Smokin Eyes

I know for a lot of women who are just getting into makeup the smokey eye is the most requested look to learn. My sister wanted me to teach her how to do a simple one as well as my cousin's fiance. For both of them, I recommended the NYX Smokey Eyes palette.

(Sorry it's all scratched up and dirty, but at least you know I use it! haha) I bought this from Cherry Culture a few months ago and it has been my go to smokey eye palette. Best of all? It was only $8. Let's take a look inside...

This palette has really great shades ranging from shimmering highlight colors to matte charcoal colors. No matter what combination of shadows you go with, they all work really well together.

They are super pigmented, not chalky at all and really easy to blend which are really great for a smokey eye look. Here is a smokey look I came up with last week before going out at night. All I used for my eyes were shadows from this palette!

QOTD: What are your holy grail shadows for creating your perfect night time smokey eye?

Scents of Summer

I have finals this week which I'm not even stressing over too much surprisingly because none of them are cumulative. YAY! Anyways, it's hard to believe school is ending and I will be home for the summer starting on Friday. Even though it's hard to believe, I am so ready for summer to spend some time with friends from high school and with my darling boyfriend. Summer is definitely my favorite time of year. With that said, I am even more excited for summer because I love my fragrances I have picked out to wear all summer long!

Now I haven't worn Bath and Body Works body spray since the 8th grade and I hardly ever go into the store. However, I was shopping out of boredom at the mall near my university and saw that Bath and Body Works has a new line out for summer called "Summer Vanillas" I absolutely love Vanilla scented ANYTHING so of course I had to stop in. They have 3 fragrances within the line: Coconut, Lemon and Berry. My immediate reaction was to reach for the Coconut. I sprayed it on my wrist, sniffed, wasn't impressed and walked away. I then went into Old Navy to shop for clothes. By the time I was walking out of Old Navy, I couldn't stop smelling my arm. When the fragrance dries it is such a delicious sweet scent. It reminds me of tanning lotion a lot which is a smell I really love. Obviously, I bought it and have been wearing it in the day time. I didn't smell the other scents but I'm thinking of going back to smell the Berry Vanilla.

For night time, I have been wearing Viva La Juicy, which I'm sure most are familiar with. I got it for Christmas and even wore it a little bit during Christmas break even if it is a more summery scent. Even if you don't like the scent, how can you resist that packaging? When I'm finished with the bottle I really want to make the 2 gold charms into a necklace. They're just adorable.

I'm really not and never have been a fragrance freak, but I am really excited to wear these during my favorite season.

QOTD: What are your scents of summer?

Hope you're all doing well!
XOXO Chelsie

Benefit Celebutante Kit

A few weeks ago my sister and I went to Ulta to do some damage. I wasn't planning on getting anything but you all know how that works out. We both spent a lot of time at the Benefit counter and I found the Celebutante kit.

Inside, you get a mini High Beam (liquid highlighter), mini Benetint (lip and cheek stain), Dallas (boxed powder), mini I'm With the Band (lip gloss), mini Lady's Choice and No Competition lipsticks, Leggy and Dandy Brandy eyeshadows and a mini brush.

This is a really great starter kit if you never tried Benefit. I only have their boxed powder in 10 in my collection and have been dying to try High Beam, Lady's Choice and Dallas so this kit was perfect for me.

Here we have Benetint (lip and cheek stain) and the lighter pink is the gorgeous liquid highlighter High Beam.

When you rub them in, this is what you get. I'm not a fan of Benetint because it looks really scary at first, but really doesn't do anything for me when it's rubbed in on my cheeks. On the other hand, High Beam is pure love.

The top row of swatches here going from left to right are Lady's Choice lipstick, No Competition lipstick and I'm With the Band lipgloss. Lady's Choice is an amazing nude that is nude enough but doesn't make you look dead. I wish I would have had No Competition this winter because it's an amazing deep berry shade. I wore it to work a few weekends ago and got a lot of compliments. I'm With the Band is really pretty as well. It's not sticky and wears well and it even smells like Starburst YUM! Below the lip color swatches is Dallas. It is an amazing alternative to a bronzer. Instead of a harsh brown face color, it is a rosy brown which looks really natural on the skin. I love it to contour my cheeks with a brighter blush on the apples of my cheeks. Soo pretty.

The bottom two swatches are the 2 eyeshadows - Leggy and Dandy Brandy. They are both shimmery shades which are going to work really well for a simple daytime summer look.

Overall, I'm really happy I purchased this kit. It was great to try a variety of Benefit products because it is a great line. After using these products for about 3 weeks now, I am really lusting for the full sizes in High Beam, Lady's Choice Lipstick and Dallas boxed powder.

QOTD: What is your favorite kit/value set that you have in your collection?

Hope you're all doing well and you have a great weekend! To those who have finals like me next week - good luck!
XOXO, Chelsie

Bobbi Brown Banter

Ever since I read Bobbi Brown's Makeup Manual (which I highly suggest reading), I have been in love with Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Her slogan is "Pretty Powerful", which summarizes her viewpoint on makeup for women. She believes that makeup should be used to only enhance natural features and not to hide anything. She also believes that makeup should make a woman feel her best, which in turn will make her feel powerful. I really love that view and I also think it's so refreshing because I feel like so many women (young and old) are pressured to hide behind their mask of makeup to cover up wrinkles, freckles, etc. When in fact, those things will be there no matter what so you might as well wear them proudly. Like I said, after I read her book and really got to know her line, I really wanted some of her makeup. Here's some things I've gotten:

My amazing boyfriend got me this palette for a random gift after I mentioned how I wanted it so badly. This is the picture from her site. In the palette, you receive an eyeshadow brush, lip brush, 4 lip colors and 6 eye shadows. When I first opened up my package, I was kind of surprised at it's size. I thought it would be bigger than what it is. It's about the size of a NYX 8 color eyeshadow palette. However, I'm still really really happy with it. What perfect colors for summer, right?

Here are the 4 lip colors up close. I think all would really suit any skin tone/color. They are gorgeous and very pigmented.

These swatches were created from just swiping the lip brush across the lip color about two times. The color on the furthest right is so gorgeous. It's more glossy than the others and is just amazing. I have been wearing it quite a lot.

Here are the eye shadows without primer. My favorites by far are the pinky colors and that gold color is absolutely to die for. I need to get my hands on the full sized eyeshadow in this color. It's called Bonfire. They are all really great. All shades are shimmery but the white and the soft brown color.

Look at them shine. Ahh I'm in love.

Overall, I am really glad I purchased this palette. It is a great Bobbi Brown starter kit and my obsession is definitely growing. I hope this was insightful if you have never tried Bobbi Brown.

QOTD: If you never tried Bobbi Brown, what are you dying to try? If you have tried Bobbi Brown, what are you loving?

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Sorry for not being so good on your wallet, haha.

XOXO, Chelsie

MAC Love Connection Mineralized Eyeshadow

As I have mentioned before, I am not into MAC cosmetics as most are. I think I'm this way because I don't like to be bothered or watched when I am shopping. I like to be in my own little world and I like to go around swatching things as I please. However, when I step up to a MAC counter, I feel like I'm being watched and pressured and bothered and I am not a fan. I have been tempted to order online but as you all know, you need to see makeup in person before you order online to ensure you are getting the colors you want. Despite all of this, since receiving MAC's mineralized eyeshadow in Love Connection in a recent swap with a dear subscriber, I am really feeling MAC and may take a trip to the counter nearest me very soon.

I believe this eye shadow came in a kit because it says "NOT FOR INDIVIDUAL SALE" on the back.

These are such beautiful bronzy summery colors! As I said in my video, I just see Marisa Miller when I look at it. If only an eyeshadow could make me look like her. HA!

VERY pigmented, VERY shimmery and beautiful.

Look at those suckers shine! (You can click on the picture to make it bigger if you want a closer look!)


I used this on myself and on my sister this weekend and am very impressed. I think it will be a summer staple for me. I want to try to work with them wet to see if they foil well. I will let you all know how it goes!


QOTD: What is the one MAC product that got you hooked on the brand?

XOXO, Chelsie

Welcome everyone!

Thanks to everyone for visiting my blog! I am very excited to be writing my first post for you all. In this blog you will find swatches, reviews, fun surveys, outfit of the day posts and probably some other random fun things. Make sure you bookmark or follow my blog for frequent updates! I hope you're all doing well and look out for my upcoming posts! Until then, stay gorgeous!

XOXO, Chelsie