I got my Sephora Spring sale order last week, and I wanted to quickly share my initial impressions of each product. Honestly, nothing excites me more than a good Sephora haul! All of the products I bought have been making the rounds within the beauty community, and I naturally had to try them for myself.
Ouai Treatment Masque: I discovered this brand through my FabFitFun Spring box when Ouai's leave-in conditioner was included. I raved about that product so much that I decided to try this deep conditioning treatment masque. I've used it twice so far and am really impressed with how thick, rich, and luxurious it feels in my hair. It has left my ends so soft, and the wonderful scent has lingered in my hair until I washed it again.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Setting Powder: Not sure if anyone knows this, but I'm a huge Rihanna fan. This is the first product I'm trying from her Fenty Beauty line, and so far I'm completely sold! I got this in the translucent "lavender" shade and it set my makeup beautifully The true test will come once I take photos wearing it, but I have high hopes.
Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Corrector: I got this in the light to medium shade. It seems as though every year my under eye area gets darker and darker. I've tried so many different brighteners but this one is thicker. The color is perfect for my skin tone, and it does make me look more awake.
These were added to my order because I had some points to take advantage of.
I've been using the Urban Decay All-Nighter spray for years, and I seriously cannot be without it. Since we're going on a road trip next month, I figured a travel size would be ideal to take with me.
The Drunk Elephant C-Tango multivitamin eye cream will also be packed. This is my first time trying a product from the brand, but so far I really love using this eye cream in the morning before applying my under eye concealer and corrector. It lightens up the entire area around my eyes.
I'll touch on these products again once I've really had the chance to use them.
Blogging Q&A
A few weeks ago,
My friend Gina over at On The Daily Express tagged me and a few other ladies to answer some questions about blogging. I remember when I first began Beautygirl24, tagging, sharing, and awarding other bloggers within the beauty and fashion community was really popular and I miss that sense of camaraderie. It's been awhile since I've even thought about some of these questions so I hope you enjoy my answers! Please feel free to share your experiences with me as well, even if you don't have a blog but are a blog reader.
1. How did you first get into blogging?
I started my blog around 2009 during my last year in college. I was 24 and completely obsessed with beauty blogs and the YouTube beauty community. I didn't really have any hobbies at the time, and I just wanted to feel involved in something so I signed up with blogger. I had no intentions, no plans. It was pretty haphazard actually. This was long before Instagram, the big social media boom, and monetization platforms. I think RewardStyle was in its infancy. I felt zero pressure to make any money with my blog because it didn't occur to me that I could. Otherwise, I would have taken it more seriously! I was even embarrassed to tell friends and family about it, so I kept it under wraps for years. It was my little secret, my tiny corner of the internet where I could write about the things I loved.
2. What has been the best strategy that has worked well for you to get more blog traffic?
In the beginning, getting traffic to my blog was surprisingly easy! I think because it was such an open, like-minded community, and blogs were incredibly popular. I consumed, I read, I commented on SO
many blogs and others did the same. It was fun! People were genuinely interested in building a community together. The tent was huge, and the attitude was "the more, the merrier." There was something very special about it and I'm happy that I began blogging when I did. Now the community feels fractured, and the truth is, a lot of people no longer care about blogs. Everyone wants instant gratification from platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Attention spans are waning. I'll freely admit that my traffic has slowed a ton over the last three years. I'm not consistent enough. If you're really wanting traffic, consistent posting/scheduling is key. I also recommend linking up with other bloggers and being an active participant in the community.
3. How do you motivate yourself to keep your blog going and who is your go-to for fashion inspiration?
I keep blogging because I love writing about style and beauty products, and I need this creative outlet in my life. Blogging the way I have over the years, this feels like a journal and it's fun to keep a record of how I've changed (and haven't changed) over time. It's hard to believe I've been at this for 10 years; sometimes I wonder if my time has passed but I'm not ready to stop. This space keeps me sane, and I love connecting with you. I'll do it until it no longer serves me. That sounds so selfish but it's always been true. That's the beauty of it for me though. I don't have a manager or PR firm backing me, no assistants, and most importantly, no ego. I can only imagine the pressure that full-time bloggers experience. My go-to fashion inspiration still remains the people I see on the street, other bloggers, women I admire whom I want to emulate. Inspiration is everywhere.
4. How would you describe your personal style?
I gravitate towards classic pieces with feminine silhouettes. Because I live in California, I also love casual basics with a bohemian touch. Classic + feminine + bohemian are the words I'd use to describe my aesthetic. Oh, and simplicity is best!
5. What's one thing you wish you understood sooner about blogging?
I'm going to contradict myself here, but I DO wish that I had taken blogging more seriously from the very beginning. I distinctly remember when RewardStyle accepted me into their affiliate program. I was driving to my job one day, in a total hurry, and my account manager at the time called me and wanted to talk. She wanted to help me grow my account, but I sort of blew it all off because Hell, I had just graduated from college with a degree - blogging was just this silly thing I did for fun, it wasn't something I thought to really explore. I missed out on some really interesting opportunities, I turned down collaborations. I regret doing that, not because of the possibility of making more money, but because I missed out on learning and meeting new people. I didn't even try. And now those opportunities are few and far between.
6. Share a favorite blogging memory:
Meeting Gina for the first time at a RewardStyle event! She introduced herself to me and I just immediately connected with her. I'm an introvert with increasingly terrible social anxiety, so her kindness was very much appreciated.
7. Give some unsolicited advice to the blogging community/bloggers in general:
This applies mostly to social media influencers but also bloggers: Please, please, please stop being rude to your followers and readers, quit blocking people and deleting comments. Not everyone is going to kiss your ass on every post, not everyone is going to like every single thing you wear or promote. And that's okay! There can be differences of opinion, there can be healthy conversations. I feel like most influencers just want to be showered with praise, and that leads to inflated egos. Do you want to help others and be involved in a community, or do you just want compliments and clicks from strangers? If this is your job, then do it and do it without constant complaining about engagement and algorithms. I refuse to give anyone my money if they display a sense of entitlement. You aren't saving a life, you're offering a product that I can easily find myself. You don't need to talk down to people either. If you're struggling to turn your brand into a business, keep at it and follow your dreams because I'm rooting for you. I really am. But if it's causing you so much stress that you are losing perspective, then maybe you should look for a job/side job with more stable income.
I could go on but I'll stop. Thank you so much for reading here, today and every day that you come by. I don't thank you enough! I'd love to hear any and all thoughts on blogging, social media, and this community.
Linking up
with Rachelle today
I came across this highlighter palette through Michele1218. I've followed her for years on YouTube and really trust her recommendations, so when she featured this palette a few weeks ago, I knew I needed to try it too. There are three universally flattering shades: pearl, golden quartz, and rose gold. All three are super soft and buttery, with the most gorgeous shimmer that's easy to blend out for that perfect Summer glow. I use the golden quartz and rose gold shades across my cheekbones, and pearl in the corners of my eyes. All three have great color payoff. I'm impressed! If there's one product you try from my reviews, let it be this! 
I prefer using powders most of the year because I have oily skin, but come Summer, I reach for lightweight creams and gels that last through heat. Cloud paint in Dusk is a gorgeous wash of tawny nude that lasts for hours. I use a stippling brush to swirl it onto the apples of my cheeks, and it creates a seamless stain of natural color. It doesn't even look like makeup, just your body's own natural flush.
I'm not one to switch up my setting powder or foundations, but I kept seeing so much buzz around this product. My NYX HD powder was almost empty, so during the Sephora Spring sale last month, I ordered the Pro Filt'r setting powder in lavender. Having a lavender hued setting powder may seem strange, but it goes on completely translucent and is the silkiest powder I've ever felt. I have fairly oily skin, and this sets my makeup all day long. It's quite expensive, especially in comparison to NYX, but I have a feeling I'm not going to want to go back. It leaves a natural, soft matte finish.
I'm extremely happy with the coverage and lasting power of my favorite concealer, but I was still craving a bit more brightness underneath my eyes. I wanted to look fresh and youthful, and this brightening corrector from Becca helps achieve just that. It's a cream product that feels slightly tacky to the touch. I use my ring finger to apply a small amount underneath my eyes, on top of concealer. I pat and press it on, so the heat of my finger warms up the product, and then I use a small brush to set it with the Fenty powder mentioned above. The effect isn't quite Kardashian-esque, but close!
