Foundation Issues

Hey Guys!
 So recently I noticed that my foundation was just not sitting right on my skin. No matter what primer I put under it, how little I would use, or even how exfoliated my skin was; my foundation would always look cakey at the end of the day. I have oily skin, so skipping powder was not an option. But let me tell you, I was going minimal with the face makeup. The foundations I had been using were my holy grail drugstore foundations: Revlon Photoready, Covergirl Clean for Sensitive Skin, and L'Oreal True Match. Refusing to give up these foundations, I switched powder, I switched primer, I even started using setting spray. None of this worked, I was at a loss.

 I desperately wanted to try a high end foundation, specifically Estee Lauder Double Wear; but I was simply not willing to drop $37 on a foundation when there were lippies to buy! In a desperate attempt I switched to BB Cream and a higher coverage powder. This was great for summer, but the BB Cream I was using broke me out! So I put on my big girl pants and headed to Macy's. At the last minute I decided to spoil my dog instead and didn't buy the foundation. Of course my dog is way more important than my makeup issues, right? No regrets here.

 I gave my skin a break and didn't wear makeup for about two weeks. I was getting sick of being told I look sick so I switched to a tinted moisturizer. Light coverage but I got the job done with concealer and all that jazz.

 My family was planning our annual trip to the Lee Premium Outlets, about an hour drive from my house. I didn't think much of it, because there was a PacSun I was excited for some new clothes. We pulled in to the mall and there it was, the answer to all my problems: an Estee Lauder owned makeup store! Discount prices, I was ecstatic!! I obviously made a beeline to the Estee Lauder rack and searched for the Double Wear Foundation. I justified spending $27 on the foundation, because it was $10 cheaper than at a Sephora or Macy's.

 The answer to my foundation issues was now in my possession, I was beyond excited to get home and try it out. I now feel as though I have worn the foundation enough to give you my honest review. First things first, the coverage this stuff has is amazing! I would say it's medium coverage, but I can add another layer to get full coverage without looking caked up. I use NYX Pore Filler primer underneath it and Rimmel Stay Matte on top. This combination is honestly a dream. I have not once looked cakey since I purchased this foundation. Now on to the longevity; I wore the foundation to Six Flags and it lasted the entire day. Through multiple roller coasters, sweat, and even a few water rides, the only part of my face that didn't have foundation on it at the end of the day was my nose. I am absolutely obsessed with the Estee Lauder Double Wear now, I would definitely spend the extra $10 if necessary for a repurchase. Ladies, if you're having foundation issues as I was, I recommend giving this foundation a whirl. You won't regret it!
xoxo

Book Review || The Cuckoo's Calling

Hello everyone!  I'm here to talk about one of my new favorite books, The Cuckoo's Calling. This book is written by Robert Galbraith. I have a few things to say about this book. First of all, for those who don't know, JK Rowling is the mastermind hidden behind pseudonym Robert Galbraith. I'm gonna try to exclude spoilers here, but if you haven't read it, beware. Okay so the book is set in England. The main character, ex-military, son of a rock star, private detective Cormoran Strike is not doing very well since breaking up with his long time lover. Business is slow and he's receiving death threats from an ex-client. A temp agency sends over a gorgeous woman, Robin, to be his temp. Now, this isn't a love story in any way. Robin doesn't leave her fiancee to be with Strike to solve mysteries together and be the power couple of the real world. A rich lawyer, John Bristow, hires Strike to investigate his supermodel sister, Lula Landry's apparent suicide.
Rowling does an excellent job of creating an entire new world inside the novel and in the reader's mind. This story is refreshing and fast-paced. There's no love affair between main characters, it's almost completely void of love. Strike is a struggling personal investigator and war veteran, he lost half of his leg while in the military so he walks with a slight limp. Strike is stubborn, he refuses to see a doctor, so his leg gets quite raw where the prosthetic attaches. Throughout the novel, Robin and Strike develop a friendship unlike any other Strike has experienced. As Robin is a very attractive woman and Strike drinks rather heavily, Strike has acknowledged Robin's attractiveness while inebriated and there is a slight tinge of sexual tension in the air. Being a professional  man, however, Strike ignores this and Robin becomes the best secretary he's ever had. She's a quick-witted, fast learner that won't share details of any of the cases; that is why Strike likes her so much.

As the case unfolds, one will find themselves gripped by the story of Luna Landry. Not only is every detail of the young woman's death investigated; but many details of her life, friendship, and even her romantic relationship are revealed. JK Rowling does a wonderful job of painting a picture of the lives of the characters in the book. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but Rowling can paint one with less. The writing style is very similar to that of Harry Potter, where an entire world is revealed in detail.

This book has me in it's hold from beginning to end. So as you can imagine, I was ecstatic to hear that a sequel had been released. Stay tuned for my review of the next installment of the genius creation of Cormoran Strike.
xoxo

First Post!

Hello everybody and welcome to my blog! So, recently I seem to have discovered a love for makeup! I love reading beauty blogs and watching vlogs, so I figured I'd start my own! I think I'm gonna enjoy documenting the makeup products I try as my collection grows!

Ermm, I don't really know what else to say except for maybe a little bit about myself? But I figure nobody is gonna read this.. Oh well! So hi, I'm Jess. I'm from New York and I recently discovered my loooove for makeup. I used to play a bunch of sports and I was pretty athletic, but unfortunately I've had about 8 concussions (maybe, I can't remember a lot of them). Anyway, while I was playing sports I was pretty young so I couldn't wear makeup. When I was in sixth grade my mom finally let me start wearing makeup, but I thought it was a waste because I would sweat it all off anyway. So while I was playing sports I didn't really wear makeup! But after my mom and neurologist told me I couldn't play sports anymore, I decided it was time for me to start wearing makeup. My makeup collection was small: tinted moisturizer, brown mascara, and some nude eyeshadow. I was sort of in a punk rock music phase at this point so I went out and got some black liquid eyeliner. For a while, this was my only makeup look:

Anyway, I soon discovered that I could do more than dramatic winged eyeliner and pale foundation, and so my love for youtube and beauty blogs grew! I taught myself the arts of contouring, blending eyeshadow, even the smoky eye (with the help of beauty gurus). I am still learning, and I decided that I would publish my encounters on the internet so that some other lost highschooler might discover her love for makeup.

xoxo