March Empties | #1

First things first, unfortunately I do not have a "favorites" video for this month. Pretty much all my favorites that I've had from last month are the same for this month! Now onto the good stuff!

This is my first empties! I honestly don't know how people can have tons of products finished within a month. So this is what I have been saving for the last three months. I plan to do Empties quarterly, because I feel that having only one empty product a month is a waste of a post (sorry!)

TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

- My hair gets very oily and there are days that I get lazy and don't want to wash my hair so I use a dry shampoo. This one is ok, It is honestly the only one I tried. After using it, I can still feel product in my hair and I don't like the feel it gives. It is around $4 and it last me around 3-4 months, but I don't use it every day my hair is oily, only on a few occasions. I don't think I will repurchase this one as I want to try other dry shampoos.

Lancome Bi-Facial Eye Makeup Remover

- This eye makeup remover does a good job. It makes my eye area feel moisturized after, since it does have a lipid phase. Mine is a sample size, but the original is around $28. That is pretty pricy, so I will not repurchase this. The only way I will use it again is if I get it as a sample.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara

- This is a nice mascara from Maybelline and it does add great lengths, but it does not volumize, which I want in a mascara. If you like to layer mascaras, it is great and is around $5-7.

Estée Lauder Take It Away Total Makeup Remover

- This is another sample I received. I did not like this makeup remover at all. It poorly took off my makeup and I had a lot of residue left on my face when I removed it with Witch Hazel toner. I don't even wear heavy makeup! So imagine someone who puts on a lot of it! It retails for $25.

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment

- I had a love/hate relationship with this treatment. It is formulated with Tea Tree, Willow bark, and it claims to reduce redness and result in clear smooth skin. Sometimes it would work on me and I loved it! But other times, it did absolutely nothing, and was very disappointed. Some say it smells like licorice, but I don't know. I did not mind the smell. It is around $10, but it goes by so quickly. I had to try to ration it and not use it every time so that it would not run out on me so soon.

Estée Lauder Day Wear Oil-Free Creme SPF 25

- It is a good creme for the face with a great SPF, but it didn't click with me. I would not repurchase since it is $45, but also because I think it broke me out. I stopped using it for a while to try out a different product, but when I returned to this, I got more pimples, so I'm guessing it is the cause. If you would like to see my review, click HERE.

Equate Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelletes

- These makeup wipes are a generic brand at Walmart. They are pretty good, but I heard that wipes aren't that great for your face. I am not entirely sure why. Besides that, they are really good and I would purchase them again as they did remove all of my makeup. Of course, I would wash my face after with an actual cleanser. The towelletes are not an excuse for skipping your normal face wash.

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel - Country Chic

- This has been my favorite scent from Bath & Body Works for the last two years. It is fresh and very spring like with lemon, wildflowers, and spring woods! The shower gel has shea butter, which is very good for the skin. Very nice to bathe with, but at $11, I don't know if I would buy again. I like using my Dove liquid soaps that have more product in it for more than half the price of this one.

And there you have it! Enjoy!

Help?! Tarte vs. Urban Decay

Oh my goodness, I just saw the new summer collection from Tarte, Aqualillies! It shows a beautiful vintage style with wonderful summer colors! Just look how gorgeous it looks! The packaging looks great as well! That is what attracted me haha.

But here is my dilemma...I've been wanting to Urban Decay Naked Basics palette for a few months now, but this Tarte palette has very similar colors, but comes with a bronzer, blush, and highlighter. 

Tarte's palette is $38 while Urban Decay Naked Basics is $27. I want to get one of these as a birthday gift for myself! I've experienced Tarte eyeshadows and love them, but I have never tried Urban Decay shadows and I hear they are great.

What would you choose and why? 

Tarte Blush and Bronze To Go

I ordered the Tarte Blush and Bronze To Go from Sephora.com the other day. It is a mini blush and bronze duo and it was on sale for $12. I love Tarte products and have been wanting to try their bronzer, but did not want to pay full price. The set includes the Tarte Amazonian clay blush in Dollface and the bronze in Park Avenue Princess. 

Even though it is a mini size, the packaging is still the same as a full size, which I think is great!

Here is the actual product inside! Can't wait to use it!

As for samples, I got two Chloe perfumes and since I've heard so much about the Soap and Glory Righteous Body Butter, I had to try it. 

Benefit High Beam

Ever since I started "My Monthly Makeup Bag" this month, I have been using all the items that are in the bag. Amongst all the items, Benefit's High Beam was in it. It is my first time using a highlighting product. I usually don't use one since I get oily throughout the day and I have my own natural "highlighter"!

Lately, I have been using a mattifier for my face, and although I like my face on the natural/matte side, I wanted to have a highlighter to give me a pretty glow. Usually, highlighters are in powder form, but Benefit High Beam is a liquid one. It is an ethereal pink sheen that gives off an angelic, radiant dewy complexion. The full size is retailed for $26 and is 0.45 oz. The one I have is a deluxe size sample at 0.13 oz, but to be honest, I think it is the perfect size for
me. The full size would be too much and I probably would not get around to using it all. 

High Beam has a nail polish brush applicator which I found interesting. To apply, you dot it on the area you want, and you blend it in with your fingers or a brush, depending on what you prefer.

Here is the look! 

 

Overall, I think it is a great highlighter, but I think I am content with just the deluxe size.

What are your thoughts? Do you like Benefit High Beam?

Free Button Swap!

Good morning! I hope you are all having a wonderful day so far. 

If any of you are interested, I want to do a free button swap. If you would like to do it you can either:

1) Comment below and let me know your URL that has your button code on it

or

2) Email me at simplecharmbeauty@gmail.com with the URL to your post as well as the code for the button.
And don't forget to follow me on GFC and Bloglovin!
Please, only beauty or fashion blogs! Thank you!
Don't forget to put my link with the image! http://simplecharmbeauty.blogspot.com

=)

Here is mine!

<a href="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/simplecharm/media/Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Button photo Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b555/simplecharm/Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg" /></a><a href="http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/simplecharm/media/Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b555/simplecharm/Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg" border="0" alt="Button photo Button2_zpsf69c8fa4.jpg"/></a>

Bobbi Brown Corrector

I tend to get dark circles around my eyes when I don't get enough sleep. Unfortunately, since I have not been getting much sleep lately, they are present! I needed something that would hide my circles and make me appear more awake. I have tried very few under eye concealers, but they still did not make me look more awake or cover the circles.

I stumbled upon Essiebutton, one of my favorite makeup YouTubers/bloggers, and I noticed that she used the Bobbi Brown Corrector. It did wonders for her, so I figured it might do something for me. About two weeks ago I went to the Bobbi Brown counter at my local department store and asked for a demo. I loved what it did so I bought it! 

I got it in the shade Porcelain Bisque. It cost $23 for 0.05 oz of product. For me, it does not crease, even though I do put powder on it after applying. It lasts all day and definitely makes me appear more awake! I apply it with my finger or a brush; they both work great, it just depends on how much time I have in the morning to get ready. I will mention this, it is NOT a concealer; it is a corrector. A corrector is used before a concealer to neutralize the dark circles so that the concealer can camouflage them. But honestly, the corrector is good enough for me.

 

The packaging is a black sleek compact with a mirror. The product itself is creamy, but not sticky on the skin. When you first touch it, it does feel a little thick, but a little bit goes a long way. It does not smudge away when I apply my foundation after, and it stays on well after setting it with powder.

Left side has corrector.....right side does not.

After applying the rest of my makeup!

Would I repurchase? I think yes! It is a bit pricey, but it does a great job! I really like it and would recommend it to others.

NOTW: OPI Bubble Bath

Hello lovelies! For the past two weeks, I have decided to give my nails a break from nail polish and let them breathe a bit! I have not done it in a while and thought it was time. At first I was a little nervous about being without nail polish because that is usually what helps my nails grow and stay strong. On their own, my bare nails get very flimsy and peel and end up breaking, so you can only imagine my dilemma! I know I could have put on a nail strengthener, but I wanted absolutely nothing on them. On the contrary, my nails held up pretty well! Until at the very last minute, my index finger on my left hand broke =( I was so sad! So now that nail is shorter than every other one! So enough about me ranting about my nails, here is the NOTW: OPI Bubble Bath.

(Indoor lighting)                                             (Outdoor lighting)

For me, Bubble Bath is the perfect "nude" shade for my nails and skin tone. It gives an overall polished and manicured look. Bubble Bath is a sheer milky white with pink undertones. Since it is sheer, the nail will show underneath unless you apply 3 or more layers. In the pictures, I have only applied 2 layers. Application was easy and even. Usually for colors like this it is streaky, but not this one. I would have to say that this nail polish may be one of my top favorites! It is a classic shade, and gives your hands a beautiful look! 

Where to Find Me!

Hey! Just wanted to let you all know where you can find me! 

1) My blog (obviously!)

2) Bloglovin - Simple Charm Beauty

3) Twitter - @SimpleCharmBeau

I would love if you would follow me at each place! It would mean a lot So go ahead and click away!

Liebster Award

I have seen this post around the blog world recently, and I thought it would be fun to do! 

 Pillow Castles nominated me for a Liebster Award! She thought I was good enough for this award! Thank you so much! A Liebster Award helps new bloggers with less than 200 followers to become recognized. How amazing is that? 

 Now I must do a couple of things in order to win. 

1) Share 11 things about yourself. 

2) Answer the 11 questions that the person who nominated you asked. 

3) Choose 11 bloggers to nominate, as long as they have under 200 followers too. 

4) Come up with 11 questions to ask the 11 people you nominate. 

 5)Thank the person that nominated you and include a link back to their blog

 Eleven things about myself:

1) I just recently got into makeup.

2) I think I have found my new hobby! Blogging about makeup!

3) My boyfriend and I have been dating for 5 years

4) My brother and I are ten years apart. I am the oldest ;)

5) I am a biology major, and want to become a physician assistant.

6) I love Oreo cookies! Especially when they are double stuffed, then dunked in milk! Delicious.

7) My favorite chocolates are Ferrero Rocher.

8) I speak English and Spanish.

9) Every spring, for the past 3 years I have grown a garden from seeds.

10) My favorite Disney princess is Belle, from Beauty and the Beast.

11) My favorite colors are pink and teal.

The 11 questions that my nominator asked me:

1) What do you think makes you unique? My mom could not have children for ten years, but ten years later, I popped up!

2)Who is your best friend? I have two, my boyfriend and my friend from middle school!

3) Where do you want to visit the most? This is a tough question, as I want to visit many places! But if I had to choose, I would have to say Europe, take a tour of different countries!

4) What is/was your favorite subject in school? Biology/chemistry

5) What is your favorite animal? Tiger

6) What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend? Just relax at home, watch a movie.

7) Do you have any hobbies? Now I do! Before blogging, I didn’t have a hobby per se. Another hobby I have is every spring, I grow flowers from seeds in my garden. It has become a tradition for the last three years.

8) What is your favorite band? I don’t have a favorite band.

9) What is your favorite song? I love so many songs, but right now I would have to say Of Monsters and Men “Little Talks”

10) If you could do anything right now, what would it be? I would want to travel the world.

11) What inspires you? Positivity and kindness inspire me.

I nominate:

1.     http://raquelinthecity.blogspot.com/

2.     http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.com/

3.     http://pagingdoctorpretty.blogspot.com/

4.     http://www.theresalwaystimeforlipstick.com/

5.     http://ashleyelizabeth21.blogspot.com/

6.     http://www.blushology.net/

7.     http://notoriouseyes.blogspot.com/

8.     http://b-e-a-u-t-y-t-u-t-o-r.blogspot.com/

9.     http://www.beauty-twist.com/

1.  http://makeupbysparkle.blogspot.com/

1.  http://www.rachelelizabethwhite.com/

My questions to you:

11.     What is your favorite color?

22.     What inspired you to start blogging?

33.     When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

44.      Is that dream still the same today?

55.     What is your best attribute?

66.      If you were stranded on an island, what would be three things you could have with you?

77.      Do you prefer cooking or baking?

88.      What are your hobbies?

99.       If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

110.   What is your favorite movie?

111.   Coffee or tea?

My Monthly Makeup Bag | March

Happy Friday! How are you all doing? I'm so excited that it is finally the weekend! Returning to university again this week from spring break was slightly difficult. I had gotten use to relaxing at home for that one week! But I only have four more weeks left until it is summer vacation! (Yay!) 

Anyways, since I want to use all of the makeup I have without being biased towards certain products, I decided to do my first series on my blog! It will be similar to a "What's in My Makeup Bag" but the products inside will change every month. I want to be able to "shop" my makeup collection and try out new variations of things, maybe even rediscovering old loves or falling in love with new ones ;)

Many of the products this month have been featured in "My Spring Beauty Picks" (to view it click here), so I won't go into much detail.

Without further a do, here is my March Monthly Makeup Bag!

A little peek inside:

- Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

- Bobby Brown Corrector

- Smashbox Second Skin Concealer

- Benefit Hoola

- Buxom True Hue Blush - Swept Away

- Cover Girl Eye Enhancers - Brown Smolder

- Cover Girl Perfect Point eyeliner - Black

- Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette

- Maybelline Great Lash Clear mascara

- Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara

- Benefit High Beam

- Clinique Chubby Sticks - Mighty Mimosa

- Rimmel Kate Moss - 17

- Too Faced Glamour Gloss - Sex Pot

- Nivea Lip Butter - Vanilla and Macadamia Nut

 

Maybelline Shine Control Loose Powder - This is the only product that does not fit in my makeup back, so I just leave it next to the bag! I also keep my brushes in a separate location.

Some of the products I use are my "staples" and will appear every month, but things that will change will include foundations, blushes, lips, and anything else I see fit! 

My Spring Beauty Picks

It's the First Day of Spring! I am so excited! I love spring weather because 1) it brings along with it newness and freshness, 2) longer days, and 3) my birthday is in spring!

So, in honor of the first day of spring, I have listed below "my beauty picks" for spring. These are items that I want to wear quite frequently during this season. Of course, I will wear other products, but I want to keep spring alive in my makeup!

• Buxom True Hue Blush - Swept Away - a peach nude blush with pink hints to it. I find this lovely for spring because it is a pretty pastel. I go more in detail with it in my blog post here.
• Benefit High Beam - I am not one for highlighting because of my combo skin, but I want to try this out to have glowy skin, fresh for spring.
• Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal 24-hr - Barely Branded - this cream shadow is a frosted warm creamy beige metallic shadow. It is soft colored and I think would go great with many different looks.
• Too Faced Romantic Eye palette - I think these eye shadows are perfect for spring as it has many pastel shades like pink, lavender, and green. For my post with swatches of this palette, click here.
• Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick - 17 - this lipstick is a peachy pink with a slight amount of shimmer. I think it will be the perfect lip for spring.
• Clinique Chubby Stick - Mighty Mimosa - described as a sheer natural pink, this lippie will provide moisture with a soft amount of color, giving off fresh pretty lips.
• Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hr blush - Splendor - a pretty bright pink with gold shimmer and some gold glitter. This blush leaves a gorgeous color on my cheeks and is very pigmented and long lasting.
• Orly Kiss the Bride - a pastel pink nail polish that is perfect for spring time
• Revlon Minted - a pastel mint green nail polish. I have a lot of pink products here and had to throw this in because I think it is beautiful
• OPI Bubble Bath - this nail polish seems to me like a perfect cream nude, manicured look. I love using nail polish that makes my hands look clean and polished. 
• China Glaze Oxygen - a frosted off white nail polish. I think it will be nice for spring time as well
• Essie Van D'Go - another pink that has some peachy tones in it. Perfect for spring as well! I feel like I've been saying this for all the nail polishes, but there is a reason why I chose them for my spring beauty picks! 

What are your spring beauty picks? Let me know so I can maybe check them out!

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette

Hello lovelies! "They say a woman is at her most beautiful when she's in love; so why not look the part everyday?" This is written on the back of the Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette. This palette is said to  bring out your "inner bride, bombshell, or classic beauty." From the very beginning when I laid eyes on this palette, I just had to have it. The packaging is ultra-feminine and the shadows are beautiful.

Too Faced Romantic Eye palette retails for $36. The palette comes with three 0.06 oz eye shadows, and six 0.03 oz eye shadows. It features shimmery and matte shadows.

Majority of the shadows have a creamy consistency, but for some reason the darker colors feel slightly rough. 

L-R: Soulmates, I Do, Un-veil

"Day Look"

- Soulmates (a shimmery ivory)

- I Do (matte taupe)

- Un-Veil (matte soft black)

L-R: Kiss the Bride, Cut the Cake, First Dance

"Classic Look"

- Kiss the Bride (matte pale pink)

- Cut the Cake (shimmery lavender)

- First Dance (matte deep purple) 

L-R: Bouquet Toss, Honeymoon, Ever After

"Fashion Look"

- Bouquet Toss (matte pale green)

- Honeymoon (shimmery burnished gold/green)

- Ever After (shimmery burnished bronze)

Makeup Directory Giveaway

Hey everyone! The Makeup Directory is having a giveaway click HERE! Because she reached 100 followers, she will be giving away a Nars blush! That is pretty great! Go on and check out her blog and enter to win!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara

Hello lovelies! I recently bought Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara. I have been wanting to try it out for a while now, and was so excited when Ulta had it on sale for $10 for the 21 Days of Beauty. The mascara is normally $19 and is 0.24 fl. oz. Tarte calls this mascara a "push-up for your lashes." It is marketed as a 4-in-1 product: to lengthen, curl, volumize, and condition lashes. It only comes in one shade, black; a waterproof version is also available. 

(Sorry for the dark pictures, it is more purple in person)

The packaging is interesting; it has a purple covering over the actual mascara bottle. At first, I thought it would be annoying, but now I find it kind of cute. 

The formulation of the mascara is in between wet and dry. Since I'm use to wetter formulas, it took a little getting use to when I first experienced with it, but now I think having a little bit drier formula helps the product onto the lashes and builds them up better. There are many bristles packed next to each other and they are natural bristles. I find that it helps separate my lashes and coat each lash with evenly mascara. The only downside I may have is since the formulation is wet/dry, I'm afraid that it will dry out quickly. I will just have to wait and see! When I remove it, it does get all over the place. So make sure that you use plenty of eye make up remover to remove it all from the eye area.

 It is formulated without parabens, mineral oils, phyhalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, and synthetic fragrance. It does have rice bran wax, carnauba wax, provitamin B5, olive esters, and mineral pigments.  On Tarte's website, it says that the mascara is dermatologist and clinically proven to increase the appearance of the lashes volume. 

In the picture, I only have one coat on. It holds a curl, volumizes, and lengthens my lashes. I can't say much on the conditioning of the eyelashes because I have not noticed it.

Would I repurchase? Yes! I really love the way it makes my eyelashes look and I love the formulation. It may be expensive at $19, but I'm really enjoying it and if I like how it works for me, I will buy it again.

March Wishlist

I don't have much on my wish list for this month. I started off with a big list,  but as the days went by, I kept asking myself if the product was really needed or if it was just a "phase" item. What I mean by that is an item that I wanted at the moment because I thought it was cool, but later realized it was not me!

1. Mint/teal/aqua high low skirt. I first saw a skirt similar to this on a picture of Lauren Conrad. I love her style and I think this kind of skirt would be beautiful for the spring.

2. Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless Eye Primer. I already have this in a mini form, but I love it alot and want to buy the full size!

3. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eye Palette. This palette was on my previous wishlist as well! I'm saving up the money to treat myself to this! I have more than enough eye shadow palettes (at least for me), but think an easy simple one as this is a want!

4. Ralph Lauren Romance perfume. I never had much interest in this perfume until I saw an ad for it in a magazine. It had a sniff sample and I fell in love with it. I went to Sephora and asked for a sample of this perfume to see how much I really like it, and therefore it has made it on my wishlist!