Review – Colourpop Haul June 2019

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Hey everyone! I know what you’re thinking: “More Colourpop Kate??”. What can I say? I just can’t get over the quality and affordability of the products Colourpop sells. I decided to pick up a BYOP with some old favorites and new stuff to test. Read on for my thoughts!

I really love when Colourpop does their BYOP (build your own palette) sales because it’s an opportunity to try a ton of new eyeshadows for a fraction of the price. There were several palettes to choose from as well, and I went with this adorable blue one with succulents all over it! The new pressed glitter shadows are featured above the palette. They are some of the new products I was able to try.

I’m going to go over the products in a couple groups since there are so many eyeshadows. Most of them are classic pressed powder shadows, but there are also a couple pressed glitter shadows as well. I’ve also swatched all the colors on my arm below!

Left to Right: excuse my french, dreamscape, heavenly, conjour up, try me, fyre, prowlin’, paradiso, solstice with the mostest, free bird

I’ll start with the first two rows in the palette of eyeshadows and the blush/highlighter. From left to right the colors are as listed:

Dreamscape and Excuse my French

The blush and highlighter were new products to me and I’m impressed. They aren’t life-changing by any means, but they are just as high quality as the pressed shadows. This blush color is a really nice peachy orange that looks extremely natural in the summer with some bronzer (it reads darker than it is in this photo, it is a true peach, as you can see in the palette photo). The highlighter has impressive pigment and gives that classic “wet” look on pale skin tones like mine. It is also easy to apply if you use a highlighter brush.

Shimmer Shadows: Top left to bottom right: heavenly, solstice with the mostest, paradiso, prowlin’ thank u, next, heavy glam, come and get it, ringer
Matte Shadows: Left to Right: Conjour up, Try Me, T-Cup, Cut-outs

The quality on the eyeshadows is as great as always. I always find the shimmers and metallics are a bit easier to use, but the mattes are quite pigmented as well. I finally got a chance to try the pressed glitters and was blown away. You can see in the swatches that the glitters are so iridescent they blow the other shadows out of the park! I recommend applying them with your fingers since a lot of the glitter gets lost in the brush when you use one. I’ll also mention the usual disclaimer: glitter gets everywhere, no matter how much glue is built in. If you put these on your eyes they will get on your face, and they will be difficult to get off for a day or two. Be warned!

Left to Right: cut-outs, thank u, next, heavy glam, boombayah, come and get it, t-cup, ringer, hungry ghost

Here’s the second two rows in the palette of eyeshadow from left to right:

The second 2 rows of shadows are less colorful and more warm for the summer. I’ve been enjoying using the coral colors especially! I also admit that I bought some of these just because of their names (thank u, next and Boombayah). I’m not ashamed that I love a good eyeshadow name!

I’m very satisfied with my purchases and I didn’t find any duds in the mix. If you’re looking for a good basic blush and highlighter, you can’t go wrong at these prices in my opinion. You can also buy these products in compacts if you don’t want to go with the whole palette. I’d say the standout here are the pressed glitters, which are so easy to apply and have SO MUCH payoff. I think it’s worth picking up a couple to try!

Thanks for reading my review and let me know in the comments which Colourpop products you love or would want to try!

-Kate

The Look – Summer Fashion 2019

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It’s finally hot outside (had to wait til July so thanks for that Chicago…) and I’m ready to share some of my more summery outfits! Crop tops and flowing maxi-skirts are the name of the game this summer. Read on for more!

High-waisted Jeans, Crop top, and pastel over-shirt:

This look is similar to one of looks in my previous spring post, but I dressed things down for the summer. It’s way too hot not to bare a little belly! I’m wearing the same high-waisted jeans from Gap that have graced this blog before, because they make my legs look so DANG GOOD. I like to wear an unbuttoned shirt over crop tops when I go to work to make things a little more professional (and brave the air conditioning). If you want to taper your waist a little you can tie up the shirt like I did below!

Crop Top – Target
Shirt – Target
Jeans – Gap
Sneakers – Converse

Khaki Green Pants and Lace Blouse:

Sometimes the simplest outfit is the best to beat the heat. I got this shirt from my sister and I was amazed at how cute it was! The high collar gives it a nicer look while keeping things comfy and casual. I love to wear this top with skirts as well!

Blouse – Target
Pants – Gap
Sneakers – Converse

Pattern-mixing Crop Top and Maxi Skirt:

This next outfit is probably my favorite. It’s exciting to mix patterns and colors in a unique way. I also love a chance to wear my favorite pale pink trench! This outfit is great for hot days and cooler nights since the trench is super light and the crop top keeps heat off your midsection. You’ll recognize the skirt from my spring post as well. It is made of a light material that doesn’t weigh you down, so it’s great for summer too!

Trench Coat- Windsor
Crop Top – Modcloth
Skirt – Target
Choker – Target
Kansas Pendant – Acme Gifts
Ankle Boots – DSW

Floral Maxi Dress:

This is my most formal look since I wore it to a friend’s wedding. I couldn’t believe how amazing the fit was on the this dress since I bought it online! Modcloth is truly amazing with their sizing charts and descriptions. I was comfortable for the whole night of dancing while still looking formal. I wish I could wear this dress everywhere!

Dress – Modcloth
Earrings – Target (baublebar)
Necklace – Forever21
Sandal Wedges – Target

I love when summer finally rolls around so I can break out my crop top collection and cute skirts. It’s fun to explore fashion without the limitations of a jacket or sweater. Let me know what your favorite summer look is in the comments below!

-Kate

Review – Patchology Masks

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Hey all! It’s finally been long enough since my little birthday haul to try out some of the products I picked up in March. One of the more exciting brands was Patchology, a sheet/gel mask brand that I’ve really been wanting to try (inspired by my fave drag queen, KimChi, who loves them). Read on below for my thoughts!

The main appeal of Patchology is the amount of time you use the masks. They differentiate themselves from other brands in that most of their products recommend a 5 min waiting time (versus the typical 15-20 timing of most Korean sheet masks). My main concern when trying these masks was that they might be gimmicky and about the same as my typical sets of cheap sheet masks from The Face Shop. I’ve tried each of them several times to see!

First, a rundown of the products. I got the Rejuvenating Eye Gels, Restoring Night Eye Gels, Flashmasque Hydrating Mask, and a sample of the Aquaflash Daily Gel Moisturizer. I’m not going in depth on the moisturizer today cause it isn’t that life changing, and it doesn’t fall into the “mask” category. In my opinion the masks is where things should shine for this brand.

I was a big fan of the eye patches of both types. Anything hydrogel is my best friend, because of the feeling it gives your face when you wear it. (I also appreciate this texture cause regular sheet masks don’t fit well on my small face). I think eye masks are such a trend because they give you that “fresh” feeling with a lot less effort and cleanup. Both of these eye masks refresh my eye area and create a noticeable difference. I will say the night gels are a little heavier but I didn’t notice a huge difference in results. The full jar retails for $50 which might be a bit much for some people, but there are plenty of dupes out there. What makes Patchology worth it I think, is that they truly do work in 5 minutes. My face feels the same after 5 minutes as it does with 20 minutes using a regular mask.

The same goes for the traditional sheet mask I bought. I felt that the serum and effects were distributed more quickly and effectively than other sheet masks. It felt almost like a treatment. With these masks you get what you pay for, sheet masks for the busy gal/guy with high quality ingredients. If that isn’t your concern I wouldn’t recommend them. I got these on sale as well, so that’s a good way to try them and see if they’re worth it to you! Buying a jar of eye gels is really convenient and saves on packaging and mess.

I hope you enjoyed this mini brand review! I’m definitely going to keep trying Patchology’s products in the future!

-Kate

The Look – Spring Fashion 2019

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Hey all! It’s finally above 30 degrees here in the Chicago area so that means I finally get to take some pictures outside! I got some new clothes recently as you may have noticed on my Instagram, and I’m very excited to show them off. Check out a couple new looks below!

High-waisted jeans and pastel button-down:

I bought this amazing button-down shirt at Target and didn’t even realize how well it would match my purple hair! It’s oversized and very comfortable, while also flattering my shape when I tuck it in. Let’s be real though, the true star of this look is the jeans. I got these high-waisted button-fly jeans at Gap and I’m truly obsessed (you’ll see as much since they’re used in another look as well). They are incredibly flattering and comfortable as well. And to think I almost didn’t buy them!

Shirt – Target
Jeans – Gap
Ankle Boots – DSW
Brown Leather Cuff – Target
Red Leather Cuff – Forever21

Blue Dress Shirt and Green Maxi Skirt:

You know when you see something in a store and just know it’s going to be an amazing statement piece? That’s how I feel about this green polka-dot maxi skirt. It’s silky, comfortable, and rides the fine line between glamorous and matronly. It also doesn’t blow up around me in the Evanston winds so I appreciate that. This particular look was my take on a more professional feminine vibe for a work event. I especially love the little bow bandanna on top!

Blue Button-down – Gap
Green Maxi Skirt – Target
Oxfords – Toms
Hair Scarf – Target
Statement Necklace – Forever21

Casual Tee made fashionable:

This final look took me by surprise. My mom bought me this shirt for my birthday and it looked pretty average until I saw the sleeves. They are just the perfect touch to make it more than your normal t-shirt. I added the choker/necklace combo to jazz up the neckline and wore those amazing high-rise jeans again. The final touch is always my faux leather jacket (it’s not that warm yet haha).

Striped T-shirt – Old Navy
High-waisted Jeans – Gap
Jacket – Target
Ankle Boots – DSW
Choker – Target
Necklace – Esty

I can’t wait to try out more new spring clothing and get excited by fashion again! Spring and summer are the best time to try out cute outfits. Please follow for new posts and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, where I post fashion, beauty, and makeup every MWF!

-Kate

Review – Colourpop Haul Sep. 2018

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Hey all! It’s been a while and I’ve got some new products to share with you! Most of you know that I’m a huge Colourpop Junkie and I recently bought some old favorites and new items to try! Read below for my thoughts on my mini Colourpop haul! Continue reading →

How To: 3 Ways to Wear a Square Scarf

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Hey all!

Summer is coming to an end and it’s the perfect time to show off some of the creative headwear I’ve been using to spice up my pixie cut. I don’t like to wear the same hairstyle every single day, so a large scarf I purchased at Target recently has been a perfect accessory. I love the colors on this scarf and its versatility. Read on for the 3 ways I tie my scarf! Continue reading →

Summer 2018 Favorites

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Hey all! I’m back in your feed just in time for summer! When you live in the Chicago area things are pretty freaking cold most of the time, so I live for summer. I love that beach aesthetic and pops of bright color in the sun! This post is a run-down of products that come out of hibernation when summer rolls around. Read on for the deets! Continue reading →

Review: Products I’ve Purchased Twice

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Hey all! I’ve got a new kind of review post for you today because I found myself needing to replace a lot of products in the last few months. I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have to make all my big spending refills at once and it always breaks the bank sob. I thought I’d review these products for you because I’ve purchased each one of them at least 2 or more times. These are staples for me! So read on for what makes these products so timeless in my routine. Continue reading →

Tutorial: Maroon Smoky Eye

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Happy March everyone! Today I’m back with a new tutorial and mini review post of a look I’ve been loving for the past couple months. Maroon and mauve colors are super big in the makeup world right now, and I’m excited to share an eye look I created by accident from a bunch of random colors. Read on for the new product I used for the look above! Continue reading →

Keeping your New Year’s Resolutions Realistic

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Hey all!

As another new year approaches we come across a common tradition: resolutions for the future. 2017 has been rough on a lot of people including myself, so we see the new year as a time for reflection and making changes. Most of you probably feel like I did and wanted to exorcise the bad elements of 2017 from your lives, but I’ve also found over the years that new year’s resolutions can be damaging and negative to my self-image and mental health. So I decided to share a few tips on resolutions to help everyone have a great 2018 (and to work on one of mine, to write blog posts more consistently this year).

The main idea I’m trying to push here is to be realistic. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with aspiring to improve yourself. Big dreams are important. But unrealistic resolutions are doomed to failure because you have to be patient and kind with yourself as well. We are often our own harshest critics because we don’t have a broad perspective on our own lives. This is why we are often cruel and insulting to ourselves in a way we would never be to our friends. So it is important to keep our resolutions simple, doable, and considerate to our well-being.

For physical resolutions, this means starting small and working up to bigger goals. If you want to exercise more try setting a goal of exercising once a week. It doesn’t seem like much, but once you achieve a smaller goal, you can work up to 2, 3, or even 7 days a week. But in the interim you aren’t disappointed in yourself for failing. Cold turkey is a difficult thing. Cutting soda, alcohol, or indulgent habits all at once is often virtually impossible. Usually I end up breaking the resolution once and then quitting altogether because I’ve disappointed myself. If you start small, you have accomplishments to be proud of. It’s amazing to make even a simple lifestyle change! Then you can manage your goals over time instead of putting all your hopes and dreams into things magically “getting better” as soon as January 1st hits each year.

I think it is also important to be kind to yourself and pick a few resolutions that are not physically based. We are such a body-stressed society. As soon as 2018 hit I noticed a huge uptake in diet meal plan and exercise ads on my Hulu. These are noble aspirations to be sure, but focusing on mental health is equally important and in some ways easily looked over. Sometimes we focus so much on the number on the scale or the size of our waistbands that we forget how we feel. Does your body feel good each day? Do you feel a sense of contentment in life? Weighing less isn’t a mental health magic bullet. Inner goals can be big like going to therapy more often or getting off social media to prevent negativity. But they can also be small, like hanging out with friends more or taking more time to do a cherished hobby. I often find that these goals make a huge difference in my life and keep me from staring in the mirror and entering a shame spiral.

A new year can be hard for a lot of people. Many of us lose loved ones or have a hard time being around our families for the holidays. So encouraging kindness around resolutions is important. We are human beings who are imperfect. A resolution is not a test to fail, and breaking one does not make you useless or stupid. It is more important to be realistic in the ways we improve ourselves because we are each special and so important to this world. I hope all of you have an extremely wonderful 2018 full of changes and exciting growth, and thank you again for reading this blog. It means so much to me!

-Kate