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Gift Guide: For the Beauty Buff

Published on August 6, 2018May 1, 2024 by LeeLeave a comment

Let’s face it, we all have a self-proclaimed beauty buff on our friend list. You know, the one that’s a VIB member at Sephora or at Ulta Beauty, can name all the eyeshadow palettes that dropped this year, and can recommend the best moisturizer before you can even say the word. It can be difficult to shop for someone who’s makeup bag is already filled to the brim, which brings me to today’s post. I have compile a list of gift ideas for the beauty fanatic in your life. From top-rated face masks, to beauty blenders and makeup organizers, this list will make holiday/celebration shopping a breeze. The best part of it all? Everything in this gift guide is under $100! Keep scrolling to do a little holiday shopping for your favorite beauty obsessed babe…

1. Glossier Balm Dotcom Trio, $30
One of my favorite cult beauty brands has to be Glossier. This Balm Dotcom trio is the perfect gift for the girl who’s always reaching for a moisturizing lip balm. Plus they smell and look amazing!

2. Caboodles Le Sophistique 10pc Bag Set Black & White Stripe, $29.99
Every beauty babe needs a trusty cosmetic case. You can head over to target and see what affordable choices they have to offer. They have many popular name brand cosmetic bags, so you won’t be disappointed.

3. Sorbus Cosmetic Makeup and Jewelry Storage Case Display – Spacious Design (4 Large – 2 Small Drawers), $33.99
This sturdy, clear acrylic makeup organizer set includes four drawers on the bottom unit and two top drawers are great for holding smaller items. The 16 slots on the top portion let you place a variety of items like makeup brushes, lipsticks and more, making this display a must-have on your vanity. Talk about a chic and functional way to keep your sink nice and organized!

4. BRWNGRLMGC Set, $44
These classic elegant hues are mani/pedi worthy if you ask me. If you have a gal in your life that nails the at-home mani, this is the gift that keeps on giving.

5. The Little Market Lavender Spa Gift Box, $76
Give the gift of rest and relaxation with this luxurious lavender gift set for any celebration. This box has their incredible Bath Bomb, Lavender & Honey Soap, Soaking Salt and Candle, all in a yummy lavender scent. Treat the beauty buff in your life while giving back to female artisans at the same time.

6. Philosophy 4-step hydrate & glow set, $34
This next gift is a beauty must. I’m kinda obsessed with everything that Philosophy has to offer, and this gift kit is the perfect way to introduce your loved ones to some of the best skincare.

7. Moon Juice Moon Dust Sachet Sampler Box, $35
Have your beauty buff feeling beautiful from the inside out with this blend of Moon Dust sachets. Add them to your favorite beverage to help combat the effects of stress to nourish body, beauty and consciousness from the inside out.

Bigelow Benefits, $19.95
All of us know how important it is to put good things in our bodies to help us stay strong. That desire was the inspiration for the Bigelow Benefits line, everyday teas that fuel your body with good for you ingredients. And of course, the flavor is everything! The Bigelow family designed this tea collection to taste fabulous and help support your well-being. They Benefits teas can be used as part of your everyday routine and can help you define the life you want to live! This boxed set of six includes 18 tea bags each of Cinnamon Blackberry Herbal Tea, Lemon & Echinacea Herbal Tea, Turmeric, Chili Matcha Green Tea, Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea, Ginger & Peach Herbal Tea and Blueberry & Aloe Herbal Tea …108 Tea bags in all.

8. Taking Care Of Your Hair Under There Kit, $45
Have you heard? CURLS came out with these ultra-chic gift boxes with the best CURListas haircare line has to offer. Now you can have the freedom to rock your protective styles fearlessly. Take care of your “hair under there” before, after and throughout the duration of your protective style, using CURLS Blueberry Bliss Curl Collection! Enriched with certified organic blueberry extract to PURIFY – PROTECT, PRESERVE & GROW your hair while rocking your braids, wigs, clip ins or extension styles.

9. White with Style Sparkle White Professional Home Teeth Whitening Kit, $~~269.99~~
On the go? Use White with Style Teeth Whitening kits to get your teeth whiter than a pearl. Use code: CRYSTALEE to get Sparkle White Professional Home Teeth Whitening Kit for ONLY $28. Click here for more info!

10. MyMakeupBrushSet 10 Piece Black and Gold Oval Brush Set, $34.99
Last but not least, I have the Black and Gold Oval Brush Set for all of the makeup lovers out there. Blend that makeup look into perfection with the beauty world’s favorite tool.

BH Cosmetics Crystal Quartz – 12 Piece Brush Set, $15.60
Enchant your beauty routine with our Crystal Quartz 12 Piece Brush Set, a collection of top-quality face and eye brushes. The set comes in an ethereal, iridescent zip-top case for convenient storage and travel.

Do you have any gift ideas for the beauty buff in your life?

Let me know your suggestions in the comments!

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A Day At The Fort Lauderdale Beach

Published on July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 by Lee1 Comment

Hello Beauties, June 29, I had decided last minute to head to the beach and it turned out to be an experience that I cherish close to my heart. That day, my head became a little clearer and my smile became bigger. My smile was real too. Here are couple of reasons why I cherished that moment so much.

I have anxiety which means I have become antisocial over the years. Being around bunch of people, especially people I don’t know can be stressful for me. I’m always in my head and thinking about the worst. But that day, I survived.
I was at peace by MYSELF. I was there from 11:30 am to 4 or 5 -ish pm.
I enjoyed the scene and everything with little money I had. I was happy, like truly happy and learned a lot about myself while getting a nice workout in the process.

Making time for yourself and learning how to enjoy your own space is so important. Never in a million years did I think that I would go to the beach by myself and stay there for longer than 15 minutes. I’m happy I did though and can’t wait to go back. I might even just travel to Orlando or Miami just because. You might be thinking girl, it’s just the beach but for me, its more than that. I proved a lot to myself and didn’t let my anxiety or anything else get in my way. I want to do bigger trips but for now, traveling around Florida will do. If you want to know how I did it with basically no money, What I did, and Where I went then keep on reading…

How Did You Get There?

I took the bus, simple. I got the whole day bus pass which is $5 and took Bus Route 40. I asked a nice man who was hitting on me but it didn’t bother me because he wasn’t disrespectful. He told me what bus to take and gave me directions to get to that bus stop.

Now, if you want to get there quicker without having to wait and make several stops along the way then I suggest you take Lyft. It is going to be pricey depending on where you coming from but you can use my code: CRYSTAL40317 to save $$.

What Places Did You Hangout At?

First, I walked along the beach then I stumbled upon CVS. It wasn’t that far, it was located in Beach Place plaza. I purchased a bottle of coke, I was really thirsty. Mouth felt dry and everything. Thinking back at it, I should had got a water bottle instead especially since when the coke wasn’t cold anymore, it tasted weird. It was warm, not like room temperature, just warm.

Then I went to the beach and dip my toes into the nice cool water. The sun was out but it wasn’t too hot. I wished I had my bathed suit or extra clothing because if I did, I would had became a mermaid for sure lol.

After I finished playing in the water some more, I went up to a family who was tryna take pictures and asked if they needed help. They were so nice, they were traveling from Switzerland. I took some bomb pics for them and said goodbye. Next, I walked some more and saw many parties that was happening at different resorts. I was invited by this lesbian who was cool as fuck. I sat by the pool with them and talked. The music was booming and boobies were out. I spent like 1hr with them before I left. Everyone was just happy and living their best life.

I continued to walk and saw many beautiful resorts, restaurants, hotels, homes, and boats. I decided to turn back around because I was getting hungry and I was a little scared that I might be going too far; I didn’t want to get lost. Since, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, me getting stuck wasn’t the plan and I do sometimes forget things. I just didn’t want to take any chances. Plus, I didn’t have cash on me, so if it had reached 11:59 pm, I would had been screwed because that’s when my bus pass would had expired.

I headed back to Beach Place to rest up. There were many tourists. It wasn’t packed but it was still busy. My back felt better, my body felt better so I got up and continued to see what the prices were looking like for the food. One restaurant had a sale going like buy a burger and get a coke for free and another restaurant Lona had different promotional flyers up. That place was busy, well from what I saw at least. People were eating, drinking and just chilling. Honestly, I wanted a hot dog but the place wasn’t open and there were no other place that was selling hot dogs.

I rode back taking the Bus Route 40 then jumped on Bus Route 22 to get back home. I ended my day with a sweet tea from Dunkin Donuts and 6 pieces of hush browns. They have sweet tea, any size for a $1. I am kinda sad that I missed the Live Music & Entertainment at Fort Lauderdale beach but next time.

Share some of your favorite beach day tips!

Have you traveled to Florida? And if you have, what was your experience like?

When was the last time you explored the town you live in or a neighboring town? That could be a fun journey and an escape from the everyday grind, couldn’t it?

XO Lee

Beauty Note: Why I Switched to a Foundation Brush—and Why I’ll Never Go Back

Published on July 26, 2018July 26, 2018 by Lee2 Comments

It all started on a routine trip to Target. I can’t help but make a detour through the cosmetics section every time I walk into the store—I swear it’s like a magnet! A small voice in my head convinces me that there’s something new that I need to try. During one of my more recent visits, Target had just remodeled the makeup brush section and I found myself comparing and contrasting every single one. After all, one needed to come home with me and I wanted it to be something I used on a regular basis. That day I became the proud owner of my first Sonia Kashuk foundation brush.

For the past few years I’ve been applying my foundation with a makeup sponge, and for the most part I had no complaints. After all, each application process has its pros and cons. Since I’m the kind of person that likes to test out the latest beauty trends to see what all of the hype is about, my curiosity is what ultimately lead me to the brush aisle at Target that day. I know that using a brush to apply foundation is not a new concept, and I have used makeup brushes before. But it been a while since I used brushes and there have been so many brushes that has been out that I needed to find out has there been a change for myself and I’m so glad I did. Keep scrolling to see why I’ve converted to using makeup brushes…

Why I’m ditching my makeup sponge.

All in all, makeup sponges work great when applying everything from foundation to concealer and even highlighter. After using a damp makeup sponge to apply my foundation for quite some time (I’m talking years), I found myself getting fed up with the lack of consistent coverage it was creating. Did you know that makeup sponges soak up a lot of the product that you’re using? I found that because of this, my makeup was looking blotchy in areas where there was more product and I was running out of foundation faster than I care to admit. Using a makeup sponge was proving to be more wasteful than helpful.

Why I’m sold on foundation brushes.

When it came time to test the makeup sponge against the foundation brush, the results were evident immediately. It cut my application time in half and it left me with polished and airbrushed looking results. The biggest difference for me was how even my skin looked—finally! Foundation brushes give you the option to build up as much coverage as you want, giving you full control of the look you’re wanting to achieve. These were the kind of results I was lacking with a makeup sponge.

After four weeks of using the foundation brush to apply my makeup, I can confidently say that I will not be reverting back to a sponge. If you’ve been curious about what they can do for you, I encourage you to make the switch! Not only will your product last longer, but you’ll be giving yourself an effortless airbrushed look every time you apply foundation. That’s a win win in my book!

Here are a few of my favorite foundation brushes:

What are your thoughts on foundation brushes?

(Let me know your opinion in the comments below!)

Philosophy- Purity Made Simple Moisturizer Review

Published on June 10, 2018November 21, 2019 by LeeLeave a comment

I’ve been using Philosophy Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer for couple of weeks now so I wanted to share my initial thought on the product specially since I been getting a lot of compliments on my skin.

Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer is a nourishing formula that is packed with good-for-you ingredients that deliver 24 hour hydration. You will automatically see a radiant, dewy complexion with less-visible pores.

This new moisturizer feels lightweight as it pumps out of the bottle, yet it has enough weight as it smooths onto skin as to not immediately disappear into the skin as it absorbs. It does absorb pretty quickly, though it does leave skin feeling hydrated and gives my skin a dewy finish.

The formula of Purity Made Simple Moisturizer is definitely not simple and that is a good thing. It is made with philosophy’s exclusive blend of sustainable meadowfoam seed oil, cold-pressed chia seed oil, green tea antioxidant complex, a blend of vitamins C and E and moisture-magnet ingredients glycerin and sodium hyaluronateto that protects skin while wearing.

As I said, my skin definitely feels hydrated as soon as I smooth it on. I do have dry skin, so for me, this product is perfect for my skin. It does NOT leave my skin greasy or shiny, just hydrated and fresh.

After just one use of this moisturizer, your skin feels refreshed and bouncy to the touch, like a reset for your skin. It preps your skin for smooth makeup application. Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer will leave your beautiful skin radiant, dewy, and smooth with less-visible pores, leaving it looking pure and restored to its ideal state. Skin feels ultra-moisturized all day without feeling greasy and like a daily vitamin, leaves it looking healthy and strong.

The amazing part is that this feather light moisturizer is perfect for all skin types. It does NOT cause breakouts and does NOT clog pores.

✔ Normal
✔ Oily
✔ Combination
✔ Dry
✔ Sensitive

I’ve been using this moisturizer every day and I have really seen a difference in my skin. My skin is soft, hydrated and my pores are a lot less visible. I also see a difference in the colour texture of my skin, it is more uniform and balanced looking. Last but not least I also feel as though my skin is less dry and dull looking since using these products, which makes me a happy gyal. Even when I’m not wearing makeup, I still use it, it is now part of my every day skin care routine.

I am really impressed by the results the philosophy gives and how affordable the products are. It’s a step up from buying a moisturizer at the drugstore, but it doesn’t break the bank. I love to let you all know when you can get the most for your money and I can really tell you that this product delivers great results.

Purity Made Simple Ultra-Light Moisturizer is available at Sephora and Ulta Beauty right now. It sells $25 for the 4.7oz and $5 for the 0.5oz on the www.philosophy.com website. Check them out for more info and deals !

Is this a moisturizer you will be trying? What is your favorite moisturizer(s) that you use on your face and body? Let me know in the comments below.

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Gift Guide: For the Beauty Buff

Do you have any gift ideas for the beauty buff in your life?

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