. I love statement necklaces because they can really pull together any outfit. Plus, this necklace works year-round. I know you could make something like this yourself, but, if you cannot, this necklace is a little splurge that would be a perfect holiday gift.

LINK

The final pieces that I really love are sets of metal bracelets that are so dainty and beautiful. Some of them can be personalized with initials, which I think is that perfect touch that can make a gift that much more special. 

LINK

LINK

I love Etsy. Finding bits and bobs on Etsy is so much fun, because I know they are one of a kind and made with love.

What have you found on Etsy?

Happy Holidays, 

xx BB

What's on My Playlist?

Hello There!

Today is a quick post on some of my current favorite music. I will not go into detail about the songs/ musicians, but I will leave links so you guys can hear just why I love them. If you love the songs you can do what I did and make them into a playlist and play them throughout the holiday season!

Alt-J:: 

Tesselate

(cool music video too)

Marina and the Diamonds::

Numb

Homewrecker

Real Estate::

Easy

Friendly Fires::

Skeleton Boy

Jack Penate::

Second, Minute, or Hour

Spit at stars

Learning Lines

Miike Snow::

Black and Blue

The Lumineers::

Ho Hey

I hope some of these songs become your favorites too! I will have more blog posts and videos coming soon!

Happy Holidays,

xx BB

A New Love || No7 Smokey Rose Quad

Hello There!

Today I thought I would share a new love of mine. Recently I have been buying less makeup and discovering some of my old products in my collection. This quad from No7 was a dud for me when I first bought it, and now that I have rediscovered it I can't see why I did not like it before. I have been obsessed with my "Walking on Eggshells" palette from WetNWild, and ever since I have been on the hunt for more inexpensive palettes that will give me a classic neutral look without the hassle. And this is  another great addition to my collection.

What I love about this palette is that it can give you a subtle look, a deep smokey look, and everything in between. Plus, everyone all over the world can get this quad! 

This quad consists of four colors that are very metallic. You get a metallic white shade that is a great inner corner highlight, similar to the WetNWild trio. It also comes with a rose-y pink color, a deep mauve, and a chocolate brown/eggplant purple hybrid. I love putting the rose shade on my lid, the mauve color in the crease, the purple in the outer corner, and the white in the inner corner. 

While I do love this quad, there are a few flaws. For one, there are no matte or shimmer shades in this palette. So if you don't use a matte highlight or crease color you can end up looking a bit like a disco ball. It also has a bit of fallout, so I would recommend applying the eyeshadow before you apply the rest of your face. The final problem is that the rose shade and the mauve shade can look the same and can look a bit messy when they are both applied on the lid, so I would recommend using one or the other, or putting the deeper shade in the crease.

#3 Shows up stronger than shown in the swatch. The light washed out the color.

Otherwise, this palette is really lovely. While I don't think it beats my WetNWild palette, I still think it is really nice and I would recommend it. It's less than ten dollars and a great buy!

What are some of your favorite neutral palettes? 

xx BB

The Best and Worst of Revlon | Foundation

Hello There!

Today I thought I would tell you about two foundations- one great, one not so great. While Revlon has some amazing products, every brand has it's hits and misses. 

For me, foundations are the most important beauty product. I have oily, acne prone skin, and Revlon Colorstay is the ultimate foundation for me. I have never found a foundation that has beaten it, and, even though I have not tried many high end foundations, I don't feel the need to. It's full coverage, and lasts all day! I have long school days and hours of vigorous exercise. So you know when a foundation is long lasting when it lasts through over four hours of exercise and a long school day. It's nuts! I have never felt like I have needed to touch up my foundation, and I only have to blot my face once a day, which for me is fantastic.

On the other hand, Revlon Custom Creations is one of the worst foundations I have ever tried. It is thin and gives light coverage that is not build able. The "gimmick" that made me buy this foundation is that it has a dial and two different shades of foundation in one bottle, so you can turn the dial to match your skin color at any time of the year. The idea is that you only need one foundation for the whole year! The problem is that this product slides off my face. I don't know how it works on other skin types, but for me it was awful and it looked like I hadn't put on foundation by the end of the day. I absolutely hated it. 

Overall, if you want a foundation that is going to last all day, Revlon Colorstay is the foundation for you. It has options for dry and oily skin, so every skin type can get a foundation that is beautiful and long-lasting. Plus, they are both the same price! So skip the BB Cream- like foundation and get something that glides on like a dream, that will give you long-lasting coverage, and that looks flawless and lovely.

What's your favorite, go-to foundation?

xx BB

Some Unknown Youtubers! || A Chatty Post

Hello There!

Today I thought I would share some Youtubers that I think deserve more attention. They work really hard, are funny and talented, and generally lovely, and I can't believe that they don't have more subscribers.

Emotistyle::

This hilarious duo called Molly and Shamika do fashion videos once a week. They answer subscribers' questions with funny, fashion-forward responses. I think they are really great because their style is very edgy, and they push the boundaries on new and trendy fashion. If you are looking for new fashion inspiration, then these are the girls for you. Plus their videos are not super long, so I never get bored with their films. 

Grav3yardGirl::

Bunny (yes, that's her real name) is so weird and funny, and I love her so much. She makes me feel okay about being so crazy. She has such a cool style, and loves to shop at thrift stores too! She does any type of video, from beauty to fashion and just about everything in between. She is very "real" on camera, which is so refreshing compared to some of the other beauty gurus here on Youtube. 

NikkieTutorials::

I think I have talked about Nikkie before, but she is a funny girl who has the cutest (swedish?) accent. She is a professional makeup artist who is only 18! What I love is that she always does different tutorials, and doesn't just show a million neutral tutorials. If you are in a makeup rut, then this beauty guru will show you original looks that are inventive and fun. 

EmilyNoel83::

Whenever I need to know about a product or want a recommendation, I always look to Emily. She has so much makeup, so she has a wide range of knowledge on loads of products. I love that she describes, in detail, each product, with pros and cons, and everything that someone would need to know before buying a product. She does tutorials, reviews, and has a blog as well.

GlamorousGaby1::

I love Gaby. She is so lovely and works so hard on her videos. She is one of my closest friends in the real world too! She has a chic and fabulous fashion sense, and she has just begun to do makeup and hair tutorials as well. 

Go and subscribe to these lovely ladies! They are all wonderful and deserve more recognition. 

What Youtuber do you think deserves a little more TLC?

xx BB

Fall Flair: Autumn Trends!

Hello There!

As the colder seasons set in, the new trends are popping up just about everywhere. So I thought I would share some of my favorite trends that are very popular this year. Unless you have been in a cave for the past few months, you will know that the color of Autumn is "oxblood." That and burgundy are extremely trendy and beautiful colors as well. This trend, among others, are some that I am really excited to wear this season. While you can spend buckets of money on designer pieces, buying something trendy that may only be stylish for a season feels better on your wallet when it's from a discount shop or the drugstore. So I thought I would show you some clothes, accessories, and some makeup too.

Oxblood/ Burgandy::

Nail Polish- I have two burgundy/ oxblood polishes that I just love. One is a classic shade, but the other polish is the fall trend with a twist. I love them both, so I thought they would both be great options for the colder seasons. I talked about all things Oxblood in a post that I will link here.

Galaxy::

Jewelry- This trend has recently been opting up places, but I really like it. It's a cool pattern, although sometimes I find it can be a bit overwhelming. So I think these earrings are cool because it's a little pop of pattern and "flair." They are slightly more expensive, but the color scheme is classic, so I think even when this trend is over the piece can still be worn.

LINK 

LINK 

LINK

Riding Boots::

You guys know I love boots. And you know I love my new Jeffrey Tyler riding boots. I have talked about them before in "The Winterlicious Tag" and my birthday wish list. I have worn them almost everyday with everything. Ridding Boots have always been trendy, but this season they are more popular than ever. They are sleek and chic and lovely.

LINK

Jeffrey Tyler riding boots, $99 at Off Broadway Shoes(Provided by Off Broadway Shoes)

Large Faced Watches::

Large faced watches are so chic, and can give any outfit a very "put-together" vibe. They has been a lot of hype around the Michael Kors watches. While they are beautiful, they may not be in some people's price range. I found a few less-expensive options from Fossil that is still a splurge but might be in just about everyone's budget. I am particularly fond of this one:

LINK

The Cat Wing::

This liner look is very big for the fall and winter. I love the sophisticated look it gives, and how little time and work it takes! It does take a bit of practice to get it right, so here are some eyeliners that make it a little easier.

Jordana Fabuliner- $2.99 

NYX The Curve- $12.99

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner- $19.00
LINK

Nails::

I have a long list and a video too about my top 10 favorite nail polishes for the fall and winter, which I will link here. It has quick descriptions and in-depth swatches so you can really see the colors.

I hope this post helped give you the lowdown on all the trends for this season. I am so excited to jump into the colder months, and these pieces will get me in the autumn mood. Plus, you could ask for some of these things for the holidays too!

What are some of your favorite autumn and winter trends?

xx BB

*I am not affiliated with any of these brands*3