Ulta Haul [again...whoops]

This Ulta trip was not planned at all. I had my free birthday gift to pick up and honestly just needed to get out of the house. [when you work from home it's very easy to become a hermit.] With my birthday money in hand and an evening to myself I headed off to wander the aisles of Ulta. Here's what I walked out with and what I think about it. 

I have worked with my esthetician to come up with a solid skincare routine and we both agree that the Mario Badescu line is amazing! 

The facial spray is so refreshing. The rosewater in it gives it a light floral scent. I have been using it in the morning and evening after cleansing. I also will spray it on during the day to refresh my makeup. It is very comparable to the Urban Decay setting spray. 

The buffering lotion is used on trouble spots. I just shake it up and tap a drop of the lotion on in the evenings before my moisturizer. In the morning the spot is gone. 

Not your Mother's Kinky Moves: In an effort to wear my hair in it's natural state I am searching for a product that will let my curls do their thing but keep the frizz away. This product first off smells really good. The grape and jasmine are a perfect scent combination. I have used this both on wet hair and on dry hair. It works best for me when I apply it to my air dried curls. It tames the frizz and smooths out the curls. I found if I used it on wet hair and let it air dry that the frizz was worse. 

Not your Mother's Beach Babe: Now with all the texturing spray hype I thought I would try this one. I haven't really used a spray like this before because my hair has enough texture in it already. [yay for being a latina!] I did not like this at all. It made my hair feel really chalky and the scent of the sea salt was not great. I returned it. 

Revlon ColorBurst in Audacious: I saw someone use this and thought it would be something I could be brave enough to wear but... it wasn't. The color was very very orange for my skin tone. And I personally didn't think it was that flattering on me. So, I returned it. I will stick to my nude balms for now. 

Calvin Klein Mascara: This was my free birthday gift. First off, the packaging is just gorgeous. If I had a line of cosmetics I think it would look just like this. Matte black and a glossy white! This mascara isn't anything special. It is a nice dark black pigment but I will stick with my L'Oreal Telescopic for now. Thanks Ulta for the full size product. 

Essence Colour & Go [let's get lost 128]: Here is the real winner of this trip to Ulta! *Here's an Ulta shopping tip-> go with naked fingernails and test out the polishes that you plan on buying.*

There is nothing worse than buying a polish that looks great in the bottle but dries matte instead of glossy! I had painted Essie 'Strut your Stuff' on a fingernail and was debating on purchasing it or not until... I found a great dupe for it from Essence for $1.99! The whole polish line from Essence is amazing! I am slowly building up a collection.

Five things I can't live without [summer makeup edition.]

Mary Kay CC Cream: [I feel like I have gone on and on about this CC cream but the more I use it, the more I love it. It's so lightweight and a little dime size dot will cover your whole face. Will for sure repurchase it again after I have used it all up. Read more here.]
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: [This brush will change your life and the way you apply your makeup. Can't live without it.] 

Mario Badescu Moisturizer: [I have found my holy grail moisturizer. This feels so good on the skin and has not caused any irritation or dryness. I love that it has SPF 17 in it. I use it as a daytime and evening moisturizer. This is only the travel size. It has lasted me 3 months so far, so a little goes a long way with this!]
Carmex: [Not the most glamorous item but if I am going to be outside this will be on my lips. It not only protects your lips from the sun but it gives a nice glossy finish to them.]

^ obviously a very well loved product ^

Nars Cheek Kit: [This is a 3in1 for sure can't live without item for me during the summer. The bronzer and blush are perfect for my summer tan. I love using albatross [the middle blush highlight] as my summer highlighter. It gives such a nice sparkly sheen to wherever you apply it and really brings out your glowing summer skin. They don't currently sell the version I have but here is their current cheek kit.]

What are the 5 makeup items you can't live without this summer? 

I want to know! 

Ulta Haul [Sping Break Edition]

I have been diligent about saving up my pennies for a while now. I needed to buy a few things for Spring Break. [which starts tomorrow!] Some travel size items, a new mascara, and an eyeshadow pigment that I have been wanting for a while. Shopping at Ulta with two of your bffs is the most fun and entertaining thing ever. Testing products, smelling products, laughing and laughing. Never a dull moment. Here's what I bought. 

L'Oreal Infallible Shadow [amber rush]

Mario Badescu [oil free moisturizer/enzyme cleansing gel] 

L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara [blackest black waterproof]

Mini Sized Benefit Primers [the pore fessional/that gal]

Maybelline Elixer [glistening amber]

Travel Sized Ulta lotion/body gel [passionberry]

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer [medium] 

^ This L'Oreal packed pigment is so incredible. I have been wearing it for the past two days.
It's perfect for during the day and then can be built up
for a more dramatic glitz & glam night look. ^ 

^ The Maybelline Elixer's are really nice. I think the packaging is so cute! This shade is super glossy and has lots of shimmer. It does have a weird scent to it, kind of smells like a cleaning product. Still super loyal to my NYX Butter Gloss though. ^

^ I walked out of Ulta with a full hand of Essie & Zoya polish swatches. They were not painted very neatly, but we had to see if we needed to buy them or not. That happens on normal trip to Ulta. :)  ^

NOW IT'S TIME TO PACK IT ALL UP FOR VACATION!!!