My Favorite Products of 2013: Makeup & Nails

Hey, friends! Welcome to the last College Beauty Buff post for 2013. Today I'd like to share part two of my favorite products of the year with you. These aren't necessarily products that were released into the market in 2013 (who has the money to buy a whole new makeup wardrobe every year?). Instead, these are products that I discovered, rediscovered, or found myself reaching for the most this year. I've talked about almost all of these at least once before on the blog, so I'll give a brief description of each product mentioned, and then link to the previous post(s) if you'd like to read more. If you'd like to read part one of this post (hair and skincare), please click here.

On to the fun part! 

FACE

Face Brush: e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush ($3 - shown beside NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder) 

I was really happily surprised by this brush. It's soft, and I've found multiple purposes for it. I like to use this to not only apply blush, but it's also a perfect size to powder my T-zone (the only place I apply my setting powder). It's also really soft, making it a wonderful find for $3. 

Read more: September 2013 Favorites

My Favorite Products of 2013: Hair & Skincare

Hey, friends! Today I'd like to share part one of my favorite products of the year with you. These aren't necessarily products that were released into the market in 2013 (who has the money to buy a whole new makeup wardrobe every year?). Instead, these are products that I discovered, rediscovered, or found myself reaching for the most this year. I've talked about almost all of these at least once before on the blog, so I'll give a brief description of each product mentioned, and then link to the previous post(s) if you'd like to read more.

Shampoo: Ecru Luxe Treatment Shampoo

(Sample value [2 oz]: $7.50) (Full size [8 oz]: $20) 

I got into the world of sulfate-free hair products this year. I love how they don't dry out my hair and cause fly-aways like sulfate shampoos. Sometimes I feel like sulfate-free shampoos don't clean my hair enough, and I think this one provides a good balance of getting rid of excess oil and not turning my hair into straw. I happily used up the bottle I received in my Sample Society box, and then got myself some more!

Read more: Sample Society July 2013 Review, September 2013 Favorites

(Runner-up: Healthy Sexy Hair Color Safe Soy Moisturizing Shampoo)

Sample Review: Freeman Beauty Face Masks

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share a few face products I've been trying out by Freeman Beauty. I'm always curious and looking to try new things!

I was sent a variety of samples featured in Freeman Beauty's "Fresh Face Forward" set, including their Pink Grapefruit Facial Exfoliating Scrub, their Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask, and their Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask. I received two of each: one for me and one to give to a friend (though if I really liked them, I figured I would keep them both for myself ;) )

Birchbox: December 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share the Birchbox I received in the mail for December. Isn't it pretty? I like the gold! Very pretty for the holidays, not that the usual pink isn't nice.

Birchbox? What's that? - Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 deluxe samples that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products in the Birchbox Shop! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link. Thank you!

Wantable Makeup Box: Nov. 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I want to share a new beauty subscription service with you called Wantable. I know there are tons of subscription services out there nowadays (there are even ones for your baby and your dog!) but Wantable is unique for a number of reasons, and that's why I want to tell you all about it.Subscription services are a great way to try new things, so I was very excited to try out their Beauty subscription box last month.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Wantable? What's that? - Wantable is a company that offers multiple subscription services, including Makeup, Accessories, and even Intimates. Each Makeup box contains 4-5 full-sized products, picked based on the specific survey you fill out. You can subscribe for $36/month or $40 for a single box. You can click here to sign up. (This is an affiliate link. I signed up to be an affiliate after I received my box, because I liked it that much)

Brand Overview: Aveeno (+ Giveaway)

Hey, friends! Today I went Aveeno product shopping, because of a giveaway I wanted to enter. I'll tell you about how to enter, too, because I just love you guys.

To enter the sweepstakes, you're supposed to go to Walgreens, pick up two (or more) Aveeno products, and then take a picture of your receipt and submit it here. That's it. That's all you have to do. It's that simple. The hard part is picking which products to choose, but I'm here to help!

Note: I heard about this giveaway through HerCampus, and was given a $15 Walgreens card to use towards 2+ Aveeno products. The products I walked out with reflect that total, but you can spend as little or as much money as you like. As long as your receipt shows you purchase two or more Aveeno products, you're elligible to win (More information on the giveaway at the end of this post).

Aveeno is not typically my go-to brand (I'm more of an Olay kind of girl), so I did a good amount of research before I went. In the past, the only product I've bought of theirs is the Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($17 for 2.5oz).

Monthly Favorites: November 2013

Hey, friends! How was your Thanksgiving? Today I'd like to show you the products I loved this month (in a way, I guess you could say they're a few of the superficial things I'm thankful for--though family is the most important). On to the fun part! 

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light Sheer Tint ($8 for 1oz)

Products I've Used Up: November 2013

There is something so rewarding and exciting about using up a product--perhaps that you get to open and use new ones! However, if it's a product you've really liked, you might be sad to see it go, and feel compelled to buy another one. I've used up quite a bit of products this month, and I'd like to share my thoughts on them with you. So, without further ado, here are my empties for the month of November:

Serious Skin Care Emu and Aloe Soothing Cream ($25 for  2 oz)

I'm so sad this moisturizer is gone! When I first tried it in the winter, it was a little too light for my dry skin, and it stayed in the back of my medicine cabinet. Then, when I got my Seventh Generation Serum over the summer and tried the two together, I realized how much I absolutely loved it. The texture is creamy and luxurious, smoothing and softening my skin without making it feel greasy. I love how soothing and moisturizing it is, while not being too thick. I would definitely repurchase this, but I'm pretty frugal so I hope I can get it on sale.  

Birchbox: November 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share with you what I received in this month's Birchbox!

Birchbox? What's that? - Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 deluxe samples that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products in the Birchbox Shop! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link. Thank you!

Review: MAC Lipglass in Gitane

Hello, everyone! Today I’d like to show you a lipgloss in my collection that I’m excited to be pulling out for fall: MAC’s Lipglass in Gitane.

Like all of MAC’s Lipglasses, this wand has a doe-foot applicator. Doe-foot applicators are actually my favorite kind, since unlike brushes and squeeze tubes—which can be too messy for me—doe-foot applicators offer plenty of control and precision, which tends to come in handy with more pigmented colors like this one.

Review: NYC Big Bold Plumping & Shine Lip Gloss

Hi, friends! Today I wanted to share my thoughts with you on the newest lip gloss in my collection: NYC's Big Bold Plumping & Shine Lip Gloss. I received it in my Influenster Varsity VoxBox, and it's been awhile since I did an Influenster post, so I thought a review was in order! Let's take a look, shall we?

Influenster? What's that?: Influenster (non-affiliate link) is a website where you can earn points for talking about something you enjoy. I mainly concentrate on fashion and beauty-products, and by reviewing products, answering questions. and just generally being active, you can earn enough points to qualify for a VoxBox--aka a box of goodies shipped to you just for being a cool person. I dig it.

Monthly Favorites: October 2013

Hey, friends! Can you believe it's almost the end of October? Today I'd like to share with you the products I've been loving this month. These are the products I've used often, discovered, and rediscovered this month, that I've found myself reaching for over the rest. Without further ado, here are my favorites for the month of October.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer ($42 for 1oz) 

I've really been enjoying this primer lately. I hadn't used it because I don't usually wear foundation (I prefer the lighter coverage of a BB cream) but I decided to pull it out this month to test out. I love the refreshing sensation of applying it, and the moisturizing benefit it gives to my dry skin. It also creates a sort-of barrier between the makeup and your skin, preventing it from getting into your pores. Will I continue to use this $42 primer under a $7 BB cream? No, because it feels like a waste of money, but on days where I decide I want a heavier coverage and opt for a foundation, I will happily use this. I just don't want to use it all up, because the chances of me repurchasing this primer are slim. Don't get me wrong; it's awesome, but spending $42 on anything just isn't in my budget. I recommend buying this if you have dry skin and like to wear foundation. It makes everything look so much smoother and preventing a patchy, flaky appearance. 

Products I've Used Up: October 2013

Hi, friends! Today I'd like to share with you the products I've used up this month, and whether or not I'd repurchase them.

Olay Complete Daily Defense All Day Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($12 for 2.5oz)

This has been one of my daytime skin essentials for months. I find it to be really hydrating for the dry parts of my face, yet it doesn't make my T-Zone oily. Having a built-in SPF is also a time-saver, because ain't nobody got time for that extra step of putting on sunscreen separately (except for the fact that my new moisturizer doesn't have an SPF so I actually do have time for that...). The pump bottle makes it very hygienic, as jarred moisturizers tend to collect bacteria easier (since you're sticking your fingers in them daily), as opposed to in a pump bottle where your hands never come in contact with the product inside.  I would most certainly repurchase this.

Birchbox: October 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Before getting started with the post, I just wanted to give you a real life update. College is taking over my life (as it typically does), so posts will have to be limited for awhile to once a week. I promise I'm not going anywhere, and I guarantee you a post every Friday (even if it's at 11:59pm). Rest assured--College Beauty Buff is here to stay! (She's just a Good Grades Buff, also).

To begin, I'm really happy with how punctual my Birchbox shipping was this month. My box was shipped out on the 5th and I got it by the 7th! It's such a refreshing change from Ipsy.

Birchbox? What's that? - Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 deluxe samples that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products in the Birchbox Shop! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link. Thank you!

Monthly Favorites: September 2013

Hey, friends! School has taken up a lot of my time, so this post is a few days later than I would have liked it to be. But, it's still here, nonetheless! Without further ado, here are my favorite products from September: 

LANCÔME Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover 
(Sample-Size [1.7 fl oz]: $11)
(Full-Size [4.2 fl oz]: $28)

 

I recently used up a bottle of this last month, and I'm so happy I have another left! This makeup remover is hassle-free, so at the end of a long day when I just want to go to bed, I don't have to sit in front of the makeup for 10 minutes wiping my mascara off. This product is a godsend--sometimes in the mornings, the thought of having to work to remove makup turns me off from applying it in the first place, so a good makeup remover is essential. Would I repurchase? Well, I think $28 is a lot, especially since I don't have any makeup products in my arsenal that I've spent that much on. I think, instead, I'll be on the search for a cheaper alternative. I've heard the CVS Eye Makeup Remover works quite nicely, so I'll probably try that once I finish this little guy up.

Products I've Used Up: September 2013

Hey, friends! I've used up a few products over the past two months, so I thought I would share my thoughts on them with you.  

Skincare: 

Olay Night of Olay Firming Cream (Full-Size: $6.50 ~ 2oz)

I've used this moisturizer for multiple years, and it was in this past May Favorites. I usually keep one set of toilettries at home and another at school to prevent me from lugging my entire medicine cabinet back and forth between breaks, and my other jar of this is almost gone as well. It's thick, creamy, and hydrating. I highly recommend it for someone with dry, combination/dry, or normal skin. It's great! I would definitely repurchase this, but since I'm always curious, I'm looking to try a new nighttime moisturizer. Any recommendations (preferably from the drugstore)? 

Birchbox: September 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share with you my very first Birchbox. I'm very excited. And I didn't even have to miss a month of beauty subscriptions! If you're curious as to why I cancelled Ipsy, please click here. 

Birchbox? What's that? - Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 sample size and full-sized products that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products in the Birchbox Shop! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link. Thank you! 

Why I Cancelled My Ipsy Subscription

Hey, friends. Today I wanted to let you know that I cancelled my Ipsy subscription. Yes, after being subscribed for nearly a year (this month would have been my one-year anniversary) I decided to stop receiving a monthly Glam Bag. It's a sad day, but don't worry, there is a light at the end of the post!

Ipsy August 2013

Review: e.l.f. Little Black Beauty Book: Warm Edition

Hi, friends! Today I wanted to review for you a thrifty find that I got at Marshalls. Did I need it? No, but there's no Target within a convenient proximity to me, and that's the only place I can get e.l.f. without ordering online (and I hate paying for shipping). So, I saw this baby on discount for $5 (marked down from $8--wow, I know), and for 48 shadows, I thought "Why not?"

My Morning Skincare Routine: September 2013

Hi, friends! I thought it would be fun to share my current skincare routine with you. I'm going to separating this into two separate posts, so this one will include my daytime skincare, and a post in the near future will talk about my evening routine. If I bunched all of them into one post, it would be very long!

About eight/nine months ago, I heard about a Doctor Oz segment in which he talked about not needing to wash your face twice a day. He discussed how it was drying and just plain unnecessary (kind of like what I talking about in my recent shampooing discovery, only for skin). He suggested washing your face really good at night, and then waking up in the morning and just rinsing with water (because in reality, you'd only washed it right before you went to bed). I tried doing this method, but realized that using just water didn't make my face feel as fresh and awake as it did when I was washing it in the morning. So, I started looking into cleansing waters and toners. I found that using these sorts of products on my face in the morning to freshen up, after a really good cleansing the night before from my Clarisonic Mia II (which I had recently acquired for Christmas as a gift) made my face feel nice and clean, without being stripped. I have combination/dry skin, so those of you with more oily skin might not find this method effective, but it did absolute wonders for my skin. The combination of letting up on my skin and cleaning it better at night with the Clarisonic really cleared up my skin (as I did get very frequent acne breakouts on my forehead). My acne has decreased significantly ever since, and my face hasn't felt as dry. My forehead and nose were also a little less oily, since my pores weren't trying to overcompensate for the moisture it was losing by over-washing it (as it really wasn't necessary to wash it twice a day, since my skin never got that oily to begin with).

The current toner I'm using right now is the Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz ($8 ~ 5oz).

Review: EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to give you an in-depth review of the shampoo and conditioner I've been loving lately. I received them from my Total Beauty Mystery Collection back in June, though I just started using them recently. And I'm so happy I finally tried them!

Total Beauty Mystery Collection: June 2013 Unboxing & Review

Hey, everyone. After talking about it for two months, the review of my Total Beauty Mystery Collection that I ordered in June is finally here! I'll let you know why I refer to this as the Total Crapbox in a minute, but first, some back-story:

My Back-to-School Beauty Essentials

Hey, friends! I started classes today, so I thought I'd share with you my basic, back-to-school beauty essentials. These are the items that I use the most often during the year, that I feel like almost every college beauty buff could benefit from. I also included my personal favorites of each category, just in case. This obviously doesn't include everything (you don't need me to tell you to pack a toothbrush!) but just a few of the things that might not immediately come to mind.

Dry Shampoo

When I wake up in the morning and realize my hair looks limp, flat, or greasy, I use a little dry shampoo to freshen it up. For the days when I'm in between washes, dry shampoo helps make hair look clean. It's my my saving grace, because I don't know about you, but the showers in my residence hall have pretty low shower pressure--meaning that sometimes the shampoo/conditioner/buildup of product in my hair doesn't always completely wash out. In a nutshell, dry shampoo just makes my hair go from "blah" to not-so-blah, so I always make sure to have some in stock.

Splurge: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($21 ~ 5.3oz) 

I hardly use official "dry shampoo," but this is the one I have on hand right now. I got this sample from the Her Campus Conference  and so far I'm liking it so far. It's a spray, so it's not as messy as powder dry shampoos. I'm still testing it, so I can't say too much about it, but I'm a little obsessed with Amika products right now and I'm excited to explore their line (through free samples, because they're so expensive!). I probably won't repurchase it, just because I'm not wowed enough to justify that price, so I think the Batiste is next on my to-try list. 

Save: Johnson's Baby Powder ($4 ~ 22oz)

This is what I use most of the time as a dry shampoo. Any baby powder will do, but if you have blonde hair, baby powder is a super affordable alternative to dry shampoo. It absorbs any excess grease from your roots, and as long as your hair is light (it might give your hair a white/grey tint if you're a brunette or darker), it'll look natural. The only things I dislike about using baby powder is 1) you have to be really careful about not getting it on your clothes, and 2) it does take a good amount of shine out of your hair. I find that the best way to use baby powder is sparingly, only in the places you really need it, and then brushing it out to prevent any white spots. I usually put my hair in a headband on days when I use this, just to get my bangs out of my face. I prefer buying scented ones the lavender pictured above, just so it doesn't make my hair smell blatantly like baby powder (aka a baby's bottom). 

Tag: Would You Rather...?

Hey, friends! I was tagged by Julia over at Penny Pinching Perfection to do this tag. If you haven't checked out her blog, you should. She's the one that got me into Swagbucks and a bunch of other alternative money-making websites. She knows her stuff!

Anyway, on to the tag:

1. Would you rather lose all your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks and lip glosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows? - I'll have to pick the second one, because I can still do a full face of makeup with the former, but not with only eyeshadow. Mascara is the one item I feel that makes the biggest difference, since it really helps my eyes stand out. I'd feel weird wearing eyeshadow without mascara!

E.L.F. Beauty Book in Warm

Monthly Favorites: August 2013

Hey, friends! It's time for my monthly favorites! Should continue to call them my "Monthly Favorites"? I feel like when I say "Monthly Favorites," it's as if I'm including things I only used this month. Most of my favorites continue from month to month, but if I discover a new way to use a product or rediscover something hanging out in the back of my cabinet, I always like to share that piece of information with all of you. I might start referring to these posts as "My Favorite Things," since it reminds me of that song from The Sound of Music. And it sounds more inclusive of miscellaneous things, like music and such. What do you think?

Skincare: 

Seventh Generation Soothing Skin Serum ($15 ~ 1.5oz)

I did a whole post on this product last week, and I still can't stop talking about it. This serum has a whole slew of antioxidants, which can help fight off the appearance of old age (sold exclusively at walgreens), is paraben-free, and contains only all-natural ingredients. What's not to love? I find this serum incredibly hydrating, preventing any tightness in my dry areas, but not overly moisturizing in my oily T-zone. I use this every night, and it has actually allowed me to switch to a lighter moisturizer because of how moisturizing it is. After using this for a few weeks, I have also noticed that the redness around my nose has died down. I'm obsessed with this, and when I finish this bottle up (which takes a long time, at one pump a night), I'll definitely go out and get another. 

Ipsy Glam Bag: August 2013 Review

Hi, friends! Today I have quite a lot to tell you about this month's Ipsy bag. It's caused me a lot of grief, but in the end, it's here, and I'm very pleased with the products I received. But I'll get into all of that in just a second.

Ipsy? What's That? - For those who don't know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that provides you with 4-5 products (mostly makeup, but sometimes hair/skincare as well) for $10/month that are either deluxe sample-sized or full-sized. I really loved this month's bag, and if you decide to sign up, I would greatly appreciate it if you did so via my referral link. If you wanted to be a meanie about it, you could also Google Ipsy's website and sign up that way, but then you wouldn't be very nice.

Ingredient Controversy: Oxybenzone (Plus a Healthy Alternative!)

Hey, friends! I bring good news! College Beauty Buff is officially on a posting schedule! From now on, you can expect a new post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. How exciting! Now, on to today's post:

Author's Note, 9/20/14 - New research is always coming out, and I'm always learning new things, so I don't feel so strongly about this anymore. I will post an update on my feelings for oxybenzone in the future, but in the meantime, if you're going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time please wear a traditional sunscreen. Thank you. 

Review: Seventh Generation Boosts Soothing Skin Serum

Hey, friends! I'm here today to share with you my review of the Seventh Generation Soothing Skin Serum, as well as some of my #AllNaturalStyleSecrets. I was accepted to do this challenge by Lucky Magazine. Their online community hosts a number of different fun challenges that you can check out on their website. Lucky Magazine also posted my review to their website! If you want, you can look at it here (and maybe give me an upvote if you liked it; I'll get a prize if I get the most!) 

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog.

Tips & Tricks: Dying Your Hair (and My Personal Experience)

Hi, everyone! Yesterday, after much deliberation, I finally went a little "crazy" with my hair. I'm pretty reserved with my hair; I've never dyed it before, so this was a big step for me. I'm so happy with the way it turned out! Thank you, Nicole, for the wonderful job!

She used hair lightener (aka bleach, which is essentially peroxide) to give me some highlights, since my hair is blonde to begin with. I feel like it brightened up my hair color as a whole, and made my hair look a bit more summery. You can get a big tub of hair lightener powder and a large bottle of activator (the creamy liquid used to activate the chemicals in the hair lightener) for very cheap at Sally's Beauty Supply, or any other beauty supply store. The activator basically turns the powder into a paste, making the hair lightener easier to work with and activates the bleach in your hair. There are varying degrees of strength in activators, and the one she used was level 20. Anything higher than 20 has the power to lift or deposit color. It's crazy what simple chemicals can do, isn't it?

Both the hair lightening powder and the activator last a long time, since you only really need a scoop or two of powder and a little activator per highlight job. Though, bleaching your hair can be quite drying (and also make your hair more tangly), so I wouldn't do it very often.

Tip: Buy yourself a detangler. It'll make the process of blow-drying and combing through your hair (both during the process and from then on) so much easier. No one likes scalp pain! I like to use the WEN Replenishing Mist  but you can use whatever you like.

Sample Society Box: July 2013 Review

Hi, everyone! Here's another subscription box review from July. Do you hate me yet? This time, we're looking at Beauty Bar's Sample Society box.

Beauty Bar? Sample Society? What's that? - Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription service by Beauty Bar (partnering with Allure magazine) that will send you 4 to 5 deluxe and full-sized samples of beauty products. It costs $15/month, a little more than the typical $10, but they promise to be from luxury brands. It also comes with a $15 gift card to use towards a $50 purchase in the Beauty Bar shop, so essentially it's free (if you spend $35 more...I'll never be using that gift card)

When there was a code going around for a free box (which I'm pretty sure was only for a limited time--sorry, guys!), I decided to test it out. My disposable income isn't so great, so I normally wouldn't be able to subscribe to more than one beauty box per month, so getting a free box was a wonderful way to see if I would watch to switch from Ipsy to this one. If you would like to sign up, please put in my referral code (MXXN9002) at checkout! Thank you! 

Ipsy Glam Bag: July 2013 Review

Hey, friends! I've been so backed up with posts, since I received a whole bunch of stuff when I came back from my internship at the end of last month, so this is my review for last month's Ipsy bag. My August bag has already shipped out, however, and I'll be reviewing that one soon! Sorry for the holdup!

Ipsy? What's That? - For those who don't know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that provides you with 4-5 products (mostly makeup, but sometimes hair/skincare as well) for $10/month that are either deluxe sample-sized or full-sized. I really loved July's bag, and if you decide to sign up, I would greatly appreciate it if you did so via my referral link.

Anyway, on to the bag! This month's theme was "Beach Beauty," which sounded like a lot of fun. I don't get to go to the beach as often as I would like, but I'd love to look like I go a lot!

10 Random Facts About Me

Hey, friends! Today is a fun get-to-know-the-girl-behind-the-laptop post: the 10 Random Facts About Me tag. I was tagged to do this by Kriselle over at Through the Eyes of a Cali Girl, so go check out her blog! The design is adorable and she has a lot of fun things on there, from nail designs and Outfit of the Days, to other posts about her life and school. If you visit, be sure to tell her I say hello, as she's a fellow Her Campus blogger. :)

1) I am a little grossed out by feet in general, so in order to deal with the fact that I have feet, I always keep mine nice. I make sure to use a foot scrub to keep them soft and 99% of the time they are painted--the other 1% of the time, I am removing nail polish to paint them again. Maybe I have a problem. Oh well.

Currently Coveting: Amika Hair Tools & Products

Hey, everyone! Today I'm writing a different kind of post, almost like a review without actually owning the actual product. I wanted to share with you the glory that is Amika Curling Wands and hair products.

Disclaimer: This post isn't sponsored and I'm not affiliated with Amika. I'm just a poor college girl who wants to have pretty hair all the time. 

Stunner of the Month: July 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share with you what I received in last month's Stunner of the Month box.

Stunner of the Month? What's that? Stunner is a monthly subscription service that, for $9 a month, will send you a new pair of sunglasses. You can sign up and get more information here (I don't receive anything for you signing up).

I found a code on Facebook for a free first pair (TRYSTUNNER), so I decided to give it a shot. Let's see what I got, shall we?

Outfit of the Day: 8/2/13

Hey, everyone! Today I thought I would share another Outfit of the Day with you. If you didn't see my last one, basically it's kind of like an outfit show-and-tell. Since I work in theatre, I don't get to dress up very often. I'm usually taping out the stage floor or carrying out tables or doing something that requires me to get dirty, so dressing up isn't exactly an option. Plus, theatre is one of those careers where no one really cares what you dress like, as long as you do a good job. So, now that my show is over, I took the opportunity to take my time getting ready. It was a lot of fun, and it made me feel really good. And I thought I would share my outfit with you! I'll be sure to include links on products I've previously written about if you want more information. 

Monthly Favorites: July 2013

Wow, can I just say that July flew by? Seriously. Was it the same for you?

Anyway, it is the last day of the month, meaning that it's time for my monthly favorites! To be honest, I pretty much used a lot of the same products this month, since I didn't have much time to experiment and go shopping. Next month's will be much more interesting, with my intense mail haul last week. By then I'll have time to play around with my new products and see if I found anything really awesome. For now, here are my favorites from the month of July!

Skincare:

Victoria's Secret Drenched in Pink Body Lotion in Sweet & Tart (about $8 ~ 3.4 fl oz)

Products I've Used Up: July 2013

Hey, friends! Today I want to share with you a few products I've used up this month. There aren't too many, and there weren't any at all in June, so I imagine I'll have a larger stockpile in August. But for now, here are the products!

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($10.49 for 16 fl oz)

Fun Find: Little Problems

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to talk to you about an up-and-coming, nonprofit organization brought to my attention by one of my fellow Her Campus bloggers: Little Problems. I've been toying with the idea of rushing for a sorority for awhile now, so I was intrigued and decided to check it out.

Shampoo Sampler: Part One

Hey, everyone! As some of you may know, I recently finished doing an internship (and by recent, I mean really recent, as in less than 24 hours ago). It was in another state, so I had to pack and stay with a friend in order to do it. I really tried to bring as little as possible with me on this trip, out of convenience and limited packing space in my suitcase, but I also didn't want to have to buy too many things when I got there, because I hate having to buy things when I already have them home.  I was there too long to buy a travel-sized shampoo (also, in general, they're overpriced for the amount of product you get), and not long enough to justify purchasing a full-sized shampoo.

So, my solution to this problem--which I'm sure wouldn't be a problem for everyone, but these types of things bother me--was to bring a whole bunch of free samples instead. I didn't live off of free samples for everything, but bringing enough shampoo to last me the whole month in little packets actually saved a lot of space in my suitcase.

Am I insane? Maybe, but I had free shampoo for a month, so I don't care if anyone judges me.

Anyway, my shampoo packet collection looked like this:

Mail Time! 7/23/13

Hey, everyone! After a month away from home, I just came back last night. My mother had piled up all of my mail on my nightstand, and when I got home, needless to say, I was very excited to go through it all. I opened everything earlier today, and now I'm very excited to share what I got with you! If I went into detail with everything, this post would be absurdly long, so for now I'll just give you a sneak peak and then make more in-depth posts later. ;)

Gift from HSN & Beauty Report (Free)

Last month, I was watching HSN[Home Shopping Network]'s Beauty Report and they were having a special event where they were tweeting with their viewers. Well, I was tweeting with one of the HSN representatives and I was chosen to receive a free gift! I was super excited, especially since a lot of the brands HSN sells are out of my price range. I received a few products from Korres and Elysee from them that I'm really excited to try out! You can check out the different beauty products HSN sells here. 

Come Find Me at the Her Campus National Intercollegiette Conference!

Hi everyone! I know posts have been slow lately, and I promise they'll pick up next week when my internship ends, but for now I just wanted to check in with you guys. Next weekend (July 27th and 28th), I'll be in New York City for the Her Campus National Intercollegiette Conference (let's just call it the HCNIC for now). I talked about it when I first bought my tickets, and now I wanted to invite you to buy tickets as well!

Review: Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Nail Color in Twinkling Turquoise

Hey, friends! Remember how bad drugstore nail polishes used to be 10+ years ago? Today I would like to remind you, with Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Nail Color in Twinkling Turquoise.

Lip Balm Bonanza!

As some of you may know, I'm kind of a lip balm junkie (understatement). I love lip balm. I hoard it. I need it. I suffer from dry/chapped lips due to a multitude of reasons, and therefore, I'm always looking for a great lip balm. If I had to pick one cosmetic item, this would be it. Today I wanted to share with you part of my collection, to tell you what  worked for me and what didn't. I'm still on the quest for that holy grail lip balm, so if any of you have suggestions pleas leave them down below!

Thrifty Find: Clarisonic Brush Heads

Hi, everyone! Today I wanted to share with you a quick tip in buying replacement Clarisonic brush heads.

Monthly Favorites: June 2013

Hey, friends! It's the end of June, and you know what that means! I don't have too many monthly favorites this month, since I've been going "au naturale" most days, and other days I've only been doing a simple routine (see my current routine here and here). The majority of products I've loved this month are ones that I've loved for many months. I've been quite busy with an internship amongst other things so I haven't had too much time to experiment with new products. I won't go too much into detail with the repeated products, just because you guys are probably sick of hearing me talk about them. :) 

Skincare:

Clarisonic Mia II Sonic Skin Cleansing System ($149)

My Current Makeup Routine, Part Two: Eye and Lips

Hey, friends! I'm back today with part two of my current makeup routine. Before I get into everything, I'd just like to apologize for the decreased frequency in blog posts for the next couple of weeks. I'm doing a really grueling internship from now until the end of July, so posts won't come as often as they usually do (I started Monday, so already posts have slowed down). I promise you, there will be at least one post a week. I just wanted you all to know that I'm not going anywhere--I'm just really busy!

If you didn't see Part One (my everyday face makeup), you can click here.

Chella Defining Brow Gel (Sample size. Full size: $18 ~ .2fl oz)

Review: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Color in Forever Lilac

Hi, everyone! Today I just wanted to share with you what I thought of this nail polish. It's a Sally Hansen polish, part of the Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color line in "Forever Lilac."

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: #1

Hey, friends! Today is something quite different than the usual. College Beauty Buff is now part of a blog hop, meaning that every Wednesday for the next few Wednesdays, I will be writing a different kind of blog post. I thought this one would be really fun, since it's a break from the usual block of text I write on here. This blog hop, "Wordless Wednesday," mainly relies on pictures to tell a short story, with the occasional caption for clarity. (And bunch of my Her Campus girls are involved in this, too!) Anyway, I think this will be a fun way for us to get to know each other, so feel free to post some of your favorite photos in the comments below!

Without further adieu, here is my Not So Wordless Wednesday!

My Current Makeup Routine, Part One: Face

Hi, everyone! Today I thought it would be fun to try something new. I thought I'd tell you all about what my go-to makeup routine has been lately. Currently, I'm really into a "no-makeup makeup look," just looking really natural for summer. I feel like wearing a lot of makeup once it gets hot out is not only uncomfortable but inconvenient, and maybe even a little fake looking. Makeup always looks a little unreal in the scrutiny of the sun, but that's just me.

I split this post into two parts because it got so long (and you guys know how much I like to talk). So, here is part one. This is all of my face makeup (BB cream, concealer, powder, bronzer, etc. ) and then part two will have eyes and lips!

Ipsy Glam Bag: June 2013 Review

Hey, everyone! It's that time of the month again (no, not THAT time of the month!) so I'd like to show you what I got in my Ipsy Glam Bag this month!

Ipsy? What's That? - For those who don't know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that provides you with 4-5 products (mostly makeup, but sometimes hair/skincare as well) that are either deluxe sample-sized or full-sized. It's been pretty hit-or-miss for me lately, but if you decide to sign up, I would greatly appreciate it if you did so via my referral link.

Mail Time! Plus Some Fun Announcements

Hey, friends! Before I get started with today's post, I just wanted to say a few things.

1) Big shout out to CERC over at Cercalicious for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award! She's one of my fellow Her Campus bloggers and she writes about everything from food to makeup. If you visit, be sure to tell her I said hi! :)

Sample Review: Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer

Hey, friends! I've been trying to use up some of the samples I have lying around (I'm a freebie hoarder, it's kind of a problem), and I just finished up a packet of the Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing and Brightening Creme. So, I thought I would share what I thought with you!

Review: Secret Outlast Clear Gel Deodorant

Hey, friends! Today I'd just like to give you a more in-depth review of the Secret Outlast Clear Gel Deodorant I received in my Influenster Spring Fever VoxBox last month.