30 Day Ab Challenge

A year and a half ago I became a mom which was the biggest blessing in the world. HOWEVER, we all know what comes with being a mom, getting our bodies back in shape and being comfortable in our own skin again. I was a NCAA gymnast and after college graduation went straight into motherhood so there was a huge adjustment period for me with my body. It took me a long time to feel confident again and to feel like I looked good in clothes. While I feel comfortable in clothes now, there are still things I would like to tone up! My friend Kendall and I decided to do the 30 Day Ab challenge. I figured it would be great to do it with a friend and to check in with each other to make sure we were both doing it. Having support is such an important aspect of fitness and health! We even got a couple of our other mom friends to do it as well, which is super exciting. I challenge anyone who is reading this to do it too! Fitness and exercise aren't only great for appearance.  They have such an impact on our self esteem, mood, and mental health. Anyone else in?! 

Here's the challenge

Here are my before pictures! In 30 days I will post my after pictures. Hope to hear from your experiences as well! 

Day One!

Xo, Bailey 

P.S. If you were wondering what I looked like sans makeup look no further. I love my makeup but I love letting my skin breathe too! 

The Rocket Mascara Review

Maybelline came out with the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara a couple months ago. I am a drugstore mascara and foundation junkie, so whenever a new one comes out I feel like I have to try it!

Here is what Maybelline.com has to say about The Rocket Mascara:

PRODUCT DETAILS

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

Explosive Volume in Rocket Time!

8X Bigger. Smoother. Even.

Now, the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever! Volum' Express The Rocket Mascara's patented Supersonic Brush with micro bristles loads on big, sleek volume instantly.

Our fast-glide formula keeps lashes smooth. 

Zero clumps!

FOR BEST RESULTS

Apply the Supersonic Brush against the lashes and sweep from root to tip until a clean, voluminous look is achieved. Do not let dry between coats. Removes easily with soap and water or with Maybelline® Clean Express!™ Classic Eye Makeup Remover.

My Experience

I bought the non waterproof very black version of this product . I usually buy non waterproof only because I enjoy washing my face with just face wash and water at night. I do not like having to buy something separate to get my mascara off when everything else comes off with my face wash. I had no problems with applying this mascara. The wand was a good size, but not massive and the product went on to my lashes effortlessly. This mascara formula leans toward the drier side so you do have to work somewhat quickly, but I didn't find myself having to rush. I only needed two quick coats and it gave me the lashes I usually like.  DISCLAIMER: I enjoy BIG lashes that don't look the most natural. The mascara had amazing staying power on my oily skin! I had it on for 12 hours when it was 115 outside (running errands that day as well) and only had the slightest bit of smudging on my lower lashes by 9 pm. It also held my curl all day. I cant complain, i loved it! 

How it Looks

Breakdown

Packaging: A (Thought the bright colors were cute)

Price: A+ ( cant beat 5.94 at Wal Mart!)

Durability: A (so pleasantly surprised with this)

Application: A

Overall: A

I am really excited that I've found a mascara that has for the most part been able to withstand the Vegas heat. If you want big lashes then this is the mascara for you. If you would prefer natural, separated lashes then i would try something different. 

Next week I am going to do a mascara review/demo on Lash Discovery by Maybelline for everyone who enjoys more natural looking lashes. 

4th of July Makeup!

Hey guys! I decided to not go super crazy with my makeup on the 4th. I wanted to keep it simple with just a pop of color. I wanted it super wearable! I felt like if I added bright red lips it wouldn't be realistic for others to try out. It has been 115-117 degrees (NO EXAGGERATION) in Las Vegas this whole week so the glow is natural!! It's me wanting to melt! I am not "expecting" like my friend Trystina asked! Love ya girl!  

The Look - Pink cheeks, Neutral lips, and Blue liner! 

Face Products Used:

1. Mac Studio Fix Foundation

2. MAC Prolongwear Concealer 

3. NYX Blush in Taupe to contour the hollow of cheeks 

4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Deep as my bronzer

5. Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Transparent to set my under eye concealer

5. NARS Blush in Orgasm 

6. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft n Gentle to highlight my cheekbones and high planes of my face. Everyone needs this highlighter in their collection!

Eye Products Used: 

1. MAC Brow Pencil in Lingering

2. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. I put this all over my lid and blended it out with my finger to make my lid shadow brighter.

3. MAC Shadow in Mylar on my brow bone.

4. MAC Shadow in Texture on my crease. 

5. MAC shadow in Nylon on my inner corner

6. Urban Decay Shadow in Midnight Cowgirl on my eyelid

7. NYX Shadow in Blue Marine as my Eyeliner on top and bottom lash lines. I took an eyeliner brush and got it damp and applied it like a gel eyeliner. 

8. MAC eyeliner in Smolder on my waterline.

9. L'Oreal Shocking Telescopic Extensions

Swatches of Colors from Top to Bottom:

1. Blue Marine

2. Texture

3. Midnight Cowgirl

4. Nylon

5. Mylar

Lip Products Used:

From Top to Bottom:

1. MAC Lipliner in Spice

2. Mac Lipstick in Kinda Sexy (one of the ONLY nude colors i will wear)

2. NYX lip gloss in Perfect

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday with their friends and family! 

xo, Bailey

How I Do My Eyebrows

Hey ladies! I had a couple requests for how I do my eyebrows, so here it is. Hope you enjoy!

Products I Use: 

1. Sonia Kashuk Eyeliner Brush (can be found at Target)

2. Sonia Kashuk Spoolie (can be found at Target)

3. Mac Brow Pencil in Lingering (the perfect pencil for anyone with light-dark brown hair, its so versatile)

4. Mac Eye Shadow in Cork. I always like to go lighter than my hair, I think it looks more natural.

Cheaper Products that would work just as well!

1. ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium. A great kit and it's only 3 bucks! You can get it at Target!

2. Maybelline Define a Brow Pencil (these run dark so definitely get a lighter shade than you think you need!) 

Step 1: Start with clean brows! 

Step 2: Take whatever pencil you have and outline the bottom portion to define the arch and extend the tail of the brow if needed. I also outline the top a little since i have sparse hair there. I do not fill in my brows with pencil. Only the outline.

Step 3: Take your brush and powder and fill in the rest of your brows.

Now that they look super dark and unnatural its time for Step 5: Brush those babies out with the spoolie!

After they are brushed out!

Step 6: Add your brow highlight, finish your eye makeup, and you're good to go!

It truly is so simple! Eyebrows are the one thing that i NEVER skip. I think they do so much for the face. They frame our faces and open up our eyes! Try it and see!!! 

P.S. Please excuse my peeling face in the close ups of my skin. I went up to Lake Tahoe and had a little too much sun! 

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day! Thank you for reading and sharing with me! 

xo, Bailey

^^^^^^^^^story of anyone else's life?!^^^^^^^^

Beauty on a Budget!

If you're like me and a normal middle class citizen, then money is tight most of the time! I don't get to spend freely at the MAC counter and spend frivolously.  I have to save up to buy the expensive things! There are so many great makeup products out there that do not cost an arm and a leg. I use my drugstore products a ton and will always continue to use them. Why spend 25 dollars when i can spend 8?!  I created a look using all drugstore products. I was going to the International Beauty Show the day i did this look and had my precious little 1.5 year old angel yanking at my legs the whole time so i forgot to take pictures before I left the house, and had to take pictures in the car! I still really wanted to post this, so please excuse the lack of picture quality.

This little face would never bug Mommy.

The look! I was going to the show so i wanted it simple but with a pop of color. I did a simple eye with a deep green bottom lash line. I wore lashes to the show (from Walmart ladies, told you everything was drugstore) but took them off on the way home.

The look without lashes! :)

Products Used:

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation in Medium Beige (can be found at Walmart for the cheapest)

Rimmell Stay Matte Powder in Transparent (can be found at any drugstore)

NYX Eat, Love, Be Fab Eye Shadow Palette (can be found at some Targets in the Midwest or at Ulta) NYX is my favorite eye shadow besides MAC.  I used the pink shade on my crease and the medium brown shade on the deepest part of my crease. I used the green shade for the lower lash line and smudged it out. 

L'Oreal Infallible eye shadow in Eternal Sunshine (can be found at any drugstore). I used this on my lid with a damp brush to give it more brightness.

Maybelline Eye Studio Quad in Copper Chic (can be found at any drugstore). I only used the white shade for my brow highlight and inner corner highlight.

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium (only at Target). 

NYC Bronzer in Sunny (can be found at Walmart and drugstores) 

Sonia Kashuk Blush in Sunset (can be found at Target). Such a BEAUTIFUL color. Would be great for an array of skin tones for summer!

Loreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliner (i don't know if they still make these anymore but I bought mine at Walmart). I don't own a black drugstore eyeliner for my waterline so I improvised. I used this purple liner and then took the darkest shade from the NYX eyeshadow palette and put that on top of my waterline. It gave me a dark brown almost black liner. 

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Pen in Ultra Black (I bought mine at Ulta, but i have seen them at other drugstores as well). i used this on my top lid and created a semi wing. 

Loreal Shocking Telescopic Extensions Mascara (can be found at any drugstore). I applied this before my falsies. THIS IS MY FAVORITE MASCARA. I have yet to find a better one out there. IF you know of one let me know! I love BIG lashes and this helps me achieve that.

Salon Perfect Falsies- Demi Wispies (bought mine at Walmart)

Loreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Rose Tafetta (can be found at any drugstore). I am obsessed with this color thanks to Kristen from Beauty Moxie. Her channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/user/beautymoxie

The International Beauty Show was also a ton of fun! All of the vendors were great and I also got to see my best friend Lauren who works for truDERMA. Their website is http://www.truderma.com/. 

Stay tuned for a couple reviews of things i got from the show coming up soon. I will also have a review of the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation up on the blog by Wednesday!

Hope everyone is having a beautiful day! Enjoy the finer things in life........ like a slurpee. ;)

xo, Bailey