Handmade Love

If you've read my blog before, you probably know I am obsessed with "handmade" just as much as I'm obsessed with makeup. I own a shop on Etsy (think huge, online craft show) and I am constantly discovering really awesome products from other sellers. 

Why I shop (and love) handmade: 

1. It feels so good to support a small business owner vs. a large corporation 

2. The things you find on Etsy will be unique because they aren't in every mall across America. 

3. Many shops will customize their products to your specifications/likings!

Here are some handmade items I'm currently in love with.

The Oversized Ego Scarf 

$48 from seller, topherco

Isn't this scarf amazing? This shop is on vacation until September 24th, but as soon as the shop owner returns I am so picking up one of these awesome, chunky infinity scarves for Fall. Thinking of choosing a neutral color like cream/wheat so it matches different fall/winter coats.  If this scarf is too big for you, the seller does make a smaller version. 

The Ombre Metals Bracelet

$35 by HRHCOLLECTION

I love jewelry pieces that mix gold and silver together. Shop owner, Alex, used to have an Etsy shop but has since started her own webshop. She has really great style (check out her blog) and is amazing at designing jewelry. If I could, I would seriously buy out her entire shop. I've had my eye on this chunky metal wrap bracelet which fades from gold to silver (love the name-- the ombre bracelet!). 

Lace Earrings Xandra (Ombre)

$22 by WhiteOwl

This shop has been featured in Lucky Magazine & Marie Claire! It's no wonder why her products were chosen. WhiteOwl has beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets all made from lace. I love big, statement jewelry and many of her pieces are just that. 

Upcoming posts:

♥ What's in My Bag?

♥ A Giveaway!

August Favorites

I LOVE the summer, and wish it would never end. But right now it's at that weird period between summer and fall here in the North East. One day it's hot and humid and the next day you're wearing a sweatshirt. As much as I love Summer, I just wish it would leave and it were Fall already. I'm not looking forward to cold weather but I do enjoy Fall things like apple picking, football, & of course Halloween! 

Well, here are my makeup/beauty favorites for the month of August.

Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream

I picked up a Benefit skincare mini kit (it contains refined finish facial polish, total moisture facial cream, and facial emulsion) from Ulta for $12 to try out a few of their products. 

The facial cream is really moisturizing and not greasy. I was reading reviews and some say they use this as a night cream as it is a thick, rich cream. However, with my dry skin it works for me if I need to use this during the day (thinking this cream will be great for winter). The other mini in the kit, the refined facial emulsion, is a lighter, oil-free moisturizer and has an SPF 15. This is a moisturizer that Benefit recommends to apply in  the morning, so if the facial cream is too heavy for you during the day, this might be what you're looking for.

The packaging is so pretty, something I'd want to leave out on the bathroom counter. The three I've sampled from the line smell really fresh. The line is on the expensive side (full-sized facial cream is $38) but I'm thinking about purchasing the cream in the full size once Ulta sends out their 20% off coupon.

Where to Buy: Ulta, Sephora, BenefitCosmetics.com

Cost: $38 for 48.2g Net Wt. 1.7 oz

Benefit Sugarbomb

I love this peachy-pink blush for a soft, natural flush of color. It's a great everyday blush that I found myself reaching for a lot during the month. This blush is light which works with my light skintone and is perfect if I want my makeup to appear a little more "natural." Full review here.

Where to Buy: Ulta, Sephora, BenefitCosmetics.com

Cost: $28 for .42 oz

Urban Decay Primer Potion Professional Size

I picked up this primer potion during their Friends & Family sale back in June or July. This is probably my most re-purchased makeup product. Although I've been through a bunch of these tubes and have been a loyal fan of UDPP for quite some time, I'm adding this to my monthly favorites because I am so happy UD finally listened to their fans and put their primer potion in a squeeze tube. No more wasted primer potion at the bottom or sides of tube because the doe- footed wand couldn't reach it. I also love the value you are getting with the Professional size. The professional size is $1.16/mL ($29 for 25mL) vs. $1.73/mL ($19 for 11mL) of their regular-sized squeeze tube, a savings over $0.50 per mL. The only downside is the professional size only comes in the original (sheer nude) shade. 

Oh, and if you don't mind the original genie-style tubes and want to save some money, Urban Decay's website has 2 tubes of UDPP for $19 ($0.95/mL)! Click here.

Where to Buy: UrbanDecay.com and Sephora

Cost: UrbanDecay, $29 and Sephora, $30

Butter London & Zoya Nail Polish

If you're a follower of my blog you may have noticed I've recently become a fan of "3-free" nail polishes. Butter London is free from harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP or Parabens. Butter London nail polishes have so many beautiful colors in their permanent range. I find myself staring at them for quite awhile trying to pick one color over another in Ulta. HRH is such a pretty purple that I think can easily transition from Summer to Fall. Definitely going to pick up more during Ulta's buy one, get one free sale (read about it in this post), especially because they are on the pricier side at $14/polish.

Zoya is also a 3-free brand.  The one thing I really love is how fast-drying their formula is (I hate waiting for my nails to dry!). This color is Jana and is part of their Smoke & Mirrors Collection. The perfect muddy purple-gray for Fall.

Where to Buy: Ulta. ButterLondon.com/Zoya.com

Cost: Butter London, $14 each. Zoya, $8 each.

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette

This palette has it all- neutrals, brights, darker hues for smokey eyes. What is really amazing about this palette is all 15 shades are brand new shades from Urban Decay. Click here to see my full review and swatches.

Where to Buy: Ulta, Sephora, UrbanDecay.com

Cost: $55

What are your favorites for the month of August?
Oh, and I'm working on a "What's in My Bag" for my next post ♥

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty

Just wanted to write a quick post to share with fellow makeup addicts about Ulta's 21 days of Beauty. Ulta will be having 21 days of deals & steals on makeup and beauty products starting today, 9/4. Here are just some I'm super excited about and will likely be taking advantage of.


Day 6: September 9th


Too Faced Shadow Insurance for $9 (regularly $18). I love Urban Decay Primer Potion and tried Benefit's Stay Don't Stray Primer, but have yet to try Too Faced primer. At half off, now seems like the perfect opportunity!









Day 17: September 20th


Butter London polishes are buy one, get one free! I own one Butter London polish in HRH and their topcoat. I really like that it is a 3 free brand (DPB, Toulene, and formaldehyde free). However, I'm not too fond of their $14 polish price tag. I've been eyeing a few colors, so I'm totally taking advantage of this deal.


It's limited 2 per customer. I'm not sure if that means 2 "deals" which would equal 4 polishes or just one deal, two polishes. If it's the latter, I might have to drag my boyfriend along to pick up another two polishes. I know he won't mind, plus he owes me for all the ESPN I'm "forced" to watch with him. :p








Day 21: September 24th


Benefit Real of Concealness is $18 (regularly $32). This kit has 5 mini Benefit products including, Lemon Aid to correct eyelid discoloration, Boi-ong to conceal dark under-eye circles, Ooh La Lift to brighten eye area, Lip Plump, and High Beam highlighter. I love mini kits like these because you can try out a bunch of products without breaking bank. 

To see more info on savings & events during the 21 day event, click here. 

Any sale days you're particularly excited about?

Benefit Sugarbomb

When I originally saw this blush in Ulta, I couldn't imagine these four colors (peach, soft plum, pink, and rose) mixing together and creating a pretty blush. However, Sugarbomb is the type of blush you can wear everyday, anywhere. It is a peachy-pink color and it gives your cheeks a pretty, subtle, natural flush of color. 

 This is my third box o' powder (I also own Hoola bronzer and Bella Bamba, review here) from Benefit and I have to say I've become quite fond of each one of them.  

The only downside to this particular blush is the packaging. It has a removable lid which could easily come off in your purse, makeup bag, etc. However, the Box O' Powders pictured on the Benefit website do have flip-tops and mirrors, so I must have purchased an older version (darn!) from Ulta.  

In case you were wondering, Sugarbomb does come with a (semi-decent) brush. However, I prefer using a blush brush. Also, I just wanted to mention that this blush warns to avoid the eye area.

♥

I have my eye (cheeks?) on Benefit's Dandelion next.

So have you tried Benefit's Box O' Powders? Have a favorite?

Where to Buy: Benefit, Ulta, Sephora

Cost: $28 for .42 oz