My 2016 MVPs (Most Valuable Posts) and a 2017 Forecast

One more year has come and gone. Well, it will still be around for about four days, I guess. We still have the week! Either way, the sad, nostalgic lament of "Wow, time flies" is overplayed and growing old (just like I am, sigh), so I will sidestep all of the cliché sentiments and move into a foreword of sorts for my ten most popular posts for the year.

At the start of the year, I resolved to post twice a week, once on Tuesday and once on Thursday. I am still a full-time graduate student with what is essentially a full-time teaching and research job, so I decided to start with an easy and manageable schedule that I can add to once I get the ball rolling again (My blog took a huge hit when I disappeared on that unexpected hiatus). I stuck to the schedule surprisingly well for the first half of the year, especially after I launched my Weekly Reading series that I added to every Thursday.

Blogging finally became a routine for me. It was such a sustainable and efficient schedule that I even had time to dedicate to regularly updating my Instagram. I was slowly creating an aesthetic for it and was building up my following, so I finally felt like ExtraExtravagant was getting back on track and growing again. Things were going so well that I considered finally expanding into creating YouTube videos.

Then, this past Fall semester hit, and everything basically went to shit. I was taking four classes as a student, teaching two classes for my teaching assistantship, and working on a grant-funded project for my research assistantship. How graduate school usually works is you take two to three classes per semester and work on either a teaching or a research assistantship. It did not work out that way for me, unfortunately. What that means is that once August hit, 24 hours in a day became way too little time for all of that, let alone blogging, so yet again, I had to place blogging on the backburner.

Fortunately, I was still able to produce a few posts, and I am so glad that a few of them managed to make it into the lineup of my ten most popular posts for 2016.

Here they are! You can click on the titles to navigate to the posts themselves.

10. July Drugstore.com Haul

9. 5 Hair Myths You Shouldn't Believe

8. Valentia True Glow Eye Cream Review*

7. Fall Style Ideas by Bloggers

6. Summer Style Ideas by Bloggers

5. How to Become More in Touch with Yourself

4. My Everyday Makeup (but with Glasses) ft. Glasses Shop*

3. Spring Style Ideas by Bloggers

2. 15 Contact Lens Mistakes You're Probably Making

1. Celebrity Style Inspiration for Any Age: 30s

It does not come as a surprise that the Celebrity Style Inspiration for Any Age post is the most popular one. The series itself was probably my most popular series when I launched it in 2015. This is the most recent one, but I planned for the series as a whole to have four more installments (40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s and Beyond). If 2017 goes as hoped, I should be able to complete the entire series by the end of next year.

Another series that I want to continue into 2017 is Style Ideas by Bloggers, my most popular series for this year. I was actually able to complete it for 2016, and three out of the four total 2016 posts made it into this lineup. One of my favorite aspects of running this series is the opportunity it provides me (and you) to connect with other bloggers, so I do not see this series going away anytime soon.

Besides that, the guides (albeit clickbait-y) seem to be a reader favorite too, and the good news is that I have quite a few ideas for more of them all sitting around as drafts, so I hope to be able to get to them too in 2017.

I honestly have no idea how 2017 will go. This coming Spring semester, I will only be taking two classes, but I still have my teaching and research assistantships. Plus, it will be my graduating semester, so I have my entire thesis research project to conduct and write up to prepare to defend and hopefully graduate! After that, I will be going home to Malaysia to visit my family for at least the summer, and everything after that is super tentative and in-the-air, so I really have no idea if I'll be able to get back into blogging consistently again. Fingers crossed!

What types of posts do you typically expect from a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blog?

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July Drugstore.com Haul

Another month has come and gone, and we are now past the midpoint of 2016. Can you believe it? I actively try not to because that means that I have less and less time to finish writing up my current research. I'm also teaching a course in the fall that I've never taught before, so lesson plans need to be written up for that. Also, this stress reminds me that I still have an IRB application to finish, since I've started equating that with stress.

Anyway, retail therapy always helps, so here is my Drugstore.com haul for the month:

1. Garnier Skin Active Clean Plus Purifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes, $5.99 (25 sheets) at Ulta.com

I usually buy the Pond's Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes, but this Garnier one was on sale, so I decided to give it a try since I don't think Garnier has ever let me down.

2. Pantene Pro-V Color Revival Radiant Shampoo, $3.84 (12.6 fl oz) at Walmart.com

When I started coloring my hair in 2012, I started using the Tresemme Color Revitalize Shampoo and its corresponding conditioner because I had recently discovered Tresemme and loved it. I haven't ever stopped using that shampoo and conditioner because they work and they last me a good while, so I never saw a reason to switch brands. Four years is a long time, though, right? That's why I decided to break out of that routine and try this Pantene shampoo, which I've heard good things about.

3. Jergens Naturals Extra Moisturizing Liquid Hand Wash Refill, $3.49 (21.3 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

I bought the Jergens hand wash in May and was instantly hooked. It cleans well but still moisturizes your hands, and that signature cherry almond scent is delightful!

4. Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara in Very Black, $8.99 (0.22 fl oz) at Ulta.com

You can never own too many mascara. That's all I have to say about this, lol.

5. Palmer's Night Renewal Cream, $7.02 (2.7 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

Do you remember the fail in my June Drugstore.com and Walmart haul when I accidentally bought the Nivea Creme, thinking it was night cream? Yeah, it's currently sitting on my office desk, being used as hand cream, so this month, I decided to continue the search and found this! My Influenster Ole Henriksen Voxbox came, and I'm trying those products out at the moment (Stay tuned for the unboxing post!), so I've only tried this Palmer's night cream once since I bought it. The scent is not the best. It smells like how cocoa butter naturally smells, I'm guessing, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. It'll just take some time to get used to, especially after the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream's heavenly smell. Anyway, this Palmer's night cream has a gel-like cream consistency that doesn't apply easily, but it feels great on the skin!

What is your go-to facial towelette, shampoo, hand wash, mascara, or night cream?

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June Drugstore.com and Walmart Haul (and an Online Shopping Experiment)

In my last Drugstore.com haul, while researching other websites where you can purchase those products, Walgreens came up a lot, and the prices were lower than those at Drugstore.com. Walgreens also offers free shipping on purchases exceeding $35, which was one of the reasons I cited for regularly purchasing from Drugstore.com, so this month, I decided to try an experiment of sorts.

Let me preface this by saying that I keep a shopping list of essentials that I add to throughout the month, which I then use to shop on Drugstore.com. What I did this time was shop normally on Drugstore.com, and once I have all of the products added to my cart, I went over to Walgreens and did the exact same thing.

Findings reveal (Yikes, the researcher side of me is showing) that my total on Drugstore.com was cheaper by a small margin, and I was able to add an extra product to my cart and still have the total be not too much more expensive than that at Walgreens. Basically, Drugstore.com is still the better option. With that being said, here is what I purchased this month:

1. Final Net Unscented All Day Hold Hairspray, $3.99 (12 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

I have actually never heard of Final Net before this, but it had a lot of favorable reviews on Drugstore.com, so I decided to give it a shot.

2. Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner, $7.22 (8.5 fl oz) at Ulta.com

I am a chronic repurchasor of this product. The last time I used a different toner is back in December when I repurchased a Boots Expert toner in my December Drugstore.com haul. Then, in my March Macy's and Drugstore.com mini haul, I explained the reason behind my preference for this Neutrogena toner over the Boots Expert one.

3. Nivea Creme, $5.89 (6.8 fl oz) at Walmart.com

Apparently, this is a cult product, and I didn't even know it. I saw it while hunting for a new night cream, and the packaging misled me into thinking that this is a night cream. It's not, guys. It's body lotion, haha. I should've paid more attention to the product description. Either way, it doesn't matter. I apparently bought the travel size too, so I'll just throw it into my makeup bag and use it as a hand cream.

4. Zapzyt Maximum Strength 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel, $5.29 (1 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

This is also a repurchase. I bought the first one back in December too, and I still have quite a bit of product left over; I just don't want to run the risk of running out of it before my next haul in July. It's a spot treatment that works really well, even on sensitive skin such as mine. I'm using it in my fight against adult acne and scars from acne past (It's a fight that I seem to be winning, btw), and it's clearing up my face because when I feel a zit forming, I just slap some Zapzyt on there before bed, and in the morning, it'll either be completely gone, or it'll be tame enough where I don't have the urge to pop or pick at it.

I also picked up a couple of things from Walmart. I didn't actually go to Walmart for the express purpose of buying these. I was actually there for an eye appointment and had some time to kill afterwards while waiting for the bus. Here is what they are:

1. Garnier Micellar Water, $8.99 (13.5 fl oz) at Ulta.com

It's probably about time for me to try out micellar water for myself. This particular one is biphasic, which seems like it would work really well on my heavy eye makeup, so I'm excited to give it a try!

2. Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream, $5.99 (1.7 fl oz) at Garnier

This is one of the first moisturizers that I fell in love with. The gel consistency is lightweight, soothing, and cooling, which makes it perfect for the summer! It also hydrates my skin without making it greasy.

Have you tried any of these products?

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May Drugstore.com Haul

I am back with another Drugstore.com haul, and before you raise a skeptical eyebrow at my suspiciously regular purchases from this website, no, I am not sponsored by Drugstore.com. I just genuinely enjoy the higher convenience and lower prices. I do not have a car, so running around to pick up essentials can be quite a hassle. Drugstore.com provides free three-day shipping for orders above $35, and since my monthly essentials exceed that threshold anyway, I have no reason not to buy them online. There are other perks on top of that, but this is starting to sound like a plug, so you can check out the website if you so choose.

Here is what I purchased this month:

1. Revlon Aquamarine Body Lotion with Aloe, $1 (14.8 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

2. Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash, $5.79 (10 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

Summer is coming, so it is time to rid myself of (and prevent) body acne. My skin is still really dry from the cold Winter months, so I will only be using this on my chest and back areas.

3. Jergens Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash, $1.49 (7.5 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

Likewise, the skin on my hands is in terrible condition, but I hate putting body lotion or even hand cream on my hands, so this is my compromise.

4. Aussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Hair Shine Spray, $2.97 (8.5 fl oz) at Walmart.com

5. Natrol MSM and Glucosamine Double Strength Tablets, $13.29 (90 tablets) at CVS.com

6. Natrol Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels, $11.99 (150 softgels) at The Vitamin Shoppe

I am getting old and feel my body slowly giving up on me, so I have started taking supplements. The MSM and glucosamine tablets are for joint health and the fish oil softgels are for heart health.

7. Yogi Tea Green Tea Kombucha, $3.99 (16 bags) at Drugstore.com

I have previously tried a couple of teas from Yogi Tea. The Detox one worked really well, but the Skin Detox one, not so much. This Kombucha one is to help balance out my digestive system, which hates me.

Have you tried any of these products?

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Macy's and Drugstore.com (Mini) Haul

I'm not a fan of collective hauls, so I'm finding it hypocritical and ironic that I'm doing one myself. I have a reason, though! Since I started graduate school, and my income decreased (again), I've enforced a strict budget on myself where I can only buy things I need and skip on things I want. And since I don't usually go through beauty products that quickly, I haven't been buying enough to warrant haul posts. Note that I skipped last month's purchases entirely because I only bought, I think, two beauty products. Anyway, on to what I bought this month:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown, $23 at Macy's
I have been hearing so many good things about Anastasia Beverly Hills' brow products! Luckily, my current brow powder (Sleek from the Nude Tude palette) is running out, so I can buy this without feeling guilty! I've mainly heard people rave about the pomade, but from past experience, I've learned that my eyebrows hate cooperating with gels. In fact, they hate cooperating with everything except powder. Anyway, I haven't tried this product out yet, but if I end up loving it, I'll do a How I Do My Brows-type post. Otherwise, I'll just do a plain ol' review.

2. Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream in Light/Medium Sheer Tint, $6.70 at Drugstore.com
My current BB cream is the Dream Fresh BB Cream, also from Maybelline, and I like it. I've completely swapped out foundation for BB cream from my everyday beauty routine, and not only does it save time, it's kinder to my face too! I got this one, also because my current BB cream is running out, to see if I'd like it better because it claims to clear acne-prone skin.

3. Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner, $8.99 at Drugstore.com (Repurchase)
If you remember from my December Drugstore.com haul, I was enthusing about a new favorite toner, the Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner. At around the same time, I (accidentally) bought the Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner, and I mumbled angrily about it for a while because I completely neglected to see that it's an alcohol-based toner, and my face can't handle alcohol-based toner! What I didn't expect was for my face to not only react very well to this toner, it's starting to really clear up my acne scars and brighten up my skin. Surprise, surpise! Funnily enough, when I ran out of the previous bottle of this, I resorted to the leftover Boots toner I had, and I ended up really disliking it! Sure, it's gentle, but it also leaves a sticky film behind on my face and makes it feel icky when I put moisturizer on. I guess this Neutrogena toner is my new favorite. Sorry, Boots.

4. Boots Botanics All Bright Soothing Eye Makeup Remover, $5.35 at Drugstore.com
Fortunately, I still have a piece of my heart with the Boots brand, so I decided to try this eye makeup remover. The ironic thing here is that I swapped my Boots toner for Neutrogena, and I swapped my Neutrogena eye makeup remover for Boots. I wonder if there's some subconscious self-guilt-tripping going on here.

5. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer, $20 at Macy's
Ok, so I had initially wanted to repurchase the Urban Decay Primer Potion because, let's face it, it's the best eye primer out there. But what happened was that I had a ton of Plenti points sitting around that I figured I might as well use. But since I don't have a car that I need to buy gas for, and there's no Rite Aid in Ames, the only place I can use my points on is at Macy's (online, of course). And for some reason, Macy's doesn't carry the Primer Potion standalone, only in a set of three travel sizes. Why?! So, I begrudgingly went for the second best eye primer, which, according to the beauty blogosphere, is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Granted, I've worn it a few times already, and it's not bad, but I'm currently working on a Urban Decay vs. Too Faced-type post where I wear them both at the same time for a day and see what happens. But that's for another day!

Have you tried any of these products?

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Sephora Mini Haul

This is a super mini haul because I actually only bought two things:

1. Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens, $6

This is a limited edition product that I immediately jumped on. I'm a huge fan of Boscia blotting linens; the Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens is my holy grail blotting tissue. I've tried this already. It works just as well as the Green Tea one, and the peppermint scent is very strong and refreshing.

2. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $19

I know I just bought the ELF Waterproof Eyeliner (as I mentioned in my Drugstore.com haul) because I wanted a felt tip eyeliner for cheap, but since I had a gift card, I couldn't resist skipping on this product from the brand created by the woman whose eyeliner game is always on fleek.

The other three items are the three free samples I chose (This was an online trip):

1. Atelier Cologne Mandarine Glaciale Travel Spray

Atelier Cologne is one of my favorite fragrance brands. I've tried quite a few of their scents from Birchbox, and I've loved them all! They're mostly rich, musky scents (my favorite).

2. Ralph Lauren Polo Blue

I'm not even sure if this is a women's fragrance; I just chose this sample because there were only three fragrance sample choices this month. I always get the fragrance samples (unless there's a sample of something I really want to try) because I find them to be the most worthwhile. Skin care and makeup samples aren't worth it because you can really only get a few uses out of them, but fragrance samples last much longer. I also need to test out scents before I splurge on full-sizes anyway.

3. Burberry My Burberry

I've never owned or tried anything from the Burberry brand, so needless to say, I was ecstatic that this was an available sample.

This clutch full of samples was one of the promotional code things that Sephora always has. This one specifically was one that let me choose among three holiday-themed clutches filled with 12 samples, but unfortunately, this was the only style left. I really like the clutch, but the samples were pretty meh. The only sample that really excited me was, of course, the Versace fragrance. I have a whole collection of Versace minis which I am absolutely in love with, so I'm glad this was one of the samples. Also, you can't see it from this picture, but the Urban Decay eye primer one came with four samples of four different eye primers, so I'm really excited about that too.

Have you tried any of these products?

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Drugstore.com Haul

Drugstore.com is, without a doubt, my favorite website to purchase drugstore beauty products. It is usually cheaper than actual drugstores, runs many offers, and is a great place to read reviews before buying something.

Here is what I bought:

1. ELF Waterproof Eyeliner in Black, $2

I needed a new felt tip eyeliner but didn't want to splurge on one, so I settled for a cheaper brand. I've never tried this particular product from ELF, but most of their other products don't disappoint, so I'm excited to try it out.

2. Zapzyt Maximum Strength 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel, $4.09

This acne treatment gel is a favorite on Drugstore.com and has received many favorable reviews, so I decided to give it a try.

3. GNC Vitamins A, E, and D Moisturizing Cream, $1.72

I was quite disappointed when I saw how small this product is, but for the price, I guess that should've been expected. I'm still excited to try it out, though!

4. ELF Studio High Definition Powder, $6 (Repurchase)

I don't think I've ever reviewed this product on here, but this is by far the best loose setting powder I have ever tried!

5. ELF Studio Small Angled Brush, $3 (Repurchase)

I use this brush to fill in my eyebrows, and the previous one served its purpose well for more than a year, but the bristles started going rogue, and the paint is peeling, so I got a replacement!

6. Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner, $4.19 (Repurchase)

My sensitive skin really appreciates this toner and how gentle and soothing it is. My main expectation of a toner is actually just to remove any excess dirt that my cleanser didn't get, so I don't need a fancy toner. This one does the job perfectly!

Have you tried any of these products?

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Sasa and Watsons Haul

I recently bought some items from Sasa and Watsons in Malaysia. Sasa is a retailer of beauty products, and Watsons is a drugstore.

These are the things that I bought:

1. Sasatinnie Aloe and Olive Deep Moist Silky Mask - This is a moisturizing sheet mask. I have tried almost all the sheet masks from Sasa, and this is still my favorite. You can read my reviews of other Sasatinnie masks here and here.
2. Vaseline Total Moisture Nourishing Body Lotion - This is a moisturizing body lotion. I received free samples when I bought tickets to Ted 2 (I don't know why) and instantly fell in love with it, so I bought the full size.
3. Vaseline Healthy White Insta Fair Body Lotion - This is a whitening body lotion. It came free with my purchase of the Total Moisture lotion.
4. Watsons Electric Power Toothbrush - This is pretty self-explanatory.
5. Skinlite Green Tea Makeup Cleansing Tissues - This is a makeup remover wipe. These come in Green Tea, Cucumber, Aloe Vera, and Orange. I've previously tried Cucumber and Aloe Vera, and I can't seem to find the Orange version anywhere.
6. Skinlite Rejuvenating Orange Pads - This is a rejuvenating eye mask.
7. Skinlite Cooling Cucumber Pads - This is a cooling eye mask. I've tried these before. They're eye masks that look like cucumber slices, and they're super refreshing, perfect for a DIY spa night.
8. Sasatinnie Rose Hip Oil Tightening and Rejuvenating Silky Mask - This is a rejuvenating sheet mask.
9. Sasatinnie Pomegranate and Collagen Lifting Silky Mask - This is a lifting sheet mask.

Whenever I'm in Malaysia, I have to go to Sasa and Watsons to get my hands on these amazing products. The majority of these are repurchases. I love them, but they're really difficult to find (or they're super costly to buy) in the US.

What are your thoughts on Asian beauty products?

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Sephora Mini Haul

It was disheartening to find out that Bath and Body Works, Sephora, and Victorias Secret did not participate in the Black Friday festivities last week. Bath and Body Works and Victorias Secret only had their usual promotions, and Sephora only had Giftopia. I ended up spending too much.

I made sure to stop by these stores because I had specific items that I wanted to buy. Since I had time to burn, I browsed Express, Forever 21, and Wet Seal amongst others, and they had amazing Black Friday sales! I didnt buy anything, though.

This post will be about the products that I bought at Sephora.

Ciate Mini Mani Month Advent Calendar | $69

I had been lusting after this product ever since I found out about it. I just couldnt bring myself to spend all of that money on it. When I saw it in Sephora, I knew that I had to have it. Today is actually Day Four of the countdown. If you want to keep up to date with what I uncover every day, follow me on Instagram!

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer | $36

I always hear good things about this product, but I never really looked into it until I received a sample in my November Glam Bag. Then, I fell in love with it. When I was in Sephora, I was debating between this and the Color Correcting version. I ended up going with this because I wasnt sure if the other one works well, but I know for a fact that this does.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara | $19

I had to wait so long before I could get this product. When I tried it from the Sephora Lash Stash that I bought a while back, I knew I had to have it. The set comes with a coupon redeemable for a full-size of any of the samples so I was debating among this, the Buxom Buxom Mascara, and the Korres Volcanic Mineral Mascara. I decided to go with this one because its more buildable, and I love dramatic lashes.

Do you own any of these products? Have you ever tried them? What are your thoughts?

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Drugstore.com Haul

Hello, world.

I stumbled across the best online drugstore in the known universe: drugstore.com, the uncommon drugstore. I have a haul to blog about.

The first product is the NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Black. If you read about my ELF haul, you would know that the eyebrow powder that I got is in too light of a shade for me. The NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Black is the perfect color for my black hair. Ive only tried it on, I havent really used it yet. The gray shade that comes with it is gorgeous! Ive never really used eyebrow powder so itll take me a while to get used to wearing it.

The second product is the GeoGirl EraseScreen Cream Concealer in Deep Nature. I swatched it on my arm and unfortunately, it is in too dark of a shade for me.

The third product is the Wet & Wild Eye Makeup Remover. Im still using the makeup remover that came in my February Birchbox, so I havent gotten around to using this one yet.

The fourth product is the Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks. My September 2012 Birchbox came with a Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover that is pretty much this product from a different brand. I absolutely loved it so I decided to get some while I was on Drugstore.com. These Almay ones have also gotten really good reviews so I thought Id try it out.

The fifth product is the ELF Mineral Infused Face Primer. I guess the name shouldve tipped me off that this is more on the shimmery side. I like my face to look matte, not dewy, so I didnt really like this primer.

The sixth product is the CoverGirl Queen Collection Jumbo Gloss Balm. This is my current favorite lip product. It is a tinted lipbalm. Its a pink thats in between sheer and opaque. If youre friends with me on Facebook (Which I encourage you to do so that you will be notified when I make a Facebook page for ExtraExtravagant), you would probably see a bunch of pictures with me wearing it.

The final product is the Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo. I havent tried this out yet but I'll probably be using it as either an eyeshadow base or a white eyeliner.

The blue/green Bazaar thing is just a small makeup pouch complimentary of Harpers Bazaar magazine for Drugstore.com.

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NYX Haul

Hello, world.

I recently bought a few NYX products from HauteLook.

The first product is the Super Skinny Eye Marker. This is my favorite type of eyeliner. I love dramatic eyeliner and my everyday look consists of thick eyeliner. Marker eyeliners are the way to go if you love heavy eyeliner but dont want to spend too much time getting ready.

Before this product, my favorite eyeliner was the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner. The NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker blows Eyeko out of the water! The felt tip is very fine, making it easy to apply precise lines. It also glides on very smoothly and doesnt catch or drag on your skin.

The second product is the Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Black. This type of eyeliner is also essential in creating my eye look. I prefer liquid liner to marker liners in drawing cat eyes because a flimsy brush is easier to flick.

My current liquid liner is the ELF Liquid Eyeliner in Black. I have no complaints about this product; it is wonderful, but I always enjoy trying out new products.

The third product is the Collection Noir Skinny Black Liner. This is just a normal crayon liner, a type that I havent used in a while. Lately, Ive been getting frustrated with pencil liners so I decided to get back into crayon liners.

On the NYX website, the Super Skinny Eye Marker costs $9, the Studio Liquid Liner costs $4.50, and the Collection Noir Skinny Black Liner costs $6. In total, these three products are $19.50 on NYXs website before shipping. On HauteLook, I paid $11 before shipping.

These are blushes. You cant really tell the actual color from the picture because I took it with my phone. I was getting sick of my old camera being stupid so I decided to use my phone. It focuses a lot easier. Hang in there because Im saving up for a new camera!

From left to right, the shades are: Mocha, Angel, and Mauve. These are $5 each on NYXs website. I bought all three for $10.50 from HauteLook.

Since I recently bought a new blush that I adore, I probably wont end up using these. I'll put them into the stash for the upcoming giveaway.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

What is your favorite NYX product?

If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to be notified of new posts!

Thank you for reading.

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ELF Haul

Hello, world.

I have a long overdue ELF haul to blog about.

The first product is the Eyebrow Kit in Dark. The only options available are Light, Medium, Dark, and Ash. Having black hair, I figured that I should go with Dark since lighter eyebrows arent very flattering. Little did I know, it isnt as dark as I thought itd be. I havent tried it yet, though. Im scared that itll turn out too light.

The second product is the Contouring Blush & Bronzer in Antigua. The blush is super pretty but the bronzer is too dark on me. I probably shouldve gone with a lighter shade of bronzer like the St. Lucia, but then the blush wouldve been too much like a highlighter.

The third product is the High Definition Powder. This is just a loose powder that I use to set my makeup. It fills fine lines and wrinkles really well, and it definitely does make you HD-ready. Even though Im never in HD, I love it! It makes your face look flawless.

The fourth product is one that they threw in there with my order. I never buy lipsticks so I obviously didnt purchase this one. It was just in my order for some reason. It is the Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph. Im never one to go with nude lip colors. Id rather just use untinted lipgloss and have my natural lip color instead. Obviously, I didnt really like this product mainly because of the color.

The fifth product is the Brush Shampoo. I already have a Daily Brush Cleaner that I use to clean out colored eyeshadow. I currently only have three eyeshadow brushes that I have out: one for blacks and silvers, one for my daily neutral look, one for all the other colors. Because of that, I like to wash out the colors right after I use them since I have palette after palette of different shades. I havent gotten into this brush shampoo yet but itll probably be a weekly thing where I give my brushes a thorough washing.

The sixth product is the Makeup Lock & Seal. Basically, this is a liquid that you mix with your makeup to make it last longer. I havent gotten into it yet either but I plan on using it on eyeshadow to turn it into eyeliner, which would give more uses for my color palettes.

The final product is the Makeup Remover Pen. I find this useful but it doesnt work too well. I use it to fix mistakes with eyeliner and stuff like that but the downside is that it smears instead of removes. I have a different product that I prefer to this, which will be coming up in my next haul post.

Yes, I have a couple of hauls left to blog about: the Forever 21 one and a Drugstore.com one. Stay tuned!

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

What is your favorite ELF product?

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Target Haul

Hello, world.

I want to start by showing you a picture.

This is the result of being rushed.

I had initially wanted to do an FOTD post so I took a picture. I was rushing to catch the bus so I didnt even bother to check the picture. It turned out that the quality is way below par and I have a weird half-smile on my face.

There goes my first ever FOTD.

On the flipside, I have a haul to blog about.

The plan for today was actually to get myself some multivitamins. I did buy them—two bottles of multivitamins (They both contain different vitamins but are essentially for womens health) and a bottle of fish oil gummies. When my sister and I were growing up, my mom liked to make us take fish oil capsules and even fish oil extract so I assume that its good for you, LOL.

The bad news is that when you put me in Target, I tend to buy more than Im supposed to.

I bought a myriad of other things, but these are the ones that Im really excited about.

1. Apotheke Smoothing Body Polish: This is a body scrub with a mandarin and guava scent. It contains macadamia nut oil.
2. Champneys Spa Treatments Foot Scrub: This is a foot scrub. It contains olive butter, tea tree oil, and peppermint. It smells like tea tree oil and peppermint.
3. St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub: This is a face scrub with an apricot scent.
4. Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Body Lotion: This is a moisturizing body lotion. It is a multilayer moisturizer.

As you can see, I bought scrubs for pretty much everything. In the winter, my skin gets very dry. And I mean VERY dry. So, the scrubs are to help exfoliate the dead and dry skin and the multilayer body lotion is to moisturize and repair my skin.

I just bought them a few hours ago so I havent tried them. I will in the next week and post reviews right here! I will, however, post my review on my final Birchbox sample before that, LOL. I havent forgotten!

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