Back to School Survival Kit~!

Hey Guys~!

I have another back to school post for all of you. Today I'll be sharing a kit of stuff I think everyone should have in their locker. I did a similar post to this last year, so if you want to check that out, {click here.} Of course you can substitute or take out some things, but this is what I like to have either on me or in my locker at school. So let's start~~!

Here's the bag I plan on keeping everything in. I got it in a Clinique set last year. It came with the little matching pouch too and I'll start with what I keep in there first. I like to have this one in my bag, so these are the things I always want to have on me when I'm in class.

Hand Sanitizer

If you’re going to lunch or you just feel like your hands are dirty, it’s great to have your own hand sanitizer. You can buy one just about anywhere, but I personally like this one from Bath and Body Works. There they have tons of different scents, the one I have is Fresh Picked Wild Berries and it smells really nice. They’re small, so they don’t take up a lot of space in my bag.

Gum

I don’t really feel like this needs an explanation of why I have to have this with me. But for those of you that want one, gum makes your breath smell nice. If you’re in school, where you have people that you kind of, sometimes, need to talk to, everyone will like talking to you if your breath doesn’t smell like your breakfast or lunch that you just ate.

Lip Balm

Especially in the fall and winter, I love having a lip balm on me. I do get chapped lips easily, so I constantly reapply lip balm throughout the day. There are all different kinds you can get, tinted, scented, etc. But if you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know I love the Maybelline Baby Lips, so that’s what I’ll have with me.

Perfume Samples

I always get perfume samples at places like Ulta and Sephora that I never really use. However at school I don’t enjoy taking a big perfume bottle or anything in my bag because it could break. So having these small samples of perfumes I like is great. I can spray them on after gym or whenever I need a quick, nice smelling, pick me up. The ones I have here are the same and they are the Jo Malone perfume in Nectarine Blossom and Honey.

Earphones

When you have independent work time in class, I personally enjoy listening to music; to do that I need to bring my earphones to class. The ones I have are some cheap ones from Amazon that I got in a phone accessories pack. Also I like being able to listen to music when I’m working in the library or walking to or back from school.

Now I’ll show all of you what I keep in the larger bag. This one I will keep in my locker, so in here are things that I like having on me, but I won’t need to have on a daily basis or just to have for emergencies. So let’s move onto that bag~~!

Mini Deodorant

I have a gym class in the middle of the day, and I want to smell nice for the rest of the day, so I like having some deodorant on me. This one is a mini, to save space, and it’s from the brand Secret in the scent Ooh La La Lavender. Really any deodorant will do, and the mini ones are easy to find in the travel sections of drugstores.

Sunglasses

I won’t need these for the entire year, but for the warmer / sunnier days I like having sunglasses for if I’m sitting outside, walking to and from class, or walking home. Also I like keeping them in a case so they don’t get scratched or ruined. My case is from Omega and I’m not sure if you can get this. My sunglasses are cat eye shaped, and I’m sadly not sure where they came from.

Hair Elastics and Brush

If a hair falls out of place, it’s getting hot, or you’re just having a bad hair day, having a hairbrush and elastics is great. I personally like having these for gym class so I can tie my hair up into a ponytail. I know there are places that sell smaller hair brushes, but I really like this one.

Nail File

I always have the problem of breaking my nails. So having a file on you or in your locker is great. That way if you chip a nail or something, you can easily fix it. This is a generic one, and I think I got it in a pack.

Cash

If you are going out after class with your friends, need to buy lunch, or you have a free block, you need to have some money. At maximum I like having ten dollars because I don’t want someone to steal a ton from me or to lose any.

Extra Pens and Pencils 

I don’t know about you guys, but I always lose all my pens and pencils before the end of the year. So I like having a ton of extras in my bag. I just have some mechanical pencils and some colored pens. I love taking notes with colorful pens, since it’s just more fun.

So that’s everything in my back to school survival kit. If there's something that you'd keep in this kit that I didn't include, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |

Back to School Makeup Tutorial~!

Hey Guys~!

It's back to school season, and I know some of you guys have already started school, so I thought I'd show you a look that you can wear to school. It's super quick and easy, making it great for school mornings where you're busy getting ready for the day. So let's start~~!

This tutorial is on YouTube, {click here} to watch it on YouTube. Or you can watch it here. Below the video I have a list of the products I used and the shades that I used.

★・・・・・・・★ Product List ★・・・・・・・★

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in #15

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic
Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Soft Brown
Elf Eyeshadow Primer in Sheer
Stila in the Know Palette {Wind, Desert, and Rain}
Maybelline Eyeshadow Duo in Dusk
NYX Wonder Pencil in Fair
Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara
Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate

I hope that you guys enjoyed this post/video. I'd really appreciate it if you subscribed to my YouTube channel, which is linked at the bottom of this post. If you guys want more makeup tutorials, let me know what you want to see in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you in my next post

xo

Alyss

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |

Milani Bella Eyes {#5, #7, #16, #24} Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Last week I went to CVS and I saw a few displays of new drugstore products. One of the ones that caught my eye was a collection of single eyeshadows from the brand, Milani. I've never really tried anything from the brand before, and there was a 50% off sale on anything from the Milani line, so I decided to get four to try out. I've been testing them out to review. So let's start~~!

The packaging is okay. Like everything from Milani, the packaging is fake looking gold; which I personally don't like cause it looks cheap. It's also a bit clunky compared to other single shadows I own. The compact is very secure though, so if you drop it there's no chance of it opening or breaking.

On the Milani website, there are thirty different shades to choose from. These range in color, both neutrals and colorful shades, and finishes, such as; matte, metallic, satin, shimmer, and iridescent. I love seeing a huge variety in an eyeshadow collection because then there is something in everyone's comfort zone.

I bought mostly neutral colors, since I knew I'd get a lot of use out of them. I got four and they are #5 Bella Taupe, #7 Bella White, #16 Bella Champagne, and #24 Bella Bronze. All of them have different finishes, which I was excited to work with.

Here are some swatches of these shadows. According to the website, they're supposed to have rich, vibrant color both wet or dry with just one swipe. So I first swatched them both dry and wet.

I noticed that when dry, the white is kind of sheer and feels a little chalky. All of the others are fine though.

When these shadows are wet, they are beyond amazing~! They have a smooth and creamy, almost gel like consistency, and they are is super pigmented. 

You would think that with such nice pigmentation and quality that these eyeshadows would be kind of pricy. However individually they are only $4 a piece. Like I said before, I got these buy one get one 50% off, so they only cost me around $12. And I think that's pretty reasonable.

Packaging: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Color Range: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Texture: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Pigmentation: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Price: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Overall: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

I really like these eyeshadows. They just as nice as some of my more expensive ones in texture and pigmentation. I'm not fond of the packaging, but the product is so great that I don't really care. If you're looking for a great drugstore eyeshadow, or have never tried anything from Milani, this is a great start. I now want to try other Milani products too.

So that was my Milani Bella Eyes review. If you have any recomendations for other Milani products or you enjoyed this review, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you in my next post.

xo

Alyss

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |

Pürminerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation Review~!

Hey Guys~!

In a lot of posts and in my makeup tutorial, I have used or mentioned a powder from the company Pürminerals. At Ulta, where I got it, the lady there told me it was like a cheaper version of the Bareminerals powder foundations, so I decided to give it a try. I've had it for a few months and now have gotten more into wearing it. Therefore I thought it would be great to review it for all of you. So let's start~~!

I really like how this compact looks. It's a matte silver with dark grey dots. The compact itself is made of a sturdy material, so it won't break easily. Inside it has a mirror and then your product. This powder doesn't come with a brush or powder puff, which I assumed it would, but I don't mind.

The shade selection is quite large for a powder foundation. In the line there are eleven different shades offered on the Ulta website, which I was surprised about. The one I have is the lightest shade, which is Porcelain.

I absolutely love the texture of this powder. I've tried other powder foundations in the past, but they either offered no coverage or felt chalky on my skin. This one feels smooth and light, making application easy too.

Another thing I love is that this has SPF 15. I get sunburns really easily, and I haven't gotten one once while wearing this on my face. Since it's summer time, I haven't been into wearing a ton of heavy makeup. So most of the time I just apply this and some mascara and feel great. 

On the Pürminerals websites, this product claims to give you flawless coverage, correct and prevent any imperfections,  brighten the look of dark spots and age spots, and to smooth skin. Some of these claims aren't nessecarry for me, especially the anti-aging properties, so I'll tell you all my results for everything else.

Coverage wise I'd say this powder is very buildable. It can give the 'no makeup' look, but still can create medium coverage. I wouldn't say flawless or full because for me it doesn't cover my dark circles, so I need a concealer there.

I took a picture for me just wearing the powder, not even any concealer under my eyes. It covers up my redness and most of my dark circles under my eyes.

Without eye makeup I look dead -.-"

I'm not entirely sure if this corrects and prevents anything, since I do have a strict skin care routine and I have pretty clear skin. So I can't really say if it does this.

I also can't say if this brightens age and dark spots, mainly cause I don't really have those either.

The smoothing affect of this product is alright. When I wear this, my skin looks and feels great. However it does sometimes extenuate the minimal dry patches I have, which is frustrating for me.

This foundation costs $27.00, which for a high end foundation is quite reasonable. I've never been able to find a good mineral foundation at the drugstore, or any powder that compares to this one. So I'm completely fine spending a fair amount for this.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Shade Selection: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Coverage: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Correcting Properties: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Smoothing: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As you can see, I really do like this product. Although it's a bit pricey and I don't receive all the benefits it promises, it still does a great job of being a mineral foundation. Like I said, there's not been a drugstore product I've tried that gives the same or even similar results. So if you're looking for a mineral foundation, I'd definitely give this one a try.

I hope you guys all enjoyed my review on the Pürminerals Pressed Mineral Foundation. If you have any questions or have a request for a review, let me know in the comments. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss 

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |

My Back to School Fashion Essentials~!

Hey Guys~!

It's back to school season again, which I know no one is excited about. But I thought I'd pump you all, and myself, up for back to school shopping~~! I hate going back to school, but buying a new wardrobe always makes me optimistic for the new year. Today I thought I'd share with all of you the essential pieces of clothing I think you should have in your wardrobe for back to school. All of them are from either Forever21, Urban Outfitters, or Dresslink. So let's start~~!

A Pair of Jeans

No matter what, a simple pair of jeans is necessary. They go with just about anything and it's super easy to come up with outfits with them. There are tons of different styles; you can get different washes, colors, patterns, with or without rips, etc. Personally I like these jeans from Forever21. They are the Classic Faded Skinny Jeans, {click here} to check them out. These are a light wash skinny jean with no rips, so you can make them either casual or dress them up a little depending on what you wear with them. 

Casual Dress

 During the school years, there are many times, that if you're like me, you'll oversleep. Those days you need to focus on making sure you're prepared for school, and not what you're wearing. A great thing that you can just throw on is a casual dress. I found this one on Dresslink, {click here} to check it out. I liked the pastel color, since it will add some brightness to your look and you'll look like you spent a lot of time getting ready.

  "Little Black Dress"

Along the lines of having a casual dress, a little black dress is something everyone should have. I know that sounds a little cliche, but it's so true. Often there are events, both in school and outside of school that you need to dress up for; such as a school dance, a party, job interview, etc. By having such a basic dress in your wardrobe, you can create tons of looks by wearing different accessories, jackets, shoes, etc. I really liked the scalloped neck line of this one from Urban Outfitters, {click here} to check it out.

A Sweater or Jumper

 

 If you really aren't into dresses, but you want something else you can just throw on, a sweater or jumper is a great option. They can be worn with leggings, jeans, shorts, or skirts, making them really versatile. I like having a few plain solid colored ones, and a few with either cute details or graphics. The one on the left is from Forever21, {click here} to check it out, and the one on the right is from Urban Outfitters, {click here} to check it out. I now realized that both of the ones I showed are blue, but feel free to get any color you like.

Black Flats

 

 Everyone needs a shoe that can be thrown on and go with any outfit. Flats are that shoe. They are great for everyday or for special occasions. Because there is no heel, they're easy to walk in and won't cause you any pain. These ones are from Forever21, {click here} to check them out, and I liked these because of the round toe box, but get whatever you like. There are tons of places that sell simple shoes like these so you'll definitely find something that suites your style.

Watch

 When you are running around school or wanting to know when class will end, you'll need a watch to look at. I love wearing watches to school because I don't have to get my phone out of my bag to check the time. There are tons of different watches available and they are sold everywhere. This one is from Dresslink, {click here} to check it out. And I picked this one cause the clock face has a floral print and I love floral~~!

Cardigan
 

 I personally don't like wearing sweatshirts to school. But I do want to stay warm on those chilly days, so something I suggest getting is a cardigan. They come in many different colors, patterns, and styles, all of which range in thickness. I like having a few thin ones for the warmer months and some thicker ones for the cold months. This one is from Forever21, {click here} to check it out. I really liked the color selection for this one, especially the dusty rose color as seen in the picture. 

Boots 

 

The last essencial I think you should have are some boots. There isn't a particular style I think everyone should have, but just have something that is easy to walk in, so no thin heels~~!! For a casual boot, I love combat boots like these from Dresslink, {click here} to check them out. Last year I had a pair that were similar to these but were a light brown color. I really like them cause they're super comfy and went with just about any outfit. So I think they're great.

Those were my back to school fashion essentials. If you want more back to school themed posts, let me know in the comments below. I either want to do a look book of outfits I wear or a makeup tutorial. Let me know which one you'd prefer. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

･✿ヾ╲(｡◕‿◕｡)╱✿･ﾟ

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |

July Favorites 2014~!

Hey Guys~!

This month I thought I'd try something different. Instead of writing my monthly favorites for the month of July, I decided to film a favorites video. If you guys enjoy it, then I can try to make these types of posts and others into videos too. So let's me know what you think in the comments below.

Here's the link, {click here} to watch it on YouTube. Or you can watch it here~!

I also decided to list all the products mentioned and link them to any reviews I've done on them.

Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly B.B. Cream - {review}

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold

Maybelline Define-A-Brow Pencil

L.A. Colors Palette in Cafe Au Lait

Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner in Turquoise

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Blooming

Revlon Lip Butter in Sorbet

Revlon Color Stay Nail Polish in Porcelain

Sally Hansen Nail Polish in Aisle Be There

Etude House Nail Polish in Greatfruit

CVS Makeup Clensing Towlettes

Lush Tea Tree Water

My Schemings Anti-Acne Sheet Mask - {review}

Viva La Juicy Perfume by Juicy Couture

Plaid Patchwork Purse

Floral Romper from Forever21

Brave Frontier

I hope you guys enjoyed this new kind of post. If you'd like future favorites posts to be like this, let me know in the comments. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

| Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin' | YouTube |