Ipsy Glam Bag: October 2015

October 28, 2015

I fell in love with subscription boxes when I started in 2012 with a subscription to Birchbox. Since then, I have fallen in and out of love with different boxes, but I'm always excited to try new boxes. I love coming home to a package in the mail and getting to try new beauty samples without having to spend money on full-size products. I originally subscribed simply because I loved the idea of getting a little gift every month, but I've since found that beauty boxes have actually helped curb my makeup buying habits. I find that (contrary to popular belief) I actually buy less makeup since I know that I will always get a new lip product or nail polish every couple of months

Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that gives subscribers 4-5 sample and full size products for $10 a month. All of the beauty samples also come in a handy little makeup bag. I love that all of Ipsy's products come in these adorable bags because they are insanely useful for holding just about anything!

IT Cosmetics: Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Mascara

One of my few complaints about my ipsy bag is that I get samples of mascara - a product that I do not use. Ipsy's website allows you to build your own profile and I try my best to provide feedback on the types of products that I use, but so far, it seems to have done very little to change the products that I actually get in my subscription. My eyes are very small with stubbornly straight eyelashes that refuse to curl, so it's nearly impossible for me to wear mascara without blinding myself in the process.

That being said, this mascara has become one of my favorites out of all the mascara samples I've received. To test it out, my boyfriend, David, graciously allowed me to use these on his superlongextracurly lashes (seriously, why is it that the most perfectly gorgeous eyelashes are always on guys?!). See below - the difference between his mascara-ed vs. unmascara-ed lashes is ridiculous!

Hey Honey: Come Clean Propolis & Minerals Facial Scrub

Hey Honey is one of the only brands that I have consistently loved getting in my ipsy bag. Last time, I received a Hey Honey facial serum that I was absolutely addicted to! Ultimately, I didn't buy the full-size product since I already had a similar facial serum of my own, but what I appreciate about Hey Honey's products is that they always go on smoothly and feel very natural. The exfoliating beads in this facial scrub melt naturally with water and actually leave my skin feeling moisturized, a great contradiction to how facial scrubs usually make my face feel - irritated and dry!

Aromachology: Exotic & SpicyEau de Parfum

Unfortunately, my personal fragrance preferences are really set in stone (I love fruity, tropical fresh scents - but can't stand anything spicy or musty) so most fragrance samples automatically go in my "to gift" pile. This one was no different for me.

The Balm: Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick

I was really excited about getting this lipstick from theBalm because I've recently become obsessed with nude shades. Even though they don't necessarily change the color of my lips too much, nude shades tend to even out all the little discolorations on my lips and even make them look fuller. I was a little bit disappointed that this lipstick didn't have as much staying power as some of my other liquid lipsticks, but it made up for that with its minty flavor :)

(Side note - I'm one of those weirdos that needs all of my lip products to taste good because I am constantly licking it off my lips subconsciously. PSA: carmex lip balms taste the worst).

Browza: Super Proof Gel Brow Pencil

I'm about as lazy as lazy can get so the fact that this Browza brow pencil had a brow brush built into it made it on point with my lazy girl needs. The pencil was a little bit dark for my brows but having the built-in brush to smooth the color out made up for it!

I've been an ipster for a little over a year now and while there are some blips here and there where I'm not in love with the products I receive - overall, I'm happy with the products I get to try and of course, the handy makeup bags! This month wasn't my favorite because it really wasn't all that tailored to beauty categories I wanted to explore, but I'm still an ipster at heart.

love, ella

Beauty Staple: Gel Nails

October 20, 2015

While I'm obsessed with all things beauty related, I'm also incredibly realistic when it comes to my own beauty routines. I know I'm supposed to exfoliate 3 times a week or slap on a moisturizing mask when I go to bed - but honestly? Some days, there's just no time! Instead, I try to focus on beauty routines that I can maintain and that are more forgiving when it comes to those moments when I just can't get around to them!

One of my go-to beauty staples to save myself time and money is doing my own gel nails at home. I have always been a bit of a nail junkie but when my hectic college schedule hit, I couldn't keep up with how quickly my normal nail polish chipped off. Since I'm not loaded with money, regular trips to the salon just weren't an option so I started researching online and discovered kits that allow you to do your own gel nails.

The gel kit I have is the Kiss Gel Kit, but it looks like it is no longer sold as a kit. The original set included: LED lamp, gel top coat, gel base coat, and three gel colors. Since then, I have replaced the original set with BMC colors and gel/base coats. Most sets come with instructions on how long to cure the polish or how to file your nails beforehand.

Pros:

My nails look much more professional because they don't chip as easily. The gel polish make my nails appear put together for a longer period of time.
Doing gel nails on my own saves me so much money in the long run - It is definitely worth the initial investment.
After the polish is cured, there is no risk of denting or scratching before the polish dries. Once it's cured, you're good to go!
A side benefit that I've discovered is that the gel layer has actually allowed my nails to grow longer. I have very weak nails that usually break as soon as they hit my fingertip so having the gel polish there provides another layer of support.

Cons:

The initial investment can be between $40-$100 or more which can be quite a barrier - but as I said before, I really think it's worth the plunge.
The whole gel nail process can take much longer than average nail polish because each gel layer has to be cured before it will dry. I've found it best to set aside an hour or so dedicated to doing my gel nails (usually during an episode of The Voice)
While salon gel manicures typically last 2-3 weeks, my diy gel nails last 1.5 weeks on average. I am still working on fine tuning my methods to figure out what the best practices are for making my nails last longer.

Tips:

After doing some research online, I discovered that the gel cleanser that is used to remove the tacky layer off of your nails is actually very close to rubbing alcohol - so instead of spending $5 on a tiny bottle of gel cleanser, I spent $2 on a giant bottle of rubbing alcohol and haven't run into any problems!
My instruction sheets say to cure base and gel coats for 30 seconds and color coats for 60 seconds but I have found that doubling these times has made my nails last longer.
There are two lamp options when it comes to gel nails - either UV or LED. As with any other UV exposure, there is some risk involved. I highly suggest investing in an LED lamp instead of a UV lamp so that you don't have to worry about any of these risks!

Are you as obsessed with diy gel nails as I am?! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

love, ella

the beginning

October 11, 2015

Hi there! Thanks for visiting my blog! My name is ella yvonne. I am a 22 year old recent college graduate from Madison, Wisconsin starting a big girl job in the Chicago area. This year, I finally decided to sit down and make my goal of starting a blog a reality. I have always wanted to start a blog because I have always loved writing - whether that be in a journal for myself or in a letter for a loved one in my life. I find it to be one of the best ways to talk myself out of a tough situation, document my happiest moments, and to connect with friends and family.

I know that starting a new job in a new place will be a tough, yet exciting, transition and I wanted to start this blog so that I could not only document the ups and downs but also share those moments with people out in the world who might be going through the same experiences. I know that reading posts from other bloggers about situations that I am going through has made life easier for me because I know that I'm not alone. More than anything, however, I want to create a space that inspires me!

I know it will take time and dedication, but it's a commitment I think I'm finally ready to take on. With my trusty (and never ending) to-do-list now full of blog thoughts, dreams, and wishes, I am incredibly excited for what is to come. I hope that with this blog I can share my experiences in a way that entertains and connects with people all over the world who share my addiction to coffee, obsession with food, and overall awkwardness.

Thanks for reading,

love, ella