2.16.2015

It's been quite some time since I've delved into a beauty brand that I've never tried before. I used to run the gamut with products, but after graduating college, I stopped experimenting as much with buying copious amounts of makeup. Good for my wallet, but bad for the beauty portion of my blog! As I've stated before, I miss trying, testing, and playing. It's fun! So when Glo Minerals reached out to me about a review opportunity of two of their products, I jumped at the chance. I've heard of the brand before, and wanted to see for myself what the company is all about. Please note that although these products were sent to me for review, all thoughts and opinions are my own and I am not getting compensated in doing so. I wore both the shadows and the moisturizing tint for two weeks so that I could get a good idea of how they responded to my sensitive skin, and to see how they would wear throughout the day (and night).

Here is a brief overview of Glo Minerals: It is great for sensitive skin, because it is talc free and non-comedogenic. Their mineral makeup is designed to cover, correct, and protect. Their products are triple milled to ensure coverage that lasts. It is also infused with vitamins including green tea that act as anti-inflammatories. As I read this, I thought great! Sounds good to me.




Here are the products they sent to me, plus a gorgeous wine colored lipstick as a sweet gift. All photos were taken outside on my balcony, with natural light and no flash. What you see is what you get!




The tint comes in four colors - fair, light, medium, and dark. I have never been a fan of tinted moisturizers because I have areas of discoloration on my cheeks, nose, and chin. I typically like a medium coverage foundation to keep the discoloration at bay. However, this tinted moisturizer is amazing! You can wear it alone or underneath your regular foundation, so I tried it both ways. The best way it works for me is to layer it with my regular HD foundation. You really get a dual effect. You get sun protection which is so important, especially when you live in a warm climate like I do, and you also get the advantage of being able to use the foundation of your liking. I found that I didn't need to use my regular moisturizer. This provided a smooth, even canvas for great application. There is no real scent of sunscreen either, and the tint suited my light skin perfectly. I have a feeling this is going to be my Spring and Summer staple! It's the stand-out product out of the two that were sent to me, and I absolutely recommend it.



This little quad contains four beautiful, universal shades that go from day to night. I love the top right and bottom left shades the most, as they make for beautiful all-over lid colors. The back of this little kit has a guide I.E. base, lid, crease, and liner but I didn't use them that way. They do have shimmer to them, but once applied on the eyes, the shimmer isn't as noticeable. The pigmentation is great, and I would easily compare these to other brands found at department stores. I did use my own base as a primer to ensure lasting effects, but I do this with all of my eye makeup. These lasted during an eight hour workday with no creasing.


Here I am wearing the smoky eye kit and the moisturizing tint, all in natural daylight with no filter/photoshop. 




I did want to quickly mention the lipstick in aubergine because it is a gorgeous wine color and the formula is super creamy and rich. If you're on the hunt for a great Fall/Winter shade then look no further. I forgot to photograph with it on, but I will in the future! 



Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and wear of these products. I had no expectations, and can genuinely say wholeheartedly that I am impressed and would buy any of these products on my own, with my money. I don't do reviews often, and I hope you'll trust me when I say that this is a great brand. Glo Minerals gave me a 15% off coupon code of your entire purchase using BEAUTYGIRL24. Give them a try (especially the moisturizing tint) and let me know what you think. A big thank you to Amy for reaching out to me.

2.13.2015

In honor of national love day tomorrow, I thought I'd do a beauty post about what I like to do to get ready for a night out with the hubby. This definitely isn't particular to Valentine's day though. I like to treat myself before any of our dates, whether it be grabbing drinks at a bar or just dinner at one of our favorite little spots. Half the fun is getting primped, right? The whole process puts me in a girly mood, especially while listening to music, watching makeup tutorials on YouTube, and drinking a glass of wine. It's the little things guys, the details.

If you're single? Even better! I loved getting ready with my girlfriends before hitting the town. The good ol' days...I miss those. I have two bachelorette parties coming up within the next few months so I can't wait to carry this routine over with the girls.



1) Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - For extra soft, rose scented skin that lingers long after a bath or shower. I'm telling you, if you haven't indulged in Lush products yet, this is the product to try. I can't imagine any woman not loving it (unless you dislike roses).

2) GlamGlow or Freeman's Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask - The first is pricey, but it really deep cleans your pores and reveals glowing skin. The second however is a wonderfully inexpensive alternative that I remember using as a teen. I like treating myself to an at-home facial before a special event because not only does it produce great results on the skin, but it also feels nice to go the extra mile and pamper yourself. Put on some relaxing music (for me that means Jack Johnson) and let the world melt away.

3) Light a candle while you're getting ready! We love them around here, even more now with a stinky puppy running around. I gravitate towards so many different brands. I love Voluspa, Bath & Body, or in this case, my new pink peony scent from Target. I've burned it once and it smells like Spring.

4) I love to first apply a moisturizing lip treatment or balm right after I get out of the shower so it can work its magic while I'm doing my hair and makeup. This one by Fresh once again smells like rose. Notice a theme here?

5) I always make sure my nails look freshly polished. I put an extra coat of Seche Vite to ensure they look shiny and don't chip during the night. It's a pet peeve of mine!


The very last thing I do before leaving the house is spraying my favorite fragrance. 
I know, how many times can I stress that I am all about roses?
Chloe's Roses de Chloe perfume




Do you do anything special to prepare for a night out?
Happy Valentine's Day loves! 


2.11.2015



Nate and yours truly before the big race.



What I Wore //
Loft dobby trench (old), similar here and here
Ivanka Trump flats, similar
Beauty //
Zoya nails in "LC"




In an effort to better connect with you ladies, I want to continue my blogging goal of sharing more personal things about myself. Not too terribly private, because that would change the course of Beautygirl24 and I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Shopping, style, and beauty products are as deep as I want to get! But it's also fun to share lesser known facts too. One of these is that I love supercross and motocross. I'm not an athletic girl, and I force myself three times per week to give up my reality shows on the couch in favor of the gym, a quick jog around our complex, or some stretches in our living room. I never played sports growing up, and my hubby and I don't get excited over football, basketball, any ball. No, we like the "extreme" stuff. If it involves surfing, a skateboard, or a bike, we like it. He likes the individual aspect of it, the thrill of speed (or broken bones and impending doom). I like the adrenaline rush, because I'm a big fat chicken and don't have the courage to do these things myself. I also don't mind the cute boys. Look up Ryan Dungey and Ken Roczen. 

We are mostly alone in our love of dirt bikes. Our close friends have made it clear that they think we are crazy. Imagine my complete surprise when Gina shared that she also loves supercross. What?! You mean, I'm not alone? I was shocked to be honest, shocked in a good way. So we met up with her last Saturday and went to supercross together, to watch strapping young lads go around and around on a dirt track at Petco Park. We were as giddy as school girls, and I was pretty distracted because all I wanted to do was have a gabfest with her. I think we should make it annual Gina. 



What Gina Wore //
Express necklace, pretty option



For the record, I liked her outfit better! It was more appropriate for the event. I should have worn boots too. 

Now tell me a little fact about yourselves!