Some of my favorite moments spent with my girlfriends are when we’re all getting ready to go out together. All of us are talking and catching up, dancing to music, and at the same time putting on our makeup for the night. We can all sing obnoxiously loud to the new Taylor Swift album and not judge each other. It’s a great time. I was using my Clinique Chubby Lash Mascara last weekend for one of these nights and it's something I always buy at least once every fall and winter season. I got so many compliments about it from my friends and how it made my green eyes stand out. It’s the mascara I use when I want to try something different but not to crazy and intense (I’m unfortunately not a member of the fake eyelashes fan club). While we were hanging out in my bathroom, I was updating some of them about a guy I had been seeing for months and how we broke up earlier that week. I was honestly on the verge of tears just trying to re-count everything to my girlfriends and how I missed him and hated myself for missing him. My friend, Heather, sat down in front of me and looked in my eyes and told me the words I needed to hear in that moment. “He’s not worth it. He’s not worth your $20 mascara tears.” The truth was that she was right. I had cried enough tears over this relationship that caused me pain even before we broke up and just hearing her echo that sense of my conscience in the back of my head was what helped more than anything. So take some advice from me and my friend Heather, have a good cry and move on. Don’t waste more of your time spilling tears over something that causes you pain. Be with the people who love you for all that you are. Those who don’t are not worth that $20 freshly applied mascara (especially if you are a college girl).
Sending all my love. xoxo, Abby
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In the last few months, I’ve been very relaxed with my everyday makeup routine and have been trying to focus on getting my skin better (new skincare posts coming soon though!). I was never a person who went through acne struggles or “pizza face” phases that almost everyone had in their early teens, but lately my skin is not having it! I’ve been limiting the amount of makeup I am wearing so my skin can breathe and heal itself faster. On a long day or work or class and I want to cover up my spots but still look natural, I use the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream. This stuff is magic! I discovered this in September and it is my holy grail. I love how lightweight it is and that it has a small amount of SPF to protect your skin from the sun. It really is like the name says: your skin but better. You know those sayings like “put on some red lipstick and go conquer the world”? While I love the whole concept behind it, red lipstick isn’t my personal fave. You’ll probably never catch me wearing a red lipstick unless it's at a Christmas party. On a day to basis, I’ll mainly be wearing chapstick but when I want a little bit of color and gloss I go for something pigmented and a nude or ”my lips but better” color. I recently found an inexpensive lip product where I love the color and also love how it feels on my lips. These L’Oreal Infallible Paints are extremely comfortable on the lips that I don’t even notice that I have them on after thirty minutes of wear. They give a semi-glossy look to my lips while still distributing an even amount of color. The shades I wear the most are Nude Star and Spicy Blush. These are great finds for any college girl who is on a budget and live by the famous words of Elizabeth Taylor, “pour yourself a drink (if you’re 21 of course), put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.”
By: Abby Watson
Two months into the fall semester and I can definitely say the days where I can get up a little earlier to do my hair and makeup are winding down. I’d rather press my snooze button five more times if it means I get at least another thirty minutes of sleep. The constant battle between sleeping in or getting ready for class and work has always a struggle for me! Not anymore. Recently I’ve found the best ways to wear my hair for 3 days in a row without washing it and it only requires two products! Day 1 I’ll wash my hair like normal with shampoo and conditioner but after I get out of the shower, I’ll use my Kristin Ess Leave-In Conditioner and brush my hair through. Let me tell you this stuff makes my hair brush glide through my strands and I have no knots or tangles! I usually let that air dry and I’m good for the day. Day 2 I don’t know about you but on days where my hair isn’t freshly washed, I like to give it some texture to hide the slight oil buildup in my hair. For this, I simply curl my hair in loose waves and spray my Kristin Ess Dry Shampoo in my roots. I scrunch the pieces a lot because I love a messy kind of “I just rolled out of bed” look to my hair. Day 3 I’ll sleep in the curls from the previous day but then I will add more of the dry shampoo and actually style it for the 3rd day. My hair cooperates better for styles if it is dirty and has some grit. I put my hair in a ponytail, bun, or braid but lately I’ve actually been wearing fun and fashionable hats! I took shot all of these pics on my 3rd day hair and let me tell you this fiddler cap is such a lifesaver when your hair is just as greasy as mine.
Enjoy the weekend! Xoxo, Abby Product Links: Kristin Ess Dry Shampoo Kristin Ess Leave In Conditioner Brixton Fiddler Cap I’m the kind of girl who loves her warm tones, especially when it comes to eye makeup. My go-to eyeshadow look has been using hues of copper and bronze. It is so easy and almost everyone has similar shades in their personal makeup collection already! I wore eyeshadow for the first time in what feels like forever this past weekend and I missed playing around with all of the colors. In today’s post, I’ll be showing you the makeup look I wore for a brunch and study session with a friend while I was home for the weekend. In this look I used the new BH Cosmetics Deluxe Carli Bybel Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette (which combines my two favorite makeup products to collect). I used the warm toned brown in the middle of the first row in my crease and used the shimmery copper color on the far right of the same row. I added a combination of the two rectangular highlights to the center of my eyelid and inner tear duct. That’s it! I only used 4 shades since I was in such a rush to get out the door. Either way it looks great! Quick note before I bid you adieu in today’s post, wear what you want as far as makeup. No one needs to wear makeup, because you are all beautiful. I challenge you to look in the mirror when you take your makeup off at night and tell yourself you are beautiful. Have a great week everyone! Ciao!
-Abby The end of the semester is rapidly approaching; it is so crazy that the school year will be over in two weeks. Unfortunately with the end of a semester comes the dreaded week of final exams and projects. It isn’t even officially finals week yet, but on more than one occasion I’ve found myself working in a library or coffee shop until five minutes before it closes. There are definitely days where I swear the only things I consume are coffee and lecture notes. During these anxious times, the stress can definitely take its toll on our bodies, especially with our skin. So in today’s post I’m going to be featuring the products I have been using to restore my tired and stressed skin back to life (insert hallelujah). Pacifica Sea Foam Face Wash This is one of my favorite facial cleansers I have found! It’s very gentle and is full of natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals. I feel like my skin is refreshed after using this. I’ve turned so many of my friends onto this cleanser and all of them have told me that they love it, even those who have a completely different skin type than I do! Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream I love this as my daytime moisturizer. It’s very lightweight and non-irritating (added bonus: it smells like coconuts!). I like to apply this in the morning all over my face and it also makes any makeup I apply on top of it appear more even and smooth. Origins GinZing Eye Cream I’ll admit it, I am almost 20 years old and have never bought an eye cream in my life. I always associated eye creams to be for older women who are trying to prevent wrinkles, when in reality that isn’t always the case. Let’s face it, when you’re in college the sleepless nights of cramming for an exam or a night on the town with your friends can definitely cause some puffy and dark under eye circles. Eye creams can be your solution to this and de-puff and hydrate your under eyes. I like this one from Origins because it is hydrating and it actually has caffeine in it so my eyes can wake up for my early morning classes! Ofra Cosmetics Wanderlush Moisturizer I have normal-dry skin typically, but it gets very parched when I am stressed and is always in need of a little more TLC. While this cream is very light in texture, it is the most hydrating moisturizer ever. I like to use this mainly at nighttime since it can be a little too much for the day when you are out and running from class to class. When I’m having a Netflix break in my room, I like to put on a face mask every once in awhile. There’s something so relaxing about just wearing a face mask and having a one episode break from homework and studying. It’s something to look forward to after you’ve read what feels like 10 chapters from your textbook. I’ve been using this face mask and it is so easy to use! I apply a small amount of the gel-like formula and leave it on for 15 minutes and my skin feels more rejuvenated than when I started my late night cram session. As we get closer to final exams please remember to take care of yourself! Drink lots of water, eat when you can and if you’re feeling really anxious, do something to calm down. It can be just reading a book for fun, dancing around your room, or venting to a friend, but know that you are not alone! Everyone feels this stress and anxiety and it is temporary. You’re almost to the finish line and then it is summer break! Good luck everyone with preparing for your final exams and projects! You can do anything you put your mind to, just remember that. Ciao!
-Abby Rise and shine everyone! It is officially festival season! This past weekend was the first part of Coachella 2017 and the FOMO was so real for me. There were so many musical artists that performed over weekend one of Coachella. The hair, makeup and outfits were so insanely beautiful and bohemian. I was living for every second of it vicariously through social media because I was at Couchella (which is my name for Coachella weekend but I’m sitting on my couch watching an entire season of New Girl on Netflix in my pajamas). While I won’t be attending any music festivals this spring and summer, I was still inspired by all of the music festival aesthetic. If you are just feeling the bohemian vibes or are physically attending a music festival this year, I created a really quick and easy braided hairstyle for you to wear. Step One: Curls If you have naturally curly or wavy hair you can opt to skip curling your hair for this look. Since my hair is naturally very pin straight I curled my hair to give it some messy texture. I used a ½ inch curling iron and just wrapped my hair around the barrel. Step Two: Braid Grab a comb and create a diagonal part at the roots of your hair. On the side of your head that has the least amount of hair, grab a small section at the top of your head and split it into three sections. Create a dutch braid by braiding under and incorporating hair with every section. Once you reach the top of your ears, you can stop incorporating hair and dutch braid normally and secure with an elastic when you reach the desired length of your braid. Step Three: “Pancake” the Braid “Pancaking” a braid is just a term for pulling the braid apart to give it some volume and texture. I start from the bottom and pull very gently and work my way up to the top of the braid. Lastly, if the braid is hanging in an awkward way just grab some bobby pins and pin it to the the same side of your head. I think this braid is so pretty, regardless of whether you are attending a music festival or if you just want to spice up your everyday hairstyle. If you are reading this and went to Coachella 2017 and saw some of the amazing performers like Banks, Bastille and Tove Lo, I will admit that I am very jealous of you. Have a great rest of your week! Ciao!
xo Abby We all have those times when you go 2-3 days (sometimes even 4 if you’re lucky) without washing your hair. When you're in college and are constantly running from class to meetings, cramming for an exam, or frantically trying to finish an essay, the need to get your work done sometimes outweighs the appearance of your hair. Recently I’ve been using the L’Oreal Paris Extraordinary Clay hair care line when I finally have time to actually wash my dirty hair during the week. The Extraordinary Clay line claims to diminish the oil in the roots and hydrate the ends of your hair. In this post, I’m going to give you my thoughts and opinions on this line of hair care. Extraordinary Clay Pre-Shampoo Hair Mask Most hair masks are meant to moisturize the ends of your hair, but this one is different and that’s why I was so intrigued to try it. This product you apply to your roots before you shampoo and it absorbs the oil in your roots. This is definitely one of my favorite products from the line, because it actually works! I notice a difference after I’m done with my shower and my hair is finally dry. It’s as if the oil, dirt, and grime from the past few days is completely gone from the roots of my hair. Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo To be honest, I don’t have a select shampoo that I repurchase over and over again. As soon as I run out of one, I go out and buy and different one. This rebalancing shampoo from the Extraordinary Clay was surprisingly good. It really foams up and seems to clean away any residual oils. It works the best in combination with the pre-shampoo clay mask. Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Conditioner This is the one product from the line that I’m not super excited about. It’s a nice conditioner, but to me it is nothing special. I think it’s mainly because it might not suit my hair type. I have dry and color-treated hair, which requires a conditioner that really hydrates the ends of my hair. While this product is good, and I will use it up until I finish it, I don’t think it’s a must have from this hair care line. Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo The Extraordinary Clay dry shampoo is your best friend if you are running late to class in the morning. I’ve been spraying this in my roots when my hair is greasy in the morning and I don’t have time to wash it. This product is literally my new favorite dry shampoo ever. I know that’s such a big statement, but it is really true. Not only does it smell great, it helps absorb the oil in my roots and it doesn’t leave a white powder in my hair! Overall, I’d say the stand out products of this line are the Pre-Shampoo Clay Mask and the Dry Shampoo. I will definitely buy these again once I run out of product. With finals rapidly approaching, I know these will be my life saver during the end of the semester. Hope you all have a great day! Ciao!
Xo, Abby I’ll admit that while I do love to wear a full face of makeup, there are days when I just don’t have the time to apply all of it. If I’m running late and I don’t have enough time, this is my fast and easy bare necessities look. I only use 5 products and it takes about a maximum of 10 minutes! So for all of you that are scrambling to get out the door, this post is going to be your guide. Natural Finish Foundation When my skin is going through a texture or acne phase, I use foundation all the time. I try very hard to get a foundation that matches the color and undertone of my skin, but I also try to find one that gives me the finish that I want. I have a more normal-dry skin type, but I don’t like completely matte or dewy foundations. I like something in the middle, so that’s why Too Faced Born This Way Foundation has been a constant repurchase in my makeup collection. There are so many shades to choose from and it works with either a beauty blender or a brush. Brows If you read one of my previous posts, then you’ll remember that I mentioned the Benefit Cosmetics Goof-Proof Eyebrow Pencil. I’m not going to go into too much detail since I’ve already written about it, but it is my holy grail eyebrow pencil. Water Resistant Mascara If you don’t already have this in your makeup bag, then you should probably run to your nearest drugstore, because water resistant mascara is such a lifesaver. Mascara formulas that are made to resist the effects of water hold the curl in your eyelashes the longest and they are less likely to smudge throughout the day when you’re running around from place to place. I’ve been using the Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water Resistant Mascara and it has not smudged on me at all since I started using it. Rosy Pink Blush I’m not going to lie, I feel like I can look a bit ghost-like if I don’t have some color in my cheeks. Benefit Cosmetics Rockateur Blush has been my all time fave for almost two years and I’m surprised that I haven’t gone through this whole box (I do not like the tacky packaging but the blush color is so beautiful that I deal with it). It’s a soft rosy pink with a slight bit of shimmer to give your skin a healthy glow. Everyday Lipcolor While Marilyn Monroe once said, “give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world,” I also believe this can apply to someone’s lipcolor of choice. I hardly ever stray from my natural nudes and pinks for the color of my lips, but lately I’ve been loving Maybelline Color Jolt in Stripped Down. It is a much darker color than I am used to, but I’m really enjoying this product for a simple makeup look. I hope all of you have a great rest of your week and enjoy the weather because it is finally springtime! Ciao! Xo, Abby It’s no secret that I’m a highlighter queen (I actually counted how many I have, including palettes, and the number is quite extravagant). While I do love a glow that astronauts can see from outer space, there are days when I want something more subtle for a softer and natural look for everyday. If I’m going to an important meeting or interview, I do want to have a soft and healthy glow but I don’t want it to blind someone. Recently I ordered the Smashbox Spotlight Palette in Pearl from Sephora.com, and I can safely say that this product has been living in my makeup bag for the past two weeks. Upon opening up the compact, I thought to myself that this product didn’t appear that special. I was wrong. Once I actually applied these illuminating powders to my cheekbones, I realized how incredible it was. What I love most about these powders is that you can get a soft and ethereal glow or you can intensify it even more for that wow factor highlight. Also for those that have textured skin, this is such an amazing product for you because it won’t emphasize any bumps or uneven skin surface! This product comes in two shades, Pearl (for fair to light skin tones) and Gold (for medium to deep skin tones) and is retailed at Sephora, Ulta, and Smashbox.com for $35.00. Hope all of you beautiful babes are having an awesome day. Someone please drink some Starbucks for me because I’m going through withdrawal by cutting down my caffeine intake! Ciao! Xo, Abby |
Meet Abby!Abby is a passionate and fashion forward Twin Cities native majoring in Retail Merchandising here at the University of Minnesota. She loves to capture the beautiful small moments in life with her camera. You’ll probably find Abby sipping on a latte whilst adventuring in the city or curled up in bed with a good book! Check her out on the "beauty" section of Twin! Categories
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