Ipsy June 2014

A couple of days ago, as posted on instagram, I received the June ipsy glam bag. I had initially subscribed to ipsy last June/July but after a few months cancelled due to my growing makeup collection. First world problems, right? I decided after watching a couple of videos on what some subscribers received in their May bags and decided I wanted in, if only for one month.

I must admit, very rarely have I been disapointed in any month that I received a bag. The products are more often than not full sized makeup, haircare or tools. For $10/month, you tend to receive items that total more than that amount. 

Be A Bombshell Lashout Mascara (full size)

Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray (large travel sized sample)

NYX Buttler Lipgloss in Apple Strudel (full size)

Essence of Beauty Body Mist in Forever Paris (travel sized sample)

NickaK Shimmer Eyeliner in Green (full size)

Very cute tropical flower print nylon bag with fabric designed by Rebecca Minkoff, renowned handbag designer.

Each of the products I have received, including the bag, I could definitely pop in my beach bag for touch ups after a long day by the pool or on the sand.

So if you've ever been on the fence about whether or not to try this subscription service out, I say give it a go! If you are not into experimenting with different beauty brands but know someone who is, this would be a great gift.

For more information on ipsy, click here.

Talk to you soon...

xoxo bd

Valentine's Day Beauty

Truth be told I didn't have my first Valentine until I was 20 years old. Luckily my very first Valentine is the man I married. At the time we lived 3 hours away from each other so I traveled to see him for the weekend and he took me to the most quaint sushi restaurant in Memphis, Do. It was located in the Cooper-Young area of Midtown and had such a sweet setting inside. I will never forget how perfect that evening felt. 

Leading up to my trip I talked with my roommates about what I should wear, how my hair should look and what kind of make up to use. I thought long and hard about how perfect I was going to look for this date. I packed a pink floral cupcake dress that my roomie let me borrow and brought 6 inch heels so I could stun the man. I was ready to look hot! Funnily enough, after all of the stress and worry, he preferred the cream sweater dress and flats that I was already wearing. From that night on and throughout our marriage I have come to realize that Adam prefers me to look more like me. He doesn't want lots of makeup or high to the heavens hair sprayed locks- he loves when I am cute and girly and simple.

There is something to be said about big eyelashes and six inch heels, but the approach I want to share is the most classic of Valentines Day looks. 

H a i r: One of the best compliments I receive from my husband is when he holds me tightly and says how nice my hair smells. You want your hair to be soft and un-fussy. Redken's All Soft Shampoo will revive the most damaged hair.  Trust me. For extra softness, use a great hair mask to follow up your shampoo like the miracle worker by Macadamia.

M a k e u p: I believe every guy prefers to see your face, so apply the blush lightly and only a little lipgloss will do. You want to kiss him, don't you? I prefer palettes that have colors which are combined to compliment each other and soft neutrals look the most natural. The above palette by Laura Mercier is a total winner. The lipgloss by Nyx is creamy and gives a "my lips but better" hue.

S k i n: Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and make sure to moisturize after your bath. It is great to choose a lotion or body butter that has a light scent so even if you're not into spritzing perfume, you will smell lovely from head to toe. Check out The Body Shop's nicely scented Body Butter in Grapefruit.

N a i l s: Being that you are keeping with a natural, ladylike beauty look, I suggest a clean and simple manicure. A guy will most likely not know what to do with Stiletto Nails and frankly might be a little scared. Again, go natural and treat yourself to a mani pedi with a beautiful light pink polish. So girly!

Enjoy your night out -or in- and treat yourself! 

xoxo bd

Products Mentioned:

 Hair Mask //  Shampoo //  Body Butter // Laura Mercier Eye & Cheek Palette // 

Essie Nail Polish  // Nyx Butter Gloss

Weekend Beauty Haul

Weekend Beauty Haul by lovelybdavis 

When it comes to the warmer months, {Hello, it's freaking June! Where has this year gone?} I like to change up my beauty routine and luckily for me all of the stores do as well! New foundations and collections begin to come up on the drugstore isles and in the displays of my favorite department stores. 
This past weekend I grabbed a few must have Summer ready items! 

'Addicted to Peach' Collection by BareMinerals - this collection is perfect summer makeup. Truthfully, if you were just starting out with makeup or maybe wanted to try something new for vacation, I would highly recommend that collection. You receive every product in a full size (Blush, lip gloss, 3 eye shadows and mascara) along with the cutest metallic rose gold makeup bag! Seriously it was such a great purchase!

Almay Smart Shade CC Cream - To complete your easy summer makeup look I would throw in this CC Cream by Almay. Not only is it light, which won't leave you feeling like you have anything caked on, but they have also packed in 35 spf so there's no need to bring along your bottle of sunscreen. Did I mention is under $10? Steal!

Dickinson's Pore Perfecting Toner - I have mentioned this product before but had to mention it again! This witch hazel toner is a definite must in the summer to aid in getting your face fresh and clean. After I wash my face with my typical cleanser, I put this toner on a cotton pad and wipe over my entire face and neck. It takes away any excess oil or dirt that your cleanser neglected to wash away. Again, it's a steal and can be purchased at your local drugstore for $5. *Winning*

Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia - In a recent trip to Whole Foods I saw this display of roll on perfumes in a myriad of scents. I was immediately drawn to the Tahitian Gardenia as gardenia is one of my top 5 favorite scents and also because of its size! I am easily able to throw it in my purse and have a smell good pick me up at any time!

Sally Hansen Hard As Nail Xtreme Wear in Breeze Blue - I'll admit that the moment I saw this color I knew I had to have it! Though it might be a bit of a stretch for some to wear blue on their fingernails, it is very flattering on many skin tones! Not only does it dry quickly but it also wears very well without chipping! Once again, it is a steal and available at drugstores for under $3.

{ More product information: 1  2  3  4  5 }

I hope that you're June has gotten off to a wonderful start!
I'll talk to you soon
xoxo bd

Lipstick Addict

Lipstick Addict by lovelybdavis 

As I was going through my little makeup bag in my purse I began to pull out all of my lipsticks. Admittedly I love lip products. But I'm not alone here, people. It's been said that the average woman eats 4 to 9 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime, that’s somewhere between 481 and 1083 tubes. Wowza. Granted, I don't actually eat up my lipstick but it sure was hard not to lick them to bits when I was 12 and wore Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. Seriously, it tastes just like Dr. Pepper!

I think I'm getting too far from what I meant to write about. Moving On! 

Above are the lipsticks I currently carry in my purse (there are also a few chapsticks/lip butters and glosses that I carry). See what I mean? Who needs 5 lipsticks at all times? Me…. apparently.

I never realized how much I love a bright lip but by looking through my bag, there’s not a neutral one in sight!  What I love most is that they instantly amp up your look. If I don’t have time to do my hair in the morning and just throw it in a top knot, I will make sure I put on lipstick. So simple but it makes me feel like I put in a little bit of effort.  

So there you are, I’ll admit it, I’m an addict of epic and colorful proportions.

Xoxo bd

Winter Makeup Routine

Makeup Routine by lovelybdavis

With every season I change up my makeup routine or maybe just when I've found a new favorite product!
Its no doubt that I am a beauty junkie so getting to share these items with you is fun for me.
I am not brand specific nor am I strictly high end or drugstore...I mix it up. Whatever the price point, if it works and makes my skin look good, well sign me up!
After I have cleansed and moisturized (another blog post, soon) I begin my makeup routine.

 *Primer: This {optional} option is one by Sephora that aids in mattifying the skin. Can I be all kinds of honest? I don't think this one works very well but I will surely use it to the last drop. Other brands such as Smashbox make fantastic primers in case you were on the hunt. 

*Foundation: I am currently using Make Up For Ever's HD Foundation and I love it. This item was a repurchase for its great coverage but lightweight feel. It can be pricey but I wear it on my face EVERY SINGLE DAY and my face is the first thing people see when they meet me.  {Did I justify the price? K, cool}

*Concealer: Maybelline's Dream Lumi is my concealer of choice for right now. It brightens beautifully but I feel like I use up the product much more quickly than I'd like. When applying to my face I use the Kim Kardashian method seen here. I may look like an alien in the process but afterwards its like I actually got 8 hours of sleep.

*Setting Powder: This item is also a repurchase), its the translucent powder by E.L.F. and it only costs $3! Lovin it. Keepin' it. I apply the powder onto my T-Zone and under my eyes to set the concealer. 

*Blush: This option changes daily, as it is a must have for me. I feel like if you at least wear blush you will look alive.  Milani is the one shown above and is a beautiful coral shade with a subtle gold iridescence. I have to be light handed because a heavy swipe of this means I may evoke the spirit of Tammy Faye Baker.

*Eyeshadow: On an everyday basis I go for neutrals. The Too Faced At Night Sexy & Sultry palette above is great. The colors are beautifully pigmented so again, I have to be light handed. Lots of "blend, blend, blend" goes on. 

*Eyeliner: The past couple of years I have really enjoyed using black liquid liner. A little flick at the end and I've got an easy cat eye. The above Eyeko Skinny liner was in my latest Birchbox. 

*Mascara: As with blush, mascara is a must have. I have barely visible blonde lashes and will take all the help I can get. Currently I have Maybelline's Volum Express on rotation for that extra oomph!

*Lips: I love to put on chapstick or lipbalm before any lipstick or gloss. Dry, cracked lips are less than desirable and the Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Pink Punch' offers moisture with a hint of color as well.  I place Buxom's lipgloss in 'Sugar' over top to finish off the look and then its time to start the day.

So there you have it, my latest winter makeup routine. If you click on the link below the picture it will take you to all of the products mentioned.

I'll talk to you soon!
xoxo bd
 

Case of the Monday's

All of the pictures above evoke what would be a perfect Monday for me:

 Waking up to fresh espresso brewing, flawless makeup, frizz free locks and a knock-out outfit would start any gal’s week off right! Insert reality into this post and this morning looked more like breakfast at a tragedy  than breakfast at Tiffany’s. *That alarm clock saw the snooze button more than I'd like to admit*

Time to shape up, slap that face into gear and get that hair tamed…pronto.

I’m pretty sure we have all had a case of the Mondays and it ran rampant through my office today. At least I'm not alone in dragging my feet this afternoon.

There are lots of neglected household duties to take care of so I should get to them before I fall on the bed.

I'll talk to you soon!

xoxo bd

{Photo Credits: Two, Three}

Summer Beauty: Makeup

Summer Beauty by lovelybdavis 

I like to keep my look as light as possible so that when the humidity kicks in, the makeup doesn’t melt off and doesn’t leave my face weighed down with product.

I thought it might be fun to show you what I have been using lately…and if you are interested in purchasing what I’ve mentioned, just click on the links below!

Have a lovely Monday!

Talk to you soon, xoxo bd

Makeup
$38 - amazon.com

Mascara
$29 - macys.com

Eyeliner
$11 - physiciansformula.com

Rosebud Perfume Co beauty product
$6 - sephora.com

Beauty product
$6.94 - target.com

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher
$2.99 - walgreens.com

Influenster: Holiday Vox Box Review - NYC New York Color

What a treat is was to receive my Influenster Holiday Vox Box last month in the mail! Within that box I received many complimentary items including the NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine in Nude New York!

If you are interested in seeing all of the products I received, watch the video I made at the bottom of the post.

Now to the most important part, the lipgloss...or as they say over at New York Color, Lipshine.

The shade of Nude New York was so wearable and a great addition to my daily makeup routine. I have found myself reaching for this gloss often because of its creamy consistency and neutral color.

Considering the quality of this gloss, it's shocking to know that it is only $2.49 and readily available! 

I wore it by itself or over some of my favorite lipsticks and every time it gave me such a finished look.

Who says you need to pay department store prices for great products? 

For more information on this brand visit:

New York Color

or check them out on 

Facebook and Twitter!

xoxo bd

Product Information:

Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway!

A beauty-editor favorite is Liquid Lipshine ($2.49). It has pure pigments that created a 3-D gloss effect. Vitamin E provides shine and a moisturizing feel. The formula is non-sticky, super shiny & soft. Available in 10 on-trend shades from neutral nudes, to berries & fuchsias. Start shopping for NYC at these stores nearest you: Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others.  Visit newyorkcolor.com to check out all shades and fun products from New York Color!

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts by lovelybdavis featuring button stud earrings

House of Harlow 1960 button stud earrings
$30 - nordstrom.com

Urban Decay Naked Palette
$48 - sephora.com

Charlotte Ronson All Eye Need Eye Shadow Palette - Nicole Nicole
$22 - sephora.com

Charlotte Ronson All Eye Need Eye Shadow Palette - Henrietta Henrietta
$22 - sephora.com

Bvlgari Jasmin Noir 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
$68 - sephora.com

Philosophy Field of Flowers™ Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath 16 oz
$16 - sephora.com

Josie Maran Moroccan Getaway Travel Case - Argan Oil Infused Travel...
$39 - sephora.com

Essie Nail Polish - Reds Wicked ( C ) 0.5 oz
$8 - nordstrom.com

As new job has started I have regained the ability to do what I love which is play dress up.

When I worked at the physical therapy clinic I had to wear a uniform and when I cleaned houses I just wore workout clothes. The only way I could make myself feel special was to do up my hair and makeup. The occasional accessory was added if it wasn't too much fuss.

With working as a legal assistant for a law office, an outfit is planned the night before down to the shoes and earrings. I mean, I have to dress up don't I? It's required! 

Some people I talk to loathe the routine of getting up in the morning to put on their face and figure out the next pair of pants to wear. Me? I live for this. 

Daily, I flip through my fashion magazines and scroll about my favorite style blogs to gain inspiration of what a new outfit might hold. Pinterest has been a great help when I look for color combinations and hair styles. 

While at my desk today, one of my co-workers said to me that she thought I always had pretty makeup on and wanted to have a girls party where I did everyone's makeup. Really? Me?! I felt and feel so special!

Without a doubt I am the kind of lady who even plans what eye-shadows I want to wear for the next day.

Okay so the Creaseless Cream in RSVP all over the lid, maybe a little Coffeebean in the outer-v of the eye with  Black Honey smudged along the lash line. Okay...now...lips....peach petal or kitten gloss?

You may think I'm joking but my mind works like that way. Hear you me, I am unapologetic about that. My passions are fashion and makeup.

Here's to another put together day! I hope you all enjoyed your Wednesday, I'll talk to you soon!

xoxo .bd

{Photo Credits: 1 2 3 4 5 }