Latest Obsession: Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush

Was anyone as exited as I was when Charlotte Tilbury launched her US online store?  I was ecstatic to finally be able to get my hands on some products from her line.  Many of her products really interested me, but none more than the Cheek to Chic blush in Love Glow.  I fell in love with this color.  It is a very warm pinkish color with bits of shimmer that really give off a glow.

This blush is also known as the "swish and pop" blush.  I checked out some videos on Charlotte Tilbury's Youtube channel to see what this is about.  So the idea is that you swish your brush around the outer circle of the blush and apply it to your cheeks as usual.  And then you take a little bit of the middle color and pop it on to the apples of your cheek so that they stand out a little more and it gives them some extra umphff.

And let's talk about the packaging.  OMG.  I love holding this blush in my hand.  I think that it's so sleek and chic.  Not only that, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box.  The outside just looked like a plain, old brown cardboard shipping box.  But on the inside it was a luxurious experience.  Like, I felt so special just opening this package.  The shipping receipt even came in a fancy shmancy CT envelope.  I felt so high class.

Anyways, I can't wait to try more of Charlotte Tilbury's products.  I've had my eye on her matte lipsticks and have heard amazing things about them.

What products are you excited to try??

Xx Christy

Fall LUSH Haul

This is one of my favorite times of year at LUSH.  They have a whole collection of Halloween products out and there's also the anticipation of the Christmas collection.  So, this weekend I popped into the LUSH shop with my sister so that we could check out the Halloween products!

1. Sparkly Pumpkin
I love this bubble bar! I think it is so beautiful and embodies the fall season.  I wanted to buy thirty of these and set them up all around my bathroom as a fall decoration.  I love the way the glitter looks on this cute little pumpkin.  This bubble bar has almost like a grapefruit candy type of scent.  A little more on the sweeter side, as opposed to the spicy side.  Either way, really excited to try it!

2. Northern Lights
Hands down, this is the most beautiful bath bomb I have ever seen.  When I was talking to the girl in the store she said it was supposed to be reminiscent of fireworks during the party season, as well as the Northern Lights obviously.  She did a demo while we there and the colors in this are truly mesmerizing.  This is more of a foamy bath bomb and I don't know if you can see in the pictures but it has these cute little pieces of glitter stars in it.

3. Lord of Misrule
This bath bomb is more traditional and I got it because I'm obsessed with the smell.  It's very spicy and herby (if that's a word...?).  I was also excited to hear that once the green fizzes away in the bath, the bomb changes to a deep purple and turns the water a very deep wine color.  A wine bath? Yes please.

4. Wizard
This is a new product I believe and I think that he is so adorable.  This is a bubble bar and it's actually my favorite product in the Halloween line.  I ended up buying two, because I love him so much.  This has a very spicy scent and will be the perfect addition to a bath on a chilly fall night.

So that just about wraps it up.  I'm going to try and use all of these this months so I can make way for the Christmas products!! I am so excited!

What are your favorite LUSH holiday items??

Xx Christy

Product Rave: The Body Shop's Tea Tree Toner

I know what you're thinking: it's been a long time since we've seen you Christy.  Well, I'm back and I just wanted to share some quick thoughts about the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop.

I only very recently started using toners because I was a little confused as to what they really did.  It's basically a very gentle way to refine the skin and remove any last bits of make-up or dirt after using your cleanser.  Since using the Tea Tree Toner, I've noticed that my skin has felt extremely fresh and clean.  It also mattifies the skin, making it look free of any oily shine.  What are some of your guys' favorite toners??

Xx Christy

Fresh Face Mask: Catastrophe Cosmetic

Hello everybody!

The past few weeks I have been using this fresh face mask called Catastrophe Cosmetic from LUSH.  Even though I would consider myself a Lushie, this was the first time I used a LUSH face mask.  I wanted to hold off until I had five empty black pots to bring in so that I could get this for free!  Since these masks are so fresh and need to be stored in a refrigerator, you can't actually order it online - you have to visit a LUSH store.

I have heard wonderful things about this face mask.  As you can probably tell by the color, this is a mask that is heavy on the blueberry side.  It has little bits of blueberry skin in it and smells amazing!  It smells like a mixture of fresh blueberries and chamomile.  For this face mask, you simply apply it, leave it on for about 10 or 15 minutes and then wash it off.  When I washed mine off, it felt like I had just removed a layer of dirty schmuck from my face and was left with new, smooth, clean, fresh skin. I can't get enough of it!

What is your favorite face mask from LUSH?

Xx Christy

Top 5 Summer Reads

As summer has officially come to a close, I'm going to share with you my favorite books that I read over the summer.  Some of them definitely have a summer feeling, so you may decide to read them this fall or winter when you are missing the summertime.  And by the way, these are in no particular order:

Photo courtesy of emilylockhart.com

1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

I'm sure that by now, many of you have heard of this book.  This seemed to be the "book of the summer" and has had a very strong following.  This book is about a teenage girl, Cadence, who spends her summers on a private island in New England with her wealthy extended family.  It takes place during her seventeenth summer of being on the island and she can't remember anything that has happened during her fifteenth summer, but she understands that something terrible had happened.  She spends her time with three other kids her age, two cousins and a family friend, while on the island and they call themselves the Liars.  Cady is trying to piece together what happened during her fifteenth summer and we, as the readers, are learning the information as Cady does.  The writing is poetically beautiful and there are fairy tales sprinkled throughout the book that relate to the story.  I'm sure that many of you have heard about "the big twist" in this novel, so I don't want to give too much away.  This is a very easy and short read - I read it in only a few hours!

Photo courtesy of bjnovak.com

2. One More Thing, Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak

I am a HUGE fan of The Office.  I have seen every single episode at least a dozen times.  When I heard that B.J. Novak, an actor and writer for the show, was writing a book of short stories I knew that I had to get my hands on a copy.  I found this book very whimsical and creative.  The book opens with a story about the Hare wanting to have a rematch with the Tortoise, which sets the tone for a light hearted and amusing read.  My favorite short story in the book is definitely The Man Who Invented the Calendar, which I think was also featured in The New Yorker.  It is set up as diary entries by the man who invented the calendar and how he arbitrarily made decisions about the calendar based on his life at the time.  I think by far this was the most humorous story in the book and I actually found myself laughing out loud at some points.  The story lengths varied throughout the book - I think the longest was about ten pages and the shortest was only two lines.  The stories are all so different and if one is not grabbing your attention, there are plenty of others to like.  This is a book that has a little something for everyone!

Photo courtesy of rainbowrowell.com

3. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell is the name to look out for in YA fiction and this book, Eleanor & Park, has recently become quite popular.  First of all, I love the setting of this love story.  It takes place in the 1980's and has a punk rock motif throughout the narrative.  The book follows two high school students who are completely different people and end up falling in love.  Eleanor is a bigger, awkward girl with frizzy red hair.  She has a very interesting backstory - her family is very poor and she shares a room with four of her siblings in a small house.  She lives with her mom and dead beat step-dad.  Park is more of the opposite and has a traditional family life.  A big part of the story is her trying to overcome her insecurities and letting Park love her.  The ending is quite sad as well so get your tissue box ready for this one.

Photo courtesy of tworoadsbooks.com

4. Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

Historical fiction tends to be my favorite genre of literature.  I like the idea of taking a historical figure and filling in the blanks with imagination.  I came across this book in the airport before I left for vacation and felt that it had an amazing setting with great characters - 1920s, New York City, Paris, the French Riviera, Zelda, Scott, Ernest Hemingway, and other prominent writers and artists of the time.  The book begins with Zelda's early life when she was living with her parents in the South.  She soon meets F. Scott Fitzgerald and they fall in love.  It seems like a beautiful love story at first, but after they get married everything goes downhill.  The author also has a very interesting take on the relationship triangle between Zelda, Scott, and Hemingway.  It is also interesting to see the parallels in the Fitzgeralds' lives with the great works that F. Scott Fitzgerald has published.  If you like F. Scott Fitzgerald's work, especially The Great Gatsby, you should give this book a go, as the setting and over all themes are quite similar.

Photo courtesy of goodreads.com

5. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

I read this one over Fourth of July weekend while I was in Ocean City, so I would recommend this as a beach read.  The story begins in the 1960s on a rocky island off the coast of Italy that is not frequently visited.  The main character, Pasquale, is a native innkeeper and is surprised when one day a beautiful American actress comes to the island to stay at the inn.  She is shrouded in mystery and gives no real explanation as to why she is there.  Of course, Pasquale falls in love with this actress and wants to help her with whatever circumstance she is in.  The story also jumps back and fourth between modern times and the sixties, introducing new characters that are somehow intertwined in the story as we try to figure out this mysterious actress.  The book has an old Hollywood glamor (and not so glamorous at times) feel, including characters such as Liz Taylor and Richard Burton.

So, if any of these books sound appealing to you, you can click on the title links to check them out.  If you would like, you can also follow me on Goodreads right here.  What were some of your favorite books this summer??

Xx Christy

Nails of the Week #1

Essie Take It Outside

I have been cooped up in my house studying for my NCLEX on this cloudy, cozy day.  I decided to take a study break by heating up some apple cider and painting my nails. This week's nail color I've decided on is Take It Outside by Essie.









During the Fall, I love to wear more nude and taupe colors on my nails. When I saw this polish as part of Essie's new Fall 2014 line, I knew that I would fall in love with this color (no pun intended).  It is such an incredibly chic shade of taupe and I love the way it looks.






What do you guys think? What are your favorite autumn nail colors?

Xx Christy

The Body Shop Haul

Recently, I have really been loving The Body Shop.  I had never actually been into the store until last month and oh man, did I fall in love.  I was mesmerized by all of the skin, bath, shower, and make-up products.  I definitely went a little crazy in there.  So, I thought I would share with you guys what I bought...

1. Vitamin E Moisture Cream

I have been looking to switch up my moisturizer routine lately.  I had been using the LUSH Full of Grace, but I was kind of over the whole solid moisturizer thing.  It was very oily and I wanted something a bit more creamy.  This made my dreams come true.  I also like that it sinks in very well, rather than just sitting on top of my skin. I have been using it in the morning after I wash my face for the past few days and I've been loving it!

2. Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil

This is the first serum that I have ever used, so I don't have many products to compare it to.  But, I will say I may have to add serums to my daily skincare routine.  I have been putting this on my face at night before I go to bed.  When I wake up, my face feels incredibly soft and hydrated.  I was a little skeptical about this product at first, but it really does absorb into the skin really well.  It just makes my skin feel so radiant and fresh after a good night sleep.

3. Radiant Highlighter

When I was in The Body Shop that day, I tried a little swatch of this on the back of my hand and was instantly mesmerized.  This is such a pretty, shimmery creamy highlighter.  It truly is radiant and will instantly brighten up your make-up.  Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use this product yet but I am so excited to try it!

4. Shea Body Butter, Shea Eau de Toilette, Shea Shower Cream

I am very particular about the scents that I use.  I'm not much of a sweet, fruity person and I like to go for something a little deeper.  I was really attracted to the Shea scent, which has sort of a nutty undertone.  The first product, the body butter, is truly amazing.  It has turned me into a body butter girl for sure.  I've had my eye on the Almond body butter so I think that will be my next one.  The Eau de Toilette is really lovely.  It is such a light and fresh mist that I've been wearing as an everyday scent.  I am new to the shower creams.  I've never used one before but I think it's just like conditioner you use in your hair, but for your body.  So I am excited to try it!  All of these products actually came in a gift set.  Plus, they are all the travel sizes so they are perfect to pack away in your suitcase.  I actually took all of these with me to Puerto Rico last week.  If you are looking for a little variety of products to try, I definitely recommend a gift set like this.

5. Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter

This little jar really caught my attention in the store.  First of all, I loved the packaging - and then when I tried a little bit on my hands, I knew that it was coming home with me.  It is extremely moisturizing and it has a really pleasant smell.  I have been using it for pedicures in conjunction with the Coconut Body Scrub, which was featured in my August Favorites.  It makes my feet incredibly soft and it literally feels like I paid thirty dollars for a pedicure.  I feel like this will also be crucial to have during the fall and winter when my hands begin to get really dry from the cold weather.




So that about wraps it up.  I'm so excited to try more products from The Body Shop since I have not been disappointed with these.  Are there any that you guys recommend??

xx Christy

August Favorites

I have to admit, August is not my most favorite of the months.  I feel as though it is the least exciting of the summer months. But, the end of August marks the beginning of something grand: AUTUMN!  I'm going to share with you only a few of my favorite products that I've been using during the month. So without further adieu...

1. The Body Shop Coconut Cream Body Scrub
Let me tell you - not only does this scrub exfoliate my skin leaving it the smoothest it's ever been, but the smell alone is amazing.  One whiff of this bad boy and it takes me away to a tropical island sipping pina colodas.  Since this is a creamier body scrub I find that it isn't too harsh on my skin and it feels as though it hydrates, as well as exfoliates.  I also really like to use this product as a part of my pedicure routine.

2. The Body Shop Radiant Oil for Body and Hair in Wild Argan Oil
This product is a part of the new Wild Argan Oil scent collection at The Body Shop.  I really like the way this scent is relaxing, but also rich because I'm not a fan of overly sweet and fruity scents.  I normally spray some of this around my chest, shoulders, and arms before I go out to make my skin look a bit more hydrated and not so dull.  You can also use this product in your hair, however, I suggest spraying it into your hand and then applying.  The first time I used this product, I sprayed it directly onto my hair and I instantly regretted it.  I thought it would be more of a mist, rather than a squirt.... you know what I'm sayin? I tried to work it into my hair and I ended up with just like two or three oily patches in my hair.  Not a good look.

3. Revlon Color Burst Matte Balm
Recently, I have been very into brightly colored lip products.  I tend to lean towards very neutral shades and I like to keep my makeup simple.  I think bright lipstick during the summertime can add an extra pop of color without looking like too much.  Needless to say, I love these lip colors.  Not only do they give color, but they really do act as a minty balm to hydrate your lips.  Sometimes when I wear lipstick I feel as though my lips get cracked and dried and then the color becomes uneven, but these are a gem.  The matte finish is beautiful and they last for the entire day.... I'm not kidding!  The colors pictured here are Elusive and Unapologetic, respectively.

4. Real Techniques Travel Essentials Set
I bought this set of Real Techniques brushes at Ulta this month, and OMG have they changed the way I apply my makeup.  They are incredibly soft and blend my makeup beautifully.  The brushes included in this set are the Essential Foundation brush, the Domed Eye Shadow brush, and the Multi Task brush.  It even came with a nifty travel case.  I like the idea of having the brushes color-coded: gold is base brushes, purple is eye brushes, and pink is finishing brushes.  I've already started picking out the ones I will be buying next!

5. Crest 3D White Whitestrips in Shimmer White
I saved the not as exciting product for last.  Have you ever wondered why Miley Cyrus looks so good in red lipstick? It seemed like everywhere I saw her (music videos, magazine covers, red carpet events, etc.) she was sporting the red lipstick flawlessly.  And then it hit me - the reason she looks so good with those candy red lips is because her teeth are so blindingly white.  If you're looking for a whitestrip to use I suggest biting the bullet and splurging on a name brand.  Originally, I had tried an off brand that was a little bit cheaper and after using the whole box, I couldn't even tell the difference. But oh man, these Crest Whitestrips were really amazing.  I had noticed a difference in two days! And now, not only does my red lipstick look better, but so do all of my other colors.

And now just like August, this post is coming to a close.  I am so looking forward to getting September started off on the right foot and sharing with you guys a new set of favorites!