My Current Favorite Lipsticks (90's Edition)

On Instagram yesterday in honor of National Lipstick Day, I posted a photo of what was in my current lipstick rotation. I happened to notice that all the lipsticks were pretty similar in shades despite ranging from drugstore to high end. Lately I have been loving the "90's" shades. I think it's part nostalgia that I totally dig these shades so much. I remember growing up as a kid and lip colors were either nude, red, or a brown-y mauve shade. While the shades aren't exactly as brown as I remember, these shades still make me reminisce of my tween years rockin' a nude/brown lip.

1. Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 13 (Marvelous Mauve)- It took me forever to get my hands on this lip color because it was forever sold out in every Sephora location I went to. Now that I have it, I am not disappointed. This is a beautiful dusty rose color that slightly darkens after application. For me it's a great everyday color. If you are interested in this shade, Sephora has currently marked them down. I think perhaps they are discontinuing the shades. Sad panda.
2. NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Tres Leches- Holy pigmentation, Batman! This is a shade that some wouldn't consider 90's but it's more of a nudey brown and for me a MLBB shade. 
3. MAC Faux- A Back 2 Mac pick, which I wrote about here, this is another MLBB shade and one of the many shades people have selected to get that Kylie Jenner lip.
4. MAC Whirl- When everyone went fanatical for Whirl lip liner I kinda went "meh." I'm not much of a lip liner girl. To be honest, I hate buying expensive ones because I don't use them much so I never paid attention to Whirl until MAC came out with it in lipstick form. Now this will be a staple in my rotation. It's one of my favorite colors to wear to work.
5. Maybelline Untainted Spice- Brought to my attention by Hollyannaeree, this was an unexpected favorite. I thought it would be too brown but in actuality, this shade is flattering on many skin tones. It's a little darker than Whirl and isn't matte.
6. Maybelline Touch of Spice- A rosy plum that leans more pink than brown. I included this in the group because it's definitely another lipstick I reach for often.
7. Urban Decay Matte Revolution in 1993- At first I didn't pay much attention to this lipstick because: 1-I was trying to avoid purchasing anymore colors and 2-I try to avoid hype and impulse purchases. However, when I swatched it in the store, the tiny Gollum voice of "Precious" crept in. This is my latest purchase but I am in absolute love with it. It's not as matte as Whirl but the pigmentation is beautifully opaque. 

If you are looking for a 90's lipstick, I would recommend 1993 or Untainted Spice out of the bunch I personally picked. Whirl is a close third but it may be too drying for some.

So what's your favorite 90's lipstick? Or what is your favorite lipstick in general? Is there a shade that you consider your signature one? Please let me know!

Review: Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

I absolutely enjoy watching Jaclyn Hill on YouTube. Her energy and "YAAAASSSSS" moments are not only infectious but they make me laugh pretty hard too. Not only is she funny, she knows her stuff about cosmetics. So when she announced that she was coming out with a highlighter with the very popular Becca cosmetics, I knew this would be a hit. Finally released in all Sephora stores 7/16, I knew this would be pretty hard to get your hands on. Luckily I was able to find it in the city on my way home from work.

Champagne Pop ($38 USD) is on the Sephora site is described as a "soft white gold with pinky peach undertones." It's a beautiful color, definitely peachy. On my skin, it appears like a soft gold. When applied, it's a beautiful beam. I absolutely love it.

If anyone has ever tried or owned any of the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors, you know how buttery and smooth these powders are. I personally always wanted one but never bit the bullet to purchase it...until now. According to Temptalia's review, Champagne Pop is a mix of Opal and Moonstone. So if you have both, you really don't need this one.

The texture is very soft. When you use a brush the powder kicks up. Perhaps my only concern is how fragile the product is. I know one solid drop to the floor and this baby will shatter. So be extra careful.

I personally love this highlighter but those with acne scarring or uneven textured skin will probably not enjoy this. Matte highlighters are a much better choice to accentuate the high points on your face without bringing attention to your pores. The staying power of this highlight is great. It was still going strong even after a long day running around coordinating a wedding.

If you are interested in the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop, I highly recommend you place your order now. They are still in stock online here. You better hurry though, I know that once this sells out, they will not restock it.

Have you tried Champagne Pop yet? What are your thoughts?

Personal: What I've Learned on My Fitness Journey

It is no surprise to my readers that I have been into fitness for quite some time now. It has been almost three years that I've been lifting weight consistently. For the most part, I have loved the results and the progress my mind and body has made (though injuries can be major setbacks). But let me tell you a little bit of what else I've learned and experience on my fitness journey.

1. I have been called Hulk, brolic, and huge. This one is probably the toughest one for me. Have you ever been in a situation where someone's compliment just doesn't sit well with you? Or perhaps you just know it's a backhanded compliment to downgrade your progression or lifestyle changes. While "brolic" isn't necessarily a bad thing (it means chiseled and buff), it still makes my mind falter for a minute. I am in no absolute way, shape, or form shredded or cut. I do have some muscle definition but I am far from being a competitor. Just because I lift heavy doesn't mean I appreciate being called a Hulk (in fact, I prefer She-Hulk or just strong). Sometimes I feel people don't know what to say when I reveal that I am not a cardio fanatic and do powerlifts. I know it's been said time and time again, but girls who lift heavy DO NOT look manly and should not have a fear of that result. That being said, I am pretty good with letting things like this roll off my back now, but it took a while. 

   

   I admit it, I do like to lift things up and put them down.

2. "You must be in the gym all the time!" No, I am not. The most I spend in the gym is maybe two hours. People tend to think that once you post one Instagram photo of yourself lifting in the gym, you're there 24/7. Lifting has not yet become a profession for me, it's a hobby and a healthy way to build grit, character, and self confidence. It is only one aspect of my life that I choose to share.

   

   Selfie's or it didn't happen!
3. My food must be boring. For anyone who follows my Instagram or knows me personally, you know this is not the case at all. In fact, I can tell you my diet is probably what is holding me back the most because I love food too damn much. However, when I am focused with a set goal in mind, I can be very on point with my food. It doesn't mean I stuff my face with tilapia, broccoli, and brown rice all day. Instead I focus on nutrient-dense foods and stay away from processed ones.  

   

   Get in my Bellah!!!!

4. People generally don't care that you workout and will only ask you about your training when it benefits them. Back when I first started, I wanted to tell the world that I loved lifting! I wanted to be like Jack from Titanic and yell from the top of my lungs, "I LOVE LIFTING!" Alas that did not last very long. I mean, I got the generic, "do you still lift?" but once I said, yes, it was on to the next topic. Now I notice that people will talk about lifting/fitness with me only when they want to get information. It's slightly flattering to be asked because people think my knowledge is valid but it is irritating it only comes when they are finally interested in it. Now that being said, don't let that deter you or keep you from continuing your own journey! Remember that the only person you are ever in competition with is yourself.
   
5. People think all lifting is the same. For those who don't work out or don't have much knowledge in the field, lifting is lifting. There are people who think I do Cross-fit and when I explain I don't, I've been told: "well it's pretty much the same thing, right?" I find it infuriating because I find people do not listen to what I say to them. I understand we all make assumptions, but it's not the right thing to do. When it comes to things I don't know about, I try to keep as much of an open mind as possible before I make my conclusions. I just wish everyone had the same regard when it comes to things they may not know a lot about.

I am not saying that everyone I have encountered is like this. There are many supportive friends and family in my life who encourage me to continue down this path. But I have definitely learned that not everyone will share your vision. You will get the naysayers and those who don't believe in you, but if you believe in yourself and you have a strong support system, you know you can do anything. Make your dreams (whatever dreams they may be) your reality. It will be hard work but the result will pay off.

So if you are currently starting your fitness journey, don't quit! On those days you just want to give up, push through and conquer your doubts and that workout. I'm cheering you on!

National Sun Safety Week: Protect Your Skin!

For those of you who are unaware, this first week of June is Sun Safety Week. While we should always take care and protect our skin, this week is a great time to bring awareness to the dangers of too much sun and also the lasting and damaging effect it can procure to your skin. We rarely think of it, but our skin is the largest organ of our body and it certainly takes a substantial amount of abuse from the outside elements.

I was inspired to write about Sun Safety week by Oscar -  a health insurance company in New York and New Jersey that is focused on making health care a better fit for your life.  I am extremely glad to talk about Sun Safety. I think of each of my readers as a friend and I want each friend to be as healthy as they can be! So while this isn't exactly what you would call a "beauty post" I prefer to call this a "care post."

Growing up, I wouldn't say my family was sunscreen crazy, but they always made sure to practically bathe me in the stuff when I would go out to a pool party or the beach. So I always equated the coconut scented lotion with hot, summer days.

As I got older, I took it in my own hands to protect my skin from unnecessary sun damage. This especially happened when I got more into cosmetics. I noticed a ton of my face products had some sort of sunscreen in it and generally thought this would be enough. However, upon further reading, I realized that the sunscreen found in your foundation isn't always adequate enough to provide full protection, especially if you are going to be out in the sun all day.

Now don't get me wrong, I love the sun. I'm not the type of girl who will wear a hat and long sleeves in 100 degree weather to protect myself from the sun's rays. But when I do go out, I always make sure wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that has both UVA and UVB protection.

While I love the glow that the sun gives me, I don't love it more than my life. Instead of spending hours in the sun to get my daily dose of Vitamin D, I take a daily D3 supplement. It's a safer way to get your daily dose of vitamin D without risking your life or your skin. For those of you who are unaware, taking a D3 supplement will help you maintain healthy bones, lower blood pressure, promote a healthy immune system, and potentially reduce your chances for a heart attack.

So what do you do if you don't want to damage your skin but love that bronzed goddess look? Use a self tanner! There are so many good ones out these days. You can get a luxurious version or even a budget friendly drugstore alternative to get your skin tan and bronzed.

Here are some of my favorite products.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 1.69 fl oz
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 60, 3 Ounce

Nature Made, Vitamin D3 2,000 I.U. Liquid Softgels, 250-Count

Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse, Light, 6 Fluid Ounce

If you have questions, concerns, or what to read more about Oscar Health Insurance you can check them out here.