My Mac Quad

Mac Custom Palette Eyeshadow x 4 - $48.00 

I have a new romance in my life: my little Mac palette that I got as a gift for my 19th birthday this past month. Choosing four eyeshadows was one of the most difficult feats I have faced thus far (slight hyperbole). I trusted Tanya Burr and went with some of her favorites. Woodwinked was the one eyeshadow there was no question about because it truly is the most magnificent golden bronze. I was initially planning on getting All That Glitters in place of Blanc Type but I chose to be sensible and went with a light matte color to use as a base for the other three. Sumptuous Olive, which I thought was called "Scrumptious Olive" (the sales rep must have taken me for a noob) is a lovely green-gold which pairs well with my green eyes. Last but not least, I chose Satin Taupe because it was just too beautiful to leave behind. I love the Mac eyeshadows, although they are horrifically expensive, and I cannot wait to wear more color on my lids because of this palette! What are your must-have Mac eyeshadows?

Highlighter Line-Up

L-R: 'The Luminizer', 'Rose Pink', 'High Beam', 'Soft and Gentle'

When it comes to highlighters, I tend to stick to the well-known ones such as Benefit's 'High Beam' and Mac's 'Soft and Gentle'. This is probably because, compared to other face products, I do not have as much experience with highlighters. I love the dewy effect they create but a highlighter is not a staple in my every day make up routine. However, in the summer, I love to apply a bit of 'S&G' on the high points of my cheeks or mix in some 'High Beam' into my foundation to give myself that fresh glow. The first highlighter I ever bought was Sephora's 'Rose Pink' and I have to admit that I don't reach for it that often. 'Rose Pink' is a beautiful pink full of gold shimmer that looks beautiful against tanned skin. I really should start to wear it more because the formulation appears to be just as lovely as 'Soft and Gentle'. In fact, the only apparent difference between the two is that 'Soft and Gentle' is yellow toned. Another favorite highlighter is one I received in a Birchbox. The Balm's 'The Luminizer' is also a beloved highlighter among make up lovers. I must confess that I typically wear this as an eyeshadow because it reminds me of Stila's 'Kitten'. It does look wonderful as a highlighter as well but I think for now I will stick to using it on my eyes. What's your go to highlighter?

Mac // Lipstick Collection

T-B: 'Girl About Town', 'Rebel', 'Chatterbox' 

Unlike many beauty bloggers, I do not have a drawer full of Mac lipsticks. Thus said, I present to you ma petite collection of lipsticks by the legendary Mac Cosmetics. I began my relationship with Mac less than a year ago at at the ripe age of eighteen. 'Rebel' wandered into my possession just in time for autumn. This beautiful deep berry lipstick is definitely my favorite out of the three. 'Girl About Town' joined 'Rebel' a few months later. This bright fucsia can be found on my lips when, you guessed it, I'm about town. This might be silly, but I swear this lipstick transforms me into a party girl and makes me feel more confident. I bought 'Chatterbox' at the end of spring break to wear during the spring and summer. Light pinks typically don't flatter my completion but 'Chatterbox' has a bit of coral in it so it looks pretty damn good [if I do say so myself]. I'm not really looking to buy many more Mac lipsticks because there are so many other brands I would like to try and they aren't exactly cheap. Don't get me wrong, I adore these lipsticks but I have to be frugal sometimes. I would love to add a red to my collection though... What Mac lipstick are you most fond of?

May Favorites

The first month of my summer break has come and gone and I have to admit I am relieved that June is starting and I will be once again have a routine. Since I spent a majority of the month in sunny California, most of my favorites coincide with warm weather. On my face, I have mostly been wearing the Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer which has SPF 30 and gives just enough coverage. I love it so much I did a whole post on it here. I also have gotten into conturing my face, which has become quite simple with my handy dandy Real Techniques 'Contour Brush' and Too Faced 'Chocolate Soleil' bronzer. This bronzer is matte and does the job perfectly. On my lips I have been wearing the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Honey' practically everyday. The color is very natural and it stays on for hours. Lastly, I have been very fond of a particular Mac eyeshadow that I bought because of this post by the lovely Amelia Jane. 'Sable' is a beautiful metallic bronze with a dash of pink. I have been wearing it both all over the lid and on the outer lid with another color. What have you been loving this month?

Mac // Cleanse Off Oil

If I had to name one product I am in constant battle with, it would be the Mac Cleanse Off Oil.  I bought the small travel sized bottle of this about a year ago and I still haven't used up the entire ounce. On one hand, it is mineral-oil free and one of the most gentle cleansers I've used to this day. On the other hand, it does not remove my waterproof mascara. I purchased it for the very purpose of removing my mascara after Ingrid mentioned it in one of her videos. I don't know if I'm using some heavy duty mascara or if my application of the cleanser is incorrect but I just cannot get this product to do what it is supposed to do. Also, if you get it anywhere near your eyes, everything will look foggy for sometime. How is anyone supposed to wash off their mascara if they can't use the oil near their eyes? My Caudalíe Cleansing Water does a better job of removing my makeup than this oil. Overall, once I am done with this small bottle of the Mac Cleanse Off Oil, I will not be buying it again. Did you have a better experience with this product?

The Five Product Face

So this type of post has been making an appearance on multiple blogs that I follow so I decided to take on the challenge and attempt to do a full look with only five products. I have to admit that this was a difficult task because I tend to use twice the amount of make up products in a given day. The first thing I chose to use was my Nearly Naked Foundation because the coverage is buildable and it was the only face product I chose to include. I followed up with a bronzer because I have a round face and I need some contouring to survive. For my eyes I went with a simple duo of the Maybelline Color Tattoo in 'Bad to the Bronze', on the eyelids and as a liner in my outer lower waterline, and the Maybelline Great Lash mascara. The last product I used was the Mac lipstick in 'Chatterbox' which I used both as a blush and lipstick. I have to say I am quite proud of myself. Have you tried this challenge?

Little Notes // 2

I have been a busy bee today! The day begun with a couple hours exploring Stanford University's campus and ended with a salted caramel cupcake from Sprinkles. My family often visits Stanford when we are in California because of its beautiful campus that includes a spacious plaza and the Hoover Tower. We actually climbed to the summit of the tower and were able to see the San Francisco skyline in the distance. After lunch, we went to a huge shopping center that was nearby and I was a bit naughty at Mac and Urban Outfitters. I was actually able to score a dress that was originally $90 for only $5! Can you tell I'm proud of myself? For dinner, we went to a small sushi restaurant and I went a little crazy with my camera. I ordered a bento box because there is something I like about having my food displayed in small compartments. I guess I'm odd. For dessert I had a cupcake which is quite unusual for me because I am not a fan of cupcakes. It was actually pretty good. Now, I am catching up on the latest season of 'Game of Thrones'. Lovely day all in all. How was yours?

My Go-To Travel Minis

'Read My Palm', 'What Aura Gonna Wear?', 'Leotard Optional' 

Traveling, specifically when it involves airplanes, can be stressful. When you factor in packing and flying restrictions you may have a mess on your hands. Over the years, I have learned to pack pretty lightly, if I do say so myself. For someone who is attached to their makeup collection and skincare items, packing for a trip is the time to pull out miniature versions of products and samples. For the plane, make sure you have moisturizer and cleansing water because air travel is harmful to your skin. Save smaller containers to refill them at home with the full-size product. That happens to be what I do with the Josie Maran Argan Oil. Instead of hauling around a large highlighter that may take up half your makeup bag, grab a liquid highlighter like Benefit's High Beam. When it comes to nail polish, I tend to overpack because they are my weakness. Many brands such as OPI, Essie, and Orly make miniature sets of their nail polishes so people can try them out before buying the full-size version. This also comes in handy when packing because I am able to cram about five of these in my already overpacked makeup bag. What are some of your tricks to packing light?