Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Zoya Tara

Hey everyone! How's your week going so far? I set up my new Kindle Paperwhite (a birthday present to myself) and I've been loving it. It's way more pleasant to read on than my iPad. I just started reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and I'm really enjoying it so far.

So today I have two coats of Zoya Tara on my nails. Tara is a purple/red plum cream that is super glossy and gorgeous. To me it kind of looks like a raisin color. I wanted to do some nail art, but since my teacher bed time is like 9:30 I knew I wouldn't have time. If this doesn't chip maybe I'll try some stamping later in the week.




Almost Friday! We can do it.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Monday, January 23, 2017

Julep Boost Your Radiance

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? We got the best Monday gift ever today because the school decided to make it a half day due to the weather (it's crazy windy out!)

I've been playing around with the products from my January Julep Box and I just had to do a separate review of this facial oil. Boost Your Radiance is a reparative "wonder booster" that leaves skin radiant and hydrated. It prevents and repairs the appearance of fine lines and hyper pigmentation while regulating oil production.


To use: massage 1-2 drops onto face after cleansing and toning. It be used alone or added to your favorite moisturizer, treatment, or liquid makeup for a hydrating antioxidant boost. It can be used on all skin types, day or night.

This product is a total GAME CHANGER in my skincare routine! I have combination skin with an oily t-zone in warmer months leaning dry in colder months. This winter my forehead was so dry and flaky and I couldn't find anything to treat it long term. I took a chance on this and have seen such a dramatic change in my skin. It just feels so comfortable and not oily at all even though the dryness has been treated. It also helps that the scent is super fresh and luxurious.

The final verdict? 10/10 would absolutely recommend. What skincare products have you recently added to your routine?

xoxo,
   Brooke

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Birthday Nails

Hey everyone! How is your weekend going? Mine has been filled with birthday festivities. Last night we had dinner with my family and tonight the fiancĂ© is taking me back to the restaurant where we ate after he proposed. 

Even though I'm 26 today, I had to wear my custom polish I had made for my birthday last year. This glitter packed magenta berry holo was mixed up by MidWest Lacquer. I named it January Jewel. I absolutely love this color and the glitter is gorgeous in the sun!






I'm so glad I have a day off tomorrow. It's like a bonus birthday gift! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend.

xoxo,
   Brooke

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Cupcake Water Decals

Hey everyone! How has your week been? It felt like it dragged on forever and I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. This 3 day weekend is so needed. And it's my birthday weekend!

To start off the birthday festivities, I broke out these adorable cupcake water decals from Born Pretty Store. They were super easy to use. I started with a base of white on my nails and let it dry completely. Then I cut out the decals and let each piece soak in a water bath for about 30 seconds or until it separated from the paper. I used tweezers to place the decal on my nail and removed the excess around my cuticles. Once all of my decals were on I sealed them with a top coat.





I'm still undecided on my birthday nails for Sunday - maybe something sparkly? We'll see! Btw, when you place an order with BPS make sure you use my discount code ASYW10 for 10% off!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Monday, January 9, 2017

Influenster L'Oreal EverPure Volume VoxBox

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? We got a few inches of snow here and of course it just had to happen on a Saturday and not a school day. Whyyyyyy?! I hope we get just one snow day this year. Just one!

So a couple of weeks ago I received my L'Oreal EverPure Volume VoxBox from Influenster. Influenster is an online community of consumers who give reviews on products and experiences. If you are active on the site, Influenster may invite you to participate in their VoxBox programs, where members receive complimentary products to review.

The EverPure line is 100% sulfate-free, paraben-free, free of harsh salts, and dye-free. The volume shampoo and conditioner are formulated for fine, flat hair with lotus flower that provides lasting volume. It keeps color pure for up to 4 weeks. I've given these products some time to really try them out so I can give my honest opinion. 


I'll start by saying that I don't color my hair at all, so I was curious to see what these products would do for me. The scent was not my cup of tea, but I did like the way the shampoo lathered. These products left my hair feeling pretty nice. I'm used to more expensive shampoo/conditioner so I definitely was not blown away. It kind of just made me say, "meh."

Final verdict: I would not repurchase due to the unpleasant scent and I don't need color care products. Definitely check out www.influenster.com if you're interested in receiving free products (who isn't?!)

xoxo,
   Brooke


Disclosure: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Color Block Nails

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've posted a mid-week mani. I've been feeling more motivated to try some new designs on my nails (maybe a resolution for the new year?)

Anyway, I got my January Julep Maven box the other day and felt super inspired by the colors I picked out. Evan is a new color this month and is described as a juiced beet creme. The formula felt slightly on the thick side, but I didn't have any issues with application. The second color is Julep Ebony, a graphite holographic. When I look at this color in indirect light it definitely looks darker, but in sunlight WOW does this holo sparkle. It's one of those nail colors that is super distracting in the car (buyer beware!)





Enjoy the rest of your week!

xoxo,
   Brooke

Monday, January 2, 2017

Sweater Nails

Hey everyone! Can you believe it's 2017? I know I can't. I also don't want to believe that I have to go back to school tomorrow. Teachers everywhere are in mourning, I'm sure of it.

I decided to get my nail stamping tools back out and try another design. Stamping is still fairly new to me, so my design may look just a tad crooked. All my stamping tools (stamping plate and stamper) are from Born Pretty Store.

The base color is two coats of Julep Myriam, a bright red creme. This is one of those cremes that looks squishy and I love it. Notice that weird discoloration by my cuticle on my index finger? Yeah that's from when I slammed my finger in the car door a few months ago. Healing is a sloooooow process. I used Zoya Purity to stamp the sweater-like pattern. I think it came out pretty cute despite the slight crookedness. I'm definitely still working on my stamping skills.





I'm thankful that we have a four day week, but I hope it goes by super fast and painlessly. I'm not ready to see these kids. Ugh. Btw, when you place an order with BPS make sure you use my discount code ASYW10 for 10% off!

xoxo,
   Brooke