I'm a huge animal lover and an advocate for cruelty-free beauty. I love my makeup products, but I also do not want any animals suffering for them.

Thus, the Petit Vour beauty box is a perfect subscription box to give me the best of both worlds. This box is $18 shipped each month and comes with four products, all of which are Vegan and cruelty-free. The sizes are great, the products are high-quality, and I am in love with getting a beauty gift in the mail every month.

Check out my video to see what's inside the April box, and comment below with any cruelty-free beauty boxes or products you think I should try next!

I've always been an Urban Decay girl when it comes to eyeshadow. I thought there was no way anything would ever compare.

However, one of my students (I'm a high school English teacher) always has eyeshadow that is just on point. She told me about Morphe palettes and because her eyeshadow was just rocking it, I decided to give it a try.

I was amazed that this huge palette was only $23! Way cheaper than the $55 I drop for a much smaller Urban palette. Still, I was super skeptical. Could it really hold up?

I love the sleek design of this palette. It is so thin and could easily slide into any bag. Plus one from the beginning.

I also love that the shades are so varied yet also so close. There are many nuances of the same shades, allowing for perfect blending and layering. It's easy for even a beginner to create those beautiful, smooth looking gradients using this eyeshadow thanks to the colors included.

I went with the Fall Into Frost palette after a lot of deliberation (There are soooo many color options, another plus!). I'm a shimmer girl, and I've been pleased with the frosty look. It's a modern frost, unlike some of the 1980's shades of nightmares.

Like Urban (and perhaps even more), these shadows are super pigmented, so a little goes a long way. They go on with a high density but are also easy to blend.

Overall, I'm in love with this brand. Will I still use my Urban shades? Yes. They are the first shadows that made me feel confident in my shadow skills. Plus, some of my favorite colors are in there.

Still, I'm so happy to have found another shadow I love with fun colors and so many options to mix it up.

​Have you tried Morphe shadows yet? what's your favorite palette? Let me know in the comments!

This was a true game-changer for me. 

If you use liquid foundation, you need to let it dry before setting it with powder--and yes, you really should set it.

In the past, I would do one of two things:
1. Slap on only liquid foundation and then be on my way
2. Slap on liquid foundation and immediately coat it with powder

Both of these techniques leave your foundation lackluster later in the day. Setting it with a translucent powder helps it stay all day. However, if you put powder on it too quickly, it will leave a cakey layer that just accents your pores.

I put on my foundation first (with a blending sponge) and then let it dry while I do my hair and other makeup. After about ten minutes, I'll lightly dust over it with translucent powder (I use NYX setting powder). My foundation lasts all day and doesn't get cakey. 

For an added glow, I'll add a quick dusting of Urban Decay Illuminated Powder to give me some life.

I'll be honest... contouring is not my strong suit. Still, the best tip I learned was to blend your contour on your cheekbones up toward your hairline. It makes it look more natural and prevents it from coming down too far on your cheekbones. If your contour line comes down to close to your nose, it makes you look skeletal. 

I used to cheap out on my brushes. Would a $20 brush really work any better than a $3 one? I didn't think so.

But then I realized that without the right tools, any products you are buying are just a waste. Why invest in high-end cosmetics only to cheap out on tools?

I have been using It Cosmetics brushes now for over a year and have seen a drastic improvement in my makeup. They help eye shadow, blush, and even foundation from going on too heavy. If you want that airbrushed quality, high-end brushes are a must. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a set, either. I got my It cosmetics brushes on special at Ulta. Watch for sales on the sets, and you'll be ready to bring your makeup to its A-game. If you want to give it a try, here's a travel set of It Cosmetic brushes to get you started for only $30.

Choose a bone color eye shadow as a base layer. This helps with blending and prevents harsh lines. It's almost like priming a canvas in painting. Your eye shadows need something to blend with in order to create that seamless look.

This is a tip that came from the Youtubers. When there's so much to learn and think about with your makeup technique, how you hold the brush seems to be the least of your worries. However, where you hold the brush can totally affect your blending game. For seamless eye shadow blending, hold your brush near the end of the handle and use light pressure. This keeps it from getting streaky/ having hard lines.

Need more tips? Want more advice? I recommend checking out Christen Dominique's Youtube channel. She's got amazing advice and her beauty routine is always flawless. I love it, however, because she's super good at breaking it down for the average woman. You don't have to be a beauty expert to master her techniques.

Yes, I'm a beauty and hair product addict. I've earned my Ulta VIP status and then some. I've racked up Sephora points like it's my job. I've collected countless lotions and potions in the hopes of finding the miracle product that was going to tame, defrizz, smooth, unwrinkle, define, improve, and everything else the beauty world promises.

I've spent way too much money--and I've been way disappointed so many times.

However, with my trial and error, I can say I've found quite a few products over the years that are actually, truly worth your time. Here are my top 5 products worth the price tag.

Sephora sent me a sample of Dry Bar Sake Bomb Shampoo and Conditioner... and my wallet was forever ruined.

This shampoo and conditioner is pretty expensive... but it's the only shampoo/conditioner combo I would actually classify as life-changing. 

I'm always looking for that perfect shampoo to take my hair up a few levels, and this one does it. After one wash, my hair was noticeably softer and easier to style.

I recently got theDry Bar Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner kit from Sephora. It is equally as life-changing. The dry shampoo is also on its own level. I definitely recommend any of these products... it's worth the dent in your pocket, trust me.

I found this miracle foundation from Christen Dominque's Youtube channel. This water-based foundation is like none-other. It essentially melts into your skin but still gives you adequate coverage. It is by far my favorite foundation of all time... and I've tried a few dozen.

I used to think all brushes were the same and, thus, the cheaper the brush, the better. I went for quantity over quality.

And then I triedIt Cosmetics' eye shadow blending brush. My eye shadow game went up a couple of notches. I invested in a set of brushes from Ulta and realized the brush really does make the face. 

I have a set that includes the foundation brush, powder brush, concealer brush, and two eye shadow brushes. They are worth the money because they truly make every step of your makeup look more natural.

Again, I was always convinced curling irons were all the same. I was using the cheapest curling iron possible and couldn't figure out why my curls were falling flat by noon.

I finally invested in a Hot Tools gold-plated curling iron. Now, my curls seriously last over a day without any extra steps. 

I'm an Urban Decay eye shadow fan, but when my mom bought me the Too Faced Chocolate palette, I fell in love. When you don't have time for ten steps of eye shadow application, this palette is perfect because you can swipe on a single color and be ready for the day.  Each shade is perfectly shimmery and pretty by itself. They are super blendable and smell amazing. I love this set of eye shadows for my everyday wear, and they are easy for beginners. You don't have to be a blending pro to get these super smooth shadows to look angelically pretty.

Books are my first love...but makeup and beauty products are a close second.

Check out this amazing review guide by Reviews.com. It will save you time and your hard-earned cash when you're in the market for a new curling iron.

Feel free to share with any of your beauty loving friends.

I'm a bookworm, but I'm also a beauty addict. I've spent tons of cash over the years at Ulta, Sephora, Target, and all sorts of places looking for the best beauty products for the average woman. I believe in cruelty-free cosmetics as well. Every Tuesday, I bring you quick information about a beauty product I've tried and loved. Feel free to comment below with products you think I should try out. I'm always on the hunt for the next best product :)

As a beauty addict, I'm always trying to improve my sad technique. I'm no expert at makeup and don't claim to be. I need all the help I can get. You can buy great products, but if you don't know what to do with them, what's the point?

That's where Christen Dominique comes in. Her Youtube channel has completely transformed by beauty routine. I've picked up so many tiny tips and tricks from her that have made a huge difference in my confidence in my makeup.

Her videos show you the power of makeup. I love some of her five-minute face videos, too, because they feel achievable for women of average makeup skills.

Check out her channel! She is beautiful, entertaining, and so dang good at makeup! She also gives honest beauty critiques of products, which I love.

I'm a bookworm, but I'm also a beauty addict. I've spent tons of cash over the years at Ulta, Sephora, Target, and all sorts of places looking for the best beauty products for the average woman. I believe in cruelty-free cosmetics as well. Every Tuesday, I bring you quick information about a beauty product I've tried and loved. Feel free to comment below with products you think I should try out. I'm always on the hunt for the next best product :)

Okay, I know what you're thinking...
So 1st, no, I am in no way sponsored by Lipsense or have any financial benefits from sales. At all.

And 2, it is not a gimmick. Seriously.

When I first saw Lipsense, I thought, "Here we go. Another FB group sales nightmare. There's no WAY that stuff can work."

And then I bought some...and guess what?

It freaking works. Seriously!!!!

Lipsense is made to last between 4-18 hours. You layer on three thin layers of the lip color, put on some gloss, and voila! Done.  

I get closer to 18 hours out of my Lipsense. Seriously. And at the end of the day...it hasn't budged. I will drink three cups of coffee, eat lunch and dinner and a million snacks...and it's still there. You are supposed to reapply the gloss throughout the day, but I'm way too lazy for that. But it still stays on!

This product works better over time. There is an exfoliating process ( I know, it sounds weird and you're skeptical, but trust me on this one). For the first week or so, your lips will sort of peel, the product won't really stay on that long, and you'll think you got ripped off.

And then, week two, once all the junk you've been putting on your lips is gone, it happens. You'll start getting all-day wear.

I have two colors right now with a third on the way. My favorite color is coral. It looks freaking scary in the tube, but actually it's perfect on. Below is a pic of me wearing the coral color.

It is a little pricey to get started. The starter kit is around $55. That comes with a color, gloss, and color remover in case you make a mistake. However, I've dropped $20-30 on a regular lipstick that I have to reapply constantly. Once you get started, you can just buy colors for around $29 with shipping.

Seriously give this stuff a whirl. I've tried probably a hundred lipsticks looking for color that I love. I finally found it. Oh, and it's cruelty-free, which is super important to me.

You can find sellers online, but I go through Deborah Biter. She's super helpful with color choices and is not pushy at all. Like at all, seriously. Here is her group link if you want to check it out.

Have you tried Lipsense? Do you have a different favorite lipstick? Let me know below!

I'm a beauty junkie, so I'm always trying new products. This holiday season, I got quite a few beauty gifts...from others, and from myself. Here are four products I'm loving right now. Bonus**Henry also approves

I got this at a super bargain price right before Christmas. I have a really hard time finding a foundation I love. I have super pale skin, so many fair formulas look orange on me. This one blends in perfectly and offers the perfect, medium coverage. 

I had heard great reviews about this but was terrified to spray this on my face. I pictured dripping mascara and smeared, chunky powder. It actually really works. My makeup doesn't budge all day, and it doesn't smear any of my makeup.

This came in a mini try-it kit. I adore this all over highlighter. It just adds a touch of radiance to my skin without looking like I stepped out of the glittery 90s. 

I'm an Urban Decay eyeshadow girl through and through. I swore I'd never use another eyeshadow. But when my mom got this for me for Christmas, I became a believer in Too Faced! These eyeshadows are perfect colors for my fair skin and so blendable! They really work well together to bring out your eyes. It's super easy to mix and match shades, and I think any combination works. If you struggle with picking out shades to use from a huge palette, this one is perfect because as I said, they all complement each other!

How about you? What are your beauty faves right now? Leave a comment and share your beauty must haves!

​Flying. Invisibility. X-Ray vision. These are the superpowers most people wish for.
Mine are a little bit less conventional, though. If I could have a superpower, it would be one of the following things:

• To be able to snap my fingers and have delicious food at my fingertips (I love to eat)
• To never have to shower but to always be clean (washing hair and shaving are just a pain in the butt)
• To have perfect, magazine-worthy hair without ever styling it.

 
Growing up, I think the third bullet has been the “superpower” I’ve always felt was within reach… minus the “without ever styling it” part. It feels like that perfect Taylor Swift or Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Anniston hair is always just within my grasp… but not quite close enough to touch.

Since junior high, I’ve gone through so many fads and phases trying to find that perfect hair.

I’ve failed quite a few times.

Even to this day, getting closer to 30 by the minute, I haven’t found that signature style I love, that perfect, envy-worthy hair. And I still keep trying to find the elusive product or style or hair color to give me a Princess Diaries type of transformation.
​
Through the years, I’ve had more than my share of hair disasters. I’ve had my best intentions and optimism be shattered by horrific experiences. I have quite a few pictures to prove my hair has taken a beating through my hairbrained (haha) scheme to master it.
I’m sure I’m not alone. I’m sure we’ve all made some of these horrific mistakes….right?

I don’t mind dropping time and money to get a complete overhaul done on my hair. But a simple bang trim? Who wants to make an appointment and drop $20 just for a few snips? Isn’t that what Youtube is for?

I’ve had quite a few mishaps over my bangs. A few snips suddenly turns into a few too many snip-snip-snips. Before you know it, you’re sporting the superdork bang look… and they’re crooked, to boot.

Tip One: Make sure you use real hair cutting scissors, not your kid-safety shears from your junk drawer.
​
Tip Two: Upward snips make it easier to mask screw ups. Hold your scissors vertically.
​
Tip Three: If you're hesitant, just don’t do it. Seriously.

I blame the soap operas for this one. Every time I see those perfect golden locks on those actresses, I have serious hair envy. They seamlessly change from a chocolate brown hair color to a honey color in the span of a day. And suddenly, I find myself critiquing my own chocolate brown locks, feeling like honey-colored would be just perfect.

Then there comes the moment of no return—the decision to just do it yourself. After all, those commercials make the at-home kits look so easy. The model on the box is, of course, gorgeous. Surely they wouldn’t put her on the box if it wouldn’t turn out like that, right?
​
Before you know it, the caramel highlights you wanted turn mildew green or the chocolate brown is actually a purpley black. The honey color looks more like vomit-color mixed with streaks of Bozo the Clown Red.
​
Six bucks at CVS might seem like a bargain… until you have to spend $106 to get it fixed. Been there, done that one.

I’m antsy, if you can’t tell from the last two. I hate waiting. When I decide I want a change—I want to change it yesterday.

So frequently, I find myself not wanting to tediously make the call and schedule an appointment for the next week. Walk-ins Welcome becomes my new favorite phrase. Tried and true? Nope. I pass straight to the random world of walk-in hairstyling.
And I tend to walk-out with severe buyer’s remorse.

I’ve rocked a 1980’s style poof instead of the smooth, Kelly Clarkson look I was hoping for. I’ve rocked puffy, frizzy curls instead of the Taylor Swift spirals. I’ve cried, wanting to put a bag over my head for the drive home because I don’t want anyone even getting a glimpse of me.
​
Trust what you know…or at least what you’ve heard good feedback from.

Okay, I feel like I’m probably not going to get too many “I’ve done that” stories on this one. I am embarrassed to say I might be alone here.

I got the idea once that my hair was super thick…which it is. But I got the idea it needed thinned out and no hairstylist knew just how to do it right. They never took out enough bulk. So I made a very, very bad decision.

I put a pair of thinning shears at Sally Beauty. And then I used them.

A few days before student teaching began.

Thinning was fun. I kept going. Chop, chop, thin, thin. Wispy pieces flew everywhere.
And then I stopped, glancing in the mirror. Tears came.
​
I looked like I was very, very sick. I had thinned my hair so much that I barely had any left.
So away went my now long locks. I had to go for an above chin-length cut just to make my hair look even.

I cried. I cried some more. But did I throw out the shears?
​
Nope. They’re actually still in my vanity, waiting for another moment of weakness and for time to dull the lesson.

It’s so hard to see your hair objectively.

Until you look at a picture.

We’ve all been there. We think we’re rocking the hair-do. We think we’ve mastered it. Until we see that photograph. Suddenly, the sophisticated wave we’ve been rocking actually looks like a George Washington style wig. The messy bun we think looks Kardashian sexy actually looks greasy and frightening.

The sheak black hair we’ve been wearing for years suddenly reminds us of Morticia. The slicked back pony looks more like a greasy oil slick.

Sometimes it takes a picture for us to do the facepalm and ask “What the hell was I thinking?” Unfortunately for many of us, the picture reveals the truth… a truth we haven’t faced for years or even decades.
​
Pictures are worth a thousand words…and sometimes a thousand new hair products.
 
We’ve all had our hair disasters, right? We’ve all been chasing the elusive hairstyle that will transform us, that will give us the ah-ha moment we’ve been waiting for. For some of us, it’s a long road of don’ts to get to the one do.
 

To celebrate the release of my fifth novel, To Say Goodbye, I’m giving you the chance to win some hair goodies to help you master your perfect do. Sophia, the protagonist in this contemporary romance, is a hair stylist. To enter, you just have to comment below! Tell me your worst hair disaster and be entered to win an e-copy of To Say Goodbye (now available for pre-order) as well as the hair goodie box from Ulta! *US residents only. Ulta not affiliated with this contest.

****CONGRATULATIONS TO KRISTIN, YOU ARE THE WINNER! EMAIL ME TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE

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