Get a free deluxe perfume sample from Sephora!

Hello Lovelies!

I have a coupon code for you!  Head over to Sephora's website and enter the code "miniscent" at checkout on your order of $25 or more.  Choose from Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Versace Bright Crystal, Issey Miyake L'Eas d' Issey and Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir.

I personally LOVE Versace Bright Crystal.

I'm not sure how long the code will last so GO NOW and get something pretty for yourself!  Also, I have a contest in the works for you guys that involves a giveaway so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Love,
Aylissa

P.S.  Want to show me you love me?  Help me promote my blog by recommending me to your friends.  Link me in an email or something like that.  It will be much appreciated!

Current Foundation Review (Nars & Maybelline)

Hi there:)


So on my other blog, someone requested that I do a review on my current foundation, so I decided I'd go ahead and put it on here for you guys as well.  Right now I use two different ones for different things... Nars Sheer Glow in Punjab and Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in Natural Beige.

NARS Sheer Glow - $42


Pros - Easy to apply and blend, wide color range, feels light on the face, stays put, looks great.
Cons - Dries kind of fast so you have to apply faster than some liquid foundations, and it’s pricey, have to use concealer for blemishes.


I LOVE, let me repeat, LOVE this foundation.  It feels light on my face and not at all cakey, even when I layer it.  It’s advertised as having a glowing, satin finish.  I wouldn’t say this makes you glow, though.  The coverage is light to medium and almost sheer.  It doesn’t have any shimmer, which for me, is great.  I use this foundation when I want lighter, more natural coverage.  It looks really natural and pretty and can be dressed up or down, depending on what eye/cheek/lip makeup you choose.  I wouldn’t use it without a primer and I do have to use a concealer with it when I have blemishes.  I also have to set it with powder on my forehead, otherwise its gets shiny after a few hours.  While it does dry fast, I apply with a stippling brush and buff it in, so I’ve never had any problems blending or applying it.  I think this is a great foundation for those with combo to dry (but not flaky) skin.  It doesn’t look good on flaky skin.


Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation - $8


Pros - Cheap, easy to apply and blend, moisturizing, great coverage, stays put, beautiful finish, doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.
Cons - Very small color range, bulky packaging.


I was really impressed with this foundation.  I didn’t expect much because I am usually disappointed with drugstore foundations.  This one, however, is wonderful.  I like to use it when I want more coverage or if my skin is feeling dry.  It has really good medium to full coverage all on it’s own without feeling cakey and it stays on all day when used with a primer.  It’s not a mousse.  It has a creamy consistency.  I don’t have to use a concealer with it.  It covers redness really well and moisturizes skin also.  I have combination skin with oily, normal, and dry areas, and it works beautifully for me.  My sister has extremely sensitive skin and this didn’t irritate it or break her out.  She loves it as well.  I’d still recommend setting it with a powder.  The color range is terrible but if you can find a shade to match you, I think you’ll love this one.


So that’s my review, I hope you enjoyed it.  If you’d like a video tutorial or have further questions, let me know in the comment section! :)


Love, 
Aylissa

April Birchbox!!

Hello, you beautiful people!

It's been a few days since I've posted anything so I thought I'd show you what I got in my April Birchbox shipment!  For those of you that don't know what Birchbox is, it is a monthly subscription to a company that sends you a box of deluxe samples to try once a month.  It's $10 a month and so worth it!  It helps you try new products with less waste.  The packaging is recyclable and if you don't like a product, you only spent a couple of dollars and you don't have a full size container of it to go to waste. The samples I got this month are great!  Most samples you get from other companies are usually only good for a one-time use, but as I said, these are deluxe samples and they're huge!  Anyway, here it is, my April Birchbox:

THE PACKAGE!

Getting excited!!

YAY!

And here is the haul:)

This months focus was going green because April is a reminder that we should be mindful of our environment and the effect we have on it.  From left to right, first we have LIVE GRN Eau de Parfum in Earth.  Made from biodegradable and sustainable ingredients, this lush scent is laced with jasmine and sandalwood.  Smells awesome!  Very earthy-chic. :) 

Next we have Zoya Nail Polish in Jules.  Zoya's lacquers are super glossy and this versatile shade is a shimmery gold.  So pretty!

Third is Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel and Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer.  Natural fruit acids dissolve even the most tenacious dead cells for an immediately brighter, smoother complexion.

Fourth we have Lavanilla, The Healthy Body Butter.  It's made from all natural shea and cocoa butters an smells delicious with its lavender and vanilla scent.

Last but not least, we have a little extra gift, Bloomin Seed Paper.  You can plant this paper and grow wildflowers! How fun is that!?

So there you have it.  My April Birchbox shipment.  For anyone looking to broaden their beauty horizons, who love surprises, and just want to try new products, I highly recommend subscribing to Birchbox.  It's so much fun and you get to discover great stuff every month!

Have any of you subscribed to/fallen in love with Birchbox like I have?  Let me know in the comment selection below!  I hope you all have enjoyed this post!

Love,

Aylissa

P.S.  Coming soon - a review on my current foundation!

Pretty Spring Makeup!

Ahh, makeup... one of the finer things in life. :)  I absolutely love doing makeup, whether it's a friends or my own.  I think that all women are beautiful, and certainly makeup enhances that beauty in a physical way, but there's something about it that makes us feel beautiful.  It makes us walk with a little more attitude and carry ourselves a little higher.  For me, makeup gives me more confidence.  Even if I'm only wearing a tinted moisturizer and some lipgloss or some powder and blush, I feel more put together and prepared to face the day.  That brings me to today's post!  This particular makeup look makes me feel pretty and feminine.  Here's a pic:

Peach and Purple

It's a simple enough look to achieve, but I love it for spring.  The colors are bright and fun but not overbearing.  It's fresh and feminine and looks great on all skin types.

To get this look I used for the face:

• Face primer
• NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab (applied with stippling brush and buffed in)
• Pur Minerals All Over Glow Bronzer for contouring the hollows of my cheeks, my jaw line, temples, and hair line. (Contouring these areas with a bronzer brings the light to the center of the face for a healthy glow)
• Rimmel London Blush in 010 Peach on the apples of my cheeks and then blended back.
• Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl highlighter on the bridge of my nose and cheekbones.
• Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Crush
• Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Nude Luster

For my eyes:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• The shimmery white cream shadow from the Revlon Illuminance Quad "Seashells" on my inner eye/tear duct area to make the eyes appear brighter, wider, and well rested.
• Maybelline Eyeshadow in Vanilla to highlight brow bone.
• A plum purple out of the BH Cosmetics 120 color palette over the entire lid and then a darker, deep amethyst in the crease and along my upper lash line.
• Upper lash line is lined with the Physicians Formula liquid eyeliner pen.
• Lower lash line is lined with black eyeshadow.
• Covergirl Lashblast mascara on eyelashes.

It sounds like a lot but the full face only took me about 5 minutes, a little more if I'm being slow about it.  But there you go, my go-to look this spring.  I hope you get a chance to try it out and I hope you've enjoyed this post!  Would you like a video tutorial?  Comment below to let me know!  I would appreciate any feedback or requests you may have. :)  

Coming soon - my April Birchbox shipment!

DIY Masks to Keep Your Skin Beautiful Year-Round, Part 2

Hello Gorgeous!

Here is Part 2 of the DIY Mask Series.  Last time I talked about a peachy, creamy mask to keep us glowing throughout the warm summer months.  Most of us have our best skin in the summer, but it's our winter skin that we tend to worry about.  For me, my skin can get dry, flaky, and dull from the cold, harsh weather.  And since we don't go outside as much, we get paler and our skin lacks that dewiness that naturally comes with summer.  Well this mask helps to combat all of the above with the added benefits of reducing scarring and acne.  This mask is easy, cheap, and 100% natural!

Green Tea, Honey, & Cider Vinegar Mask

You will need:


1 tsp apple cider vinegar (NOT WHITE)
2 tsp cooled green tea (3 if your skin is sensitive)
6 tsp sugar
1 tsp honey

Mix all of the ingredients together putting the honey in last.  Apply on to your clean face with your fingers and GENTLY rub in a circular motion for 1 minute.  Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water and pat dry.  Put on some moisturizer and that's it! :)

The benefits breakdown:

Apple Cider Vinegar - Contains alpha hydroxy and amino acids to gently break up dead skin cells.  Also has malic acid to break up scar tissue.  Vitamins A, C, & E  repair damaged skin cells.

Green Tea - Contains natural antioxidants the remove free radicals (the molecules responsible for aging and skin damage) from the skin.

Sugar - Acts as a natural exfoliant and the glycerin in it helps hydrate.

Honey - Honey is a natural acne treatment.  It is anti-inflammatory, redness reducing, and also helps the skin to retain moisture. It also makes the skin firmer which makes skin look younger.

This mask has worked wonders for me with it's anti-acne and hydrating properties.  It helps my skin to look fresh and dewy, even  in the cold winter months and has reduced some of my acne scarring.  I hope all of you can benefit from this article and I hope you love the mask as much as I do!  Let me know what you think below! :)

Love,
Aylissa

P.s.  Coming soon - one of my favorite makeup looks for spring!  Check back often for new articles!

DIY Masks to Keep Your Skin Beautiful Year-Round, Part 1

Hello Gorgeous!

What is something that is cheap, fun, and leaves you feeling refreshed and fabulous?  Face masks!  Using a face mask at least once a week has many benefits for your skin.  In general, they leave your skin feeling softer and with a more healthful appearance.  Sometimes we use them as a soothing indulgence, a treat, a break from our hectic lives.  Other times they have targeted application for things like anti-aging or acne, pore refinement, deep cleansing, moisturization, increased elasticity, and the list goes on and on.  What I would like to share with you today is one of two masks that I use year round to keep my skin healthy.

This one is great for spring and summer months.  It's called the Peaches and Cream mask.  Already sounds pretty and delicious, right?

                  Peaches and Cream Mask

What you need:

1 ripe peach
2-3 tbsp heavy cream

Some uncooked oatmeal (optional)

Mash peach with a fork into a bowl and add cream.  Mix well.  Add oatmeal (if you so desire) to the desired consistency.  Apply to face (or entire body if you like!) and leave on for 15 minutes.  Rinse well with warm water and pay skin dry.

This mask is great for the warm/hot months of the year.  Peaches are full of enzymes that naturally soften your skin and this part of the mask also leaves your skin smelling yummy. :)  During summer, since we're out in the sun a lot, our skin cells darken and die, sometimes leaving us with flaky, uneven skin.  The natural alpha-hydroxy acid in cream helps us to shed that old skin to reveal new, healthy skin.  This mask is pretty messy, and that brings me to the optional oatmeal.  You can add some oatmeal to make the mixture a little thicker and more manageable, and it only brings added benefits!  

Oatmeal has long been used by mothers to soothe their children's skin ailments such as chicken pox.  Also, we see oatmeal as an ingredient in many products for sensitive, dehydrated, or easily irritated skin.  This is because oatmeal naturally draws out impurities and deep cleans without drying or irritating the skin.  In this recipe, it also serves as an exfoliator.

So if you would like soft, rejuvenated, yummy-smelling skin, try this mask!  If you try or are going to try this mask, please let me know what you thought in the comment section below!  I hope you've enjoyed this post!

Love,

Aylissa

p.s. DIY Masks to Keep Your Skin Beautiful Year-Round, Part 2 coming soon so stay tuned! :)

A favorite spring outfit :)

Spring<3 by restartmyheart<3 featuring gold earrings

One of my favorite, go-to outfits in the warm spring and summer months is a white cotton dress, turquoise earrings, gold bangles, cowgirl boots, and a peachy glow on my cheeks (perfectly achieved by Nars Illuminator in Orgasm).  It's versatile enough to wear it out shopping in the day time and then to dinner in the evening.  I like to wear my hair in a loose fishtail braid, or down in loose waves.  This outfit really has that earthy, breezy, carefree feel to it... which is what spring is all about! :)

Get the look here:

Delia's Lace Shirt Dress
Ariat Cowgirl Boots
Nordstrom Gold/Turquoise Earrings
Nars Orgasm Illuminator
JCP Gold Bangles