Back-to-School Drugstore Eyeshadow!

Check out my top picks for back to school eyeshadow singles and palettes - all from super affordable drugstore brands!

Palettes:

Physicials Formula Shimmer Strips Palette, Nude: Not only are these shades all super shimmery and neutral, but they're not too pigmented - normally I wouldn't consider that a plus, but if you want just a touch of a nude color across your lids, a less pigmented palette might be perfect for you! Also, how cute is that packaging??
Jesse's Girl 9 Pan Eye Shadow Palette, Tickled Pink: This is actually one of my favorite palettes to work with, especially in fall - as you can tell, my case is rather well-loved! The lighter pink shades are totally school appropriate while still bringing a bit of fun color, and the darker purples and burgundies are perfect if you want something more dramatic or to take a look from day to night!

Singles/Duos:

e.l.f. Essentials Duos: This particular duo doesn't have a name on it (I believe it came in a set), but the colors are light enough to wear to school - and since you get two shadows, you can switch up your look each day!
L'Oreal Infallible 25 HR Eye Shadow, Iced Latte: This shadow is probably my absolute favorite in this post - the formula is amazingly smooth, it lasts all day (perfect for school!), and the light cream color is also super shimmery, meaning you get a really nude color but a ton of shimmer to catch the eye! I recommend all the shadows in this post, but if you're only going to pick up one, this would definitely be it!

Wishing everyone a happy school year - and I hope your makeup looks fabulous all year!

XOXO,
Ally

Makeup & Hair Styling in The Sims 4!

Ok guys, I was BEYOND excited for the release of The Sims 4! I've played all the Sims games since the very first installments, and even despite the fact that they've gotten rid of toddlers and pools, this game looked like a lot of fun - especially the new CAS system! Instead of using sliders which have typically controlled your Sims' looks in the past, you can simply click and drag on areas of the body to change them.

I've been playing around a lot with the new CAS, so I thought I'd show you guys a few of the cool Sims I put together - and specifically take a look at the makeup and hair styles that I chose! Obviously makeup is always one of my favorite parts of making a female Sim, and even though The Sims 4 no longer has the options to choose any color you want for clothes, furniture, and other features, there are tons of color selections still available.

Look #1: Natural

This Sim's look was the easiest to put together - for makeup, all I added was some brown eyeliner, peachy blush, and light pink lipstick. Since I wanted to keep her makeup light, I went with cute pigtails and a really fun floppy sunhat to draw the attention away from the face and still create some interest. I gave this Sim a fun, outdoorsy personality, so I wanted her style to reflect that, as well!

Look #2: Smokey

For this Sim, I wanted to go with a glamorous, nightlife-inspired look with a really dramatic smokey eye. I chose a heavier makeup application and then selected a dark gray color to get the smokey effect, then I added black winged eyeliner across the top. I didn't apply any blush, since this Sim was already really pale and I wanted to keep the main focus on the eyes. For the lips I used just a touch of a pale nude color, to offset the drama in the eyes. And of course, I had to go with this beautiful sideswept hairstyle - I love how it shows off her earrings, as well!

Look #3: Colorful

This look was definitely my favorite to put together! I wanted to try using different colored eyeliners, so I chose a slightly smokey navy blue eyeshadow, and then topped it off with royal blue winged eyeliner. I added a touch of peachy blush, and then picked a darker wine color for the lips - just because I was doing color on the eyes didn't mean I was going to skimp on the lips! I wanted to pair the look up with these awesome feather earrings, so I gave this Sim a funky braided ponytail to really show off her look!

If any of you have The Sims 4, you can find these Sims (and so many more) on the Gallery in game! Check then out, and happy Simming!

XOXO,

Ally

MAC x Rocky Horror Picture Show - Fall 2014 Collection! #HYPE

I'm super excited for this collection! I've seen RHPS several times, and it was always a great event - lots of dressing up and lots of cool makeup! I've already got my eye on that blush, and I can't wait to get my hands on these products at the end of the month. And if you've been searching for that perfect red lipstick, maybe now will be the time you finally find it, with four red lipsticks included in the collection!

Check out more information about the collection on InStyle.

XOXO,
Ally

Bath & Body Works Fall PocketBac Hand Sanitizers

If there's one store I need to be kept away from, it's Bath and Body Works. Every time I walk in there just to look around, I end up walking out with bags of new products! And of course, with the fall scents finally on display, there was no way I could pass up a tiny purchase.

These PocketBac Sanitizers are $1.75 each, or 5 for $5 in the "We Love Fall" set on the Bath & Body Works website. Last time I was at the mall, I picked up three of the set - Crisp Morning Air, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, and A Walk in the Woods.

All three scents are really lovely, and are available both as a hand sanitizer and a foaming soap! I have a huge collection of these little PocketBacs and I love to swap them out for the different seasons, but fall is definitely my favorite!

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin: This one is pretty straightforward - really sweet and cinnamony!

Crisp Morning Air: This scent is very fresh, a combination of earthiness and fruit!

A Walk in the Woods: Possibly my favorite of the bunch! Very spicy and musky, like the perfect autumn afternoon in the forest!

These guys are so little and cheap - they're the perfect way to get into the fall spirit! Plus, who doesn't love having clean hands on the go?

Fans of Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods will especially appreciate one of these sanitizers' names!

XOXO,

Ally

Look of the Day: Summery Lips!

Summer is almost over, but there are still a few days left to break out those bright & fun summer lip colors! For today's look, I went with dewy, flawless skin, light and shimmery eye makeup, and bold lips!

One of the keys to this look starts before you even apply a touch of makeup - it's all in the skincare! Before applying my foundation, I used an exfoliating cleanser to scrub my face and then slathered on some moisturizer. I also made sure to apply plenty of balm to my lips. That way, both my face makeup and my lipstick would apply smoothly later on, without accentuating any patches of rough skin.

For my face I just went about my typical routine, but I finished everything off with a hydrating spray. I used the e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist & Set Spray, which doesn't do too much for me in terms of setting my makeup, but does a really nice job of keeping my face dewy and stopping it from getting powdery. For the eyes I just used a light sweep of shimmery nude shadow, followed by a touch of a darker matte shade in the outer corner and crease, just to give it a hint of depth. Then I applied liquid eyeliner very thinly across the top, and used a shimmery champagne eye pencil on the bottom waterline.

For the lips, any bright lipstick will do - I used one of the Wet n Wild Megalast Lip Colors, which are extremely matte, and paired it with a tiny bit of shimmery gloss in the center of the lip, to give some dimension to my lips. If your lips are less smooth, you might want to use a vibrant gloss or a less matte lipstick instead, to achieve the same effect.

Of course, you can always ramp up the eyes a little more if something this subtle isn't your style, but I love downplaying the eyes when I wear a bright lip - it puts all of the attention onto my lipstick, right where I want it!

XOXO,
Ally

Drugstore Back-to-School Lip Products for Middle School, High School, and College

It's that time of year again - school is almost back in session! Parents everywhere are rejoicing, while kids are savoring their last day or two of summer. You may have already stocked up on the coolest notebooks, pencils, and folders - but don't forget the lip products! Here are some of my back-to-school favorites, from moisturizing to colorful, so you can find the right lip product for you and your grade level! I've picked out 3 lip products each for middle school, high school, and college - and the best thing is that they're all from the drugstore!

Middle School:
If you're in middle school, you may have started wearing light makeup already, or you may be rocking the natural, bare-faced look. Either way, I'd recommend keeping the lip products light. Not only will products like balms and glosses look more natural, but they are also easier to apply and require less precision, which means you won't be stuck in the bathroom trying to apply perfect lipstick!

SoftLips Tinted Lip Conditioner - Rose: This lip balm is probably a little too frosty for most adults, but for younger girls it's lovely! I've always found SoftLips balms to be extremely moisturizing, and the SPF 15 will help protect lips from damaging sun rays.
Bath & Body Works Liplicious Gloss: The particular shade that I'm wearing isn't being sold in Bath & Body Works stores anymore, but you can still find similar clear and lightly tinted glosses - and the best part is that they come in a bunch of fun flavors! These glosses add just a hint of shine and shimmer, and the tube packaging makes it super easy to swipe them on in between classes.
Maybelline Baby Lips Balm - Pink Punch: The most pigmented lip product in the bunch, this balm gives a beautiful pink tint to the lips, feels smooth and moisturizing, and has SPF 20! If the pink is too bright for you, these balms come in a variety of other tints, and there are several clear options as well!

High School:
Whether you've started wearing a fuller face of makeup and want the perfect lip product to compliment the rest of your look, or you want to keep the face natural and just accentuate your lips, these lip products range from glossy to matte and from bright to subtle. They all look great alone, so no need to pack a ton of lip products to take to school!

e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color - Tea Rose: This lip color is extremely matte, so it may not work if you have dry or chapped lips. But if you keep your lips moisturized and smooth, this lip color is a beautiful pale shade with a bit of a purple undertone. Since it's matte, it won't move around on your lips throughout the day, and it won't compete with your eye makeup!
CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balm - Ballet Twist (205): This jumbo lip pencil is a pale peachy shade with a touch of shimmer. It goes on very sheer, but you can also build up the pigment by applying a few layers. It's really easy to apply without a mirror, and feels very lightweight on the lips!
NYX Butter Gloss - Peaches and Cream: This has been one of my favorite summer glosses, and I definitely plan on wearing it into the fall as well! It's a gorgeous peachy pink color, and true to the name, it's extremely smooth and buttery on the lips! It gives the lips exactly the right touch of color.

College:
Let's be real - anything goes in college! For these lip products, I picked out something nude, something bright, and something with super versatile packaging, for those busy days where you're going from the dining hall to class to practice to clubs and finally, to the library for an all-nighter!

Revlon Lip Butter - Peach Parfait: This shade is the perfect peachy-nude color with a bit of shimmer and a TON of shine! One of my favorite things about the Revlon Lip Butters is that I never feel like I need a gloss with them, because they're incredibly shiny already!
Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer - Stellar: In reality, this shade is a bit more pink than it looks in my selfies, but either way - this one is bright! Since this product stains my lips, I don't have to worry about reapplying it right away when I feel it wearing off! (Note: I purchased mine in England where they're called "Apocalips," thus the different name on the packaging.)
Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Gloss - Pink: I've never found these pH products to really change color on anyone, but I can't dispute the fact that this gloss is a gorgeous, vibrant pink shade that gives a ton of color just by itself! The packaging on this gloss is also so cool - there's a mirror on the tube and the wand lights up, so you can reapply in any situation and don't need to carry a separate mirror with you all day!


And....that's it! Hopefully you'll get some back-to-school inspiration from these lip products, and find one that's perfect for you! And of course, to everyone who's starting school again - lots of luck! <3

XOXO,
Ally

Rimmel London Apocalips are here...?

So a while back I reviewed the Rimmel London Apocalips lip lacquer that I picked up while I was studying in England - well just the other day, I spotted these babies in CVS, except something seemed a little different...

Looks like these have been renamed from Apocalips to Show Off for the US market! The shades are all the same and I'm sure the formula is exactly the same as well, but I think it's interesting that the changed the name...I personally loved 'Apocalips' as the name! Regardless, the product is seriously awesome, so if you find these at a drugstore near you, they'll make a great stocking-stuffer!

XOXO, Ally