Dug Up from the Drafts: "There's More to Me than Makeup" Tag

Totally random and unrelated photo. View from my bedroom window, taken in January. The window has a screen, 

hence the blurriness. I played with editing, but eventually decided on the original. I hate making posts without pictures!

Hello, dear readers,

I know this is another tag, and an old one at that, but I actually have a fairly decent reason for it. This is the second of the drafts that I promised to post. At last, my "Posts" box will be empty of anything but published blogs. I'm not changing the font on this one, because I rewrote the answers to suit my current situation. 


1. Do you go to school? If yes...what is your favourite subject/ what is your major?
Yes, I go to school. My major is Communications, with a minor in Spanish. Within Communications, I love film classes. However, I'm not going into the film industry; I just find those courses extremely interesting and fun. 

2. Do you work? If yes...what is your job?
I don't work at the moment, but I am looking for a summer job. I hope to find one, but, if not, I may end up taking a class instead. I do have an unpaid blogging internship online for CHAOS Magazine, and I'm applying for a copy editor internship at another website. It's also unpaid, and I'll tell you what it is if I get the position.


3. Do you read? If yes...name a few of your favourite books and/or magazines.
Yes.  Some of my favorite books are the Harry Potter series [in English and Spanish]; Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett; American Gods and Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman;  The Princess Bride, by William Goldman; The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory; Bookends by Jane Green; The Looking Glass Wars trilogy, by Frank Beddor....Honestly the list could go on and on and on.
As for magazines, my favorite is probably Marie Claire. 


4. Can you cook?
I can't properly answer that, because it's not that I can't cook; I just don't cook. I'd like to learn, but I lack motivation.


5. Do you have any siblings?
Yes. I have a sister, aged 24, and a brother, 27.


6. Do you speak any other languages?
If I were to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment, I think I would be able to quickly improve my spoken Spanish. I am fairly fluent as far as reading, writing, and understanding, but I could use more practice speaking. I've studied for a little over eight years, so I should hope I would pick it up! 


7. If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I'd love to travel all over Europe and the UK, just to experience the culture and the sights [The shopping wouldn't hurt either!]. Specifically, I'd like to visit Spain or another Spanish-speaking country for the reasons mentioned above. 


8. What is your idea of the perfect date?
I don't have anything specific in mind. Honestly, I think the most important thing is that it goes well!


9. What is your dream career?
I'm not 100 percent sure, but I would like to explore the world of publishing/publications. I'm also fascinated by the idea of translating books for a career.


10. Are you athletic...do you play sports/work out..or are you a couch bunny?
I'm athletic in the sense that I love working out and keeping fit. I absolutely do not play sports. My hand-eye coordination doesn't exist, and I don't have the patience for team sports.


11. What are your three favourite things (that have nothing to do with makeup/beauty)?
I'm going to skip friends and family, because they're people, not things. As far as tangible "things," I would say film, books, and music. How much more generic can I get here? More intangible things would be singing, traveling, and working out. 


12. What is the BEST thing about you? 
I love the fact that I'm easily amused by pretty much everything, which makes other people laugh as well. That probably isn't the BEST thing about me, but it's one of my personal favorite qualities.


Ahhhh, the sound of complete silence from the "Drafts" area of my profile. How I adore it. I'm not entirely sure when I initially wrote this, but it was probably before or during last fall. Like I said, the answers are up-to-date, having rewritten them yesterday. I didn't think it would be necessary to show you the old one because things have changed, and it no longer contained inaccurate information.


Have you done this tag? I think it's fun to read about the lives, loves, and dreams of other fashion/beauty/lifestyle bloggers. We all have a certain amount of "girliness" in common, but it's nice to see what else is going on with everyone. Maybe we have more in common than we thought [or even less]! 


In any case, enjoy your day, whatever you happen to be doing!


xEsther

A Tag Consisting of 11 Questions

Hello, dear readers,

I have to admit that I'm cheating a bit on this tag. You're supposed to be tagged by another blogger; answer the questions; and create 11 of your own. Then you're meant to tag 11 other bloggers. I don't plan on coming up with 11 questions, nor tagging 11 bloggers. If you want me to create my own, let me know. Otherwise, on to the questions [randomly found on Sunnie's Obsessions]:

1. What nail polish are you wearing now? 

NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Fuschia Shock

2. What’s your favorite blush?

 I don't wear blush, so I can't answer.

3. What’s the most expensive beauty product you have?

 I believe Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup is the priciest. 

4. What’s your favorite mask? 

I don't purchase masks, but I do make my own honey mask once in a great while. It consists of, [would you believe it?] honey.

5. A random fact about yourself. 

I am often the only one laughing out loud at the movie theater. Yes, I am that person. Remember me? The one you always want to smack?

6. Sephora or MAC? 

I've mentioned in a previous tag that I don't shop at either of these stores. I prefer Ulta. Between these two, I would choose Sephora for the wider range of brands and products.

7. What magazine(s) do you read? 

If you read yesterday's post, you'll know that I have too many magazines. Here's the roundup: 

• Magazines I subscribe to and/or were gifts: Marie Claire, Allure, Seventeen [though I'm starting to feel too old for it], Elle
• Magazines I get for free due to some sort of promotion/giveaway:  Shape, More [I realize this one is meant for middle-aged women.]
• My mom's magazines: Family Circle, Woman's Day
• My friend's magazines: Teen Vogue and whatever random magazines she buys for fun

8. What’s your favorite perfume?

Probably Strawberries and Champagne from Victoria's Secret. I also really like the VS Romantic Wish.

9. What’s the best base coat you have ever used?

I don't know that I have a best base coat, but I quite enjoy the Wet n Wild Shine Clear Nail Protector as a base and top coat.

10. What’s your favorite foundation?

Since I own just one, I have to say Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup.

11. Where do you want to travel the most?

I can't pick just one for this. I'm going to generalize and say Europe.

Feel free to do this tag, whether it's the proper format or not. 

Have a great weekend!

xEsther

40 Beauty Questions

Image Source

Hello, dear readers,


At a loss for creative ideas today, I decided to recycle this very old tag from YouTube. When I say "very old," I mean about a year and a half ago, give or take. I know that's ancient in internet terms.


On with the questions:



SKINCARE -
How many times do you wash your face daily?
Twice. The only time I'll wash my face more than that is if I shower in the afternoon, because I'll still wash my face morning and night as well.

What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo) 
Dry/combination and sensitive 

What is your current facial wash?
Olay Foaming Face Wash Sensitive Skin

Do you exfoliate? 
Rarely. The reason for this is because I use baking soda with my cleanser to exfoliate once a week when I'm at home, but I don't bring it to school. It would look a little strange mixing that concoction in the dormitory communal bathroom, so I skip out on it until I get home.

What brand do you use?
The face wash I mentioned with whatever baking soda we've got at home!

What moisturizer do you use?
In the morning I use Olay Complete Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 Sensitive Skin; I use SPF 15 in the winter. At night, I use Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture Sensitive Skin.

Do you have freckles? 
I have very few on my face, and they're hardly visible, but I have several on my arms. My arm freckles aren't extremely visible either.

Do you use eye cream? 
No. My moisturizer is gentle enough to use in that area at night, and I don't own an eye cream.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I do, but I mainly break out on my chin due to hormones and who knows what else! I believe one of my makeup products may be breaking me out as well, and I'll update you on that when I know. I definitely break out if I touch my face too much, but for the most part my skin is clear.

Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? 
No.
MAKE-UP
What foundation do you use? 
I don't. I use Covergirl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisture most of the time, but I'm currently using Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer.

How about concealer? 
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer. I will have to repurchase soon.

Do you know your undertone color?
I find it quite hard to tell because my face has a lot of pink to it, but that might just be from redness. Then again, I get freckles and I do tan slightly which is common for warm tones. I would say I'm somewhere close to neutral.

What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I really don't like them. Apologies to anyone who loves them. Personally I don't need them and I don't think they're necessary, but I do understand how they could be fun.

Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? 
Yes.

What brand of mascara do you use?
I don't actually wear mascara! I do own a Clinique one, though, but it gave me raccoon eyes when I wore it as it bled during the day.

Sephora or MAC? 
I've never bought from either store, because I don't like to spend a lot on makeup. I'm more of an Ulta girl, but, if I had to, I would probably choose Sephora for the variety.

Do you have a MAC Pro-card? 
No.

What makeup tools do you use in make up application? 
A brush and my fingers.

Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? 
No because I don't wear eye makeup. I tend to put concealer on my eyelids, though, to neutralize the darkness and brighten the eye area.

For the face? 
Nope.

What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
Like I said, I don't wear eyeshadow, just concealer on the lids. That may seem weird, but it really helps to brighten the face. I always wear a brighter lip anyway, so it balances out.

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? 
I don't wear eyeliner, but I own both pencil and felt tip.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? 
The few times I have used it, I think I poked my eyes maybe once.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? 
Again, not really relevant to me, but I'd imagine they're harder to work with if you're not so skilled in eye makeup application.

Do you use mineral makeup? 
No, but that's just a coincidence. The products I've looked for and bought just haven't been mineral. Though I think I own maybe one mineral tinted lip conditioner, or something of the sort.

What is your favorite lipstick?
It is so hard to choose, but the one I've been reaching for all the time lately is Maybelline ColorSensational in Pink Peony.

How about lipgloss? 
Avon Glazewear Shine in Tickled Pink, or any of the pink ELF Hypershine Lip Glosses [Thanks, Lyuba!].

What is your favorite blush to use? 
I don't wear blush, mostly because I already have a bit of color in my cheeks, but I own a Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips blush.

Do you buy your makeup on ebay? 
No.

Do you like drugstore makeup? 
Yes indeed. The only higher end makeup I've ever owned was Clinique, which I do enjoy, and an Estee Lauder lipstick, which was the wrong color for my lips and skin tone! I can't really compare, therefore, my drugstore collection to anything else. I count Avon as drugstore as well, just because of the price. All makeup is hit or miss, honestly, no matter how much you pay for it. I just like to do my research before I buy anything.

Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) 
No. I don't know if there are any near me at home.

Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? 
I'm not extremely artistic, so I've never considered it. Makeup is more of a personal hobby than anything else. And I'm mostly a face makeup and lipstick girl. 

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
No, thankfully. Besides my awful green powder concealer phase two years ago, I've been pretty good at working with whatever I've had available.

Name a makeup crime that you hate? 
Too-nude lips; too-orange tanners; and heavy eye makeup during daytime and morning classes. It just looks a little too "skanky sorority girl" when people have that much makeup on in class. Not to say all sorority girls are skanky, because they aren't, but you know the type. I hope.

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? 
I like to keep a clean face and brighter lips, generally. I don't like to go too neutral on the lips, because I keep the rest of the face extremely neutral. I like a neutral lip as long as it has color, and a neutral [bare, really] eye.

Which celebrity always has great make up?
Anne Hathaway, Zooey Deschanel.

If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?
Tinted moisturizer, just to add a slight bit of life to my face.

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
I did several times in the summer, and I don't mind walking around the dorm without makeup, but at the moment I have to put makeup on to go out. That's probably because I'm on a college campus. If I was at home grocery shopping, I definitely could.

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? 
Yes, especially because I'm slowly gaining a higher opinion of myself. I prefer to go out with makeup, but I think I look just fine without it.

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
I can't really judge entire lines, because I've only gotten lipsticks or glosses from most brands, and perhaps a concealer, tinted moisturizer or powder from others. I have like everything I've gotten from Avon except a concealer, and I think I have the most products from there. Honestly, though, I just can't answer that. 

What do you think of makeup?? 
I'm constantly surprised by how I can completely wake up my face with the smallest amount of makeup. I think it's transformative, but not in such a way that it actually changes your appearance. It's just a nice pick-me-up.


That's all, folks!


I hope you enjoyed this tag. I'm sure you've already had the opportunity to do this one in the past, but if not, feel free to do this yourself. I'd love to read it. Or, if you've already answered them, why not leave me a link?




Thanks so much, dear readers. Hope your week is off to a good start.




xEsther

Summer Besties!

Hello, dear readers,

Tonight [well technically this morning] I've decided to do a tag [I hope no one's heart stops from shock] that's been going around for at least the past month on YouTube. This is, as you may have guessed from the title, the "Summer Besties" tag.

There are ten categories, and you're supposed to pick your favorite summer item for each category. Of course, this means I'll probably cheat for some and not have anything for others.

Here we go!


1. Lip product: I'm a lipstick girl through and through, and I've been rotating between a few lately. However, if I had to pick one perfect summer lipstick, it will have to be L'Oreal Colour Riche in Tropical Coral.

For lack of a better description, this is perfect for summer because it is a nice coral, but it's only a few shades more pigmented and brighter than my natural lips. If you want some more detail, I wrote a post on it when I first started the blog, so you can head on over here.

2. Blush: I hate to disappoint, but I actually never wear blush. The last time I wore it was probably in my elementary school days in day camp plays for stage makeup. Obviously I'm no connoisseur here, though I do own an unopened Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips blush that I won in a contest.

3. Nail Polish: Due to the fact that I've already worn this twice within a month, I have to go with China Glaze For Audrey. 

I'm not 100% sure if this is an exact match to Tiffany Blue, but I absolutely love it. For more information on this product and why I'm not a fan of the brand, read my post here.

4. Liquid Face Product: It's definitely tinted moisturizer here. I do own two different brands, but for now I'd have to say that my favorite is CoverGirl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisture in 805 Fair to Light.

This still needs a powder to set it, but it's nice to even out the skin and give a very sheer tint to it. Once again, you can read a review here. [Self promotion is the key to happiness! Don't quote me on this. Mostly because it's just not true.]

5. Powder Face Product: Because I only use one, this award goes to... Physician's Formula Powder Palette® Multi-Colored Face Powder in Translucent.

This came with a powder puff, so I swapped that out for a brush that came in the green version of this palette [DON'T BUY THE GREEN ONE. Unless you'd like to look like Elphaba, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West.]. It helps to keep my makeup in place throughout the day and mattifies it, at least temporarily. I've never fully reviewed this product, but I did mention it on my post about faking a flawless face.

6. Hair Product: If we're talking specifically summer, then I suppose my must-have for summer is leave-in conditioner. The one I'm using now is V05 Detangle and Shine Restoring leave-in conditioner.

I've been having trouble finding this product, but I actually quite enjoy it. If you want to know exactly how I use it, take a gander over at this page. Basically I spray this in after drying with a T-shirt, and then I scrunch. Sometimes I don't even need the shine serum after!

7. Eye Product: I don't actually wear eye products. I do put concealer on my eyelids to even out the lid color, but no true eye products.

8. Self Tanner/Tanning Product: As my brother says, "There's Snow White and then there's Snow Whiter." I happen to be both. He refers to the fact that I'm so pale as the "Snow White," and that once you notice that I actually have a watch tan and shoe tans, you see that my color during the rest of the year is "Snow Whiter." I don't use tanning products, needless to say, so I thought I'd mention my favorite sunscreen. It's Neutrogena Sensitive Skin sunblock lotion.

The reason I love this so much is that it's a mineral sunblock with both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. This means it's great for sensitive skin as it is a physical protectant against the sun's rays. I also like the Pure and Free baby sunblock, which has the exact same formulation. They are both waterproof, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, etc. Read the label!

9. Fashion Accessory: Ballet flats and cute necklaces. End of story.

Though I'd love to, I don't own any of these.

I actually own this one.

I own this one, too! Both are from Avon, I believe.

I live in ballet flats for as long as I can throughout the year, but especially in the summer. I hate flip flops, and don't own a decent pair of sandals. As for jewelry, I get more into gold in the summer, and I love charms, keys, and the nautical theme.

10. Clothing Piece: Dresses and skirts!

I promise this dress is actually cute. I own it!

I own this as well and it's so cute.

That about rounds up everything. It's time for me to get some sleep. It's getting late!

I'd love to hear what your summer besties are, if you haven't already shared.

To lazy summer days.

xEsther

Images from:

http://www.thisnext.com/tag/harpers-bazaar/ 

http://www.sallybeauty.com/china-glaze/SBS-606417,default,pd.html

http://www.drugstore.com/covergirl-smoothers-spf-15-spf-15-tinted-moisture-fair-to-light-805/qxp153558

http://www.goodguide.com/products/267587-physicians-formula-powder-palette

http://www.stylefeeder.com/i/yr7dtzmw/Alberto-Vo5-Detangle-Amp-Shine-Restoring-Daily-Leave-In-Conditioner-10oz

http://www.shopstyle.com/product/neutrogena-ulta-skin-care-sensitive-skin-sunblock-lotion-spf-60/113056100

http://www.thefashionpolice.net/2007/07/wanted-nexts-au.html

http://www.sportslinkup.com/shop/0-Heart-key-48.html

http://www.sportslinkup.com/shop/0-Gold-rope-8-LOWEST.html

http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=dress%5Fcasual&product%5Fid=2000014222&Page=all&pgcount=25

Another Tag, You Say?

Yes, indeed, dear readers,


Today's post is another tag! I found this one on the ever-popular Elle and Blair website. This is the 32 Question Tag. Well, strictly speaking, it has 33 questions, so whoever titled it hopefully doesn't have a day job as an accountant or banker. 


Here goes:

Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead? I suppose it's cute. Personally, though, I feel like I might get annoyed. That's just me, though.

A big poofy dress or a short party dress? Well I don't like wearing super short dresses, but I would definitely have more occasions to wear a short party dress than a big poofy dress.

Are diamonds a girl's best friend? Not to the extent that they replace friends, but yes, they are indeed a girl's best friend. This isn't to say that I wear them routinely. I'm not even sure I own any.

Is your hair up or down today? It's down. The only time it's not down is generally when I'm having a horrible hair day or when I'm working out.

Do you straighten your hair? Very rarely. I'll straighten it probably a few times a year, five or six at the most, I'd guess.

Favorite mascara? If you've read my blog before, you'll know that mascara is hardly a necessity in my life. It darkens my lashes a bit, but I haven't found one that actually makes it look like I'm wearing mascara. Nothing really makes a difference, but right now I have a sample of Clinique High Impact Mascara in black. Honestly, no mascara is my favorite at this point.

Do you get your nails done? I've only gotten my nails done once, and I really prefer doing it myself. Something about someone else cutting and filing my nails and painting them just really doesn't appeal to me at all. My polish always lasts longer when I paint it myself, anyway.

Small or large purses? I love all sizes, but personally I need a large one for all the junk I carry!

Jeans or sweats? Jeans. Sweats make me feel sloppy but are much more comfortable, so I only wear them when working out or going on a grocery run. Jeans make me feel much more put together.

Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that's uncomfortable? Not generally. I mean my shoes are never comfortable after walking in them for a while, but they're comfy until then. So I suppose I do wear cute, uncomfortable shoes when it comes to actually walking long distances in them.

Do you text message a lot? I actually don't have texting [SHOCKER] I always call.

Whats your favorite color? Aqua is my main favorite, but also blues, greens, and pink. 

Heels or flats? I love ballet flats. They just look so classy and are appropriate for more occasions, in my opinion. However, I do love the way heels make my legs look.

Would you ever leave the house without makeup on? Only if I'm going outside to work out or if I'm going on a trip to the grocery store. Otherwise, I have to wear at least some concealer and lipstick. And chances are I always go out with undereye concealer even if I wear nothing else, in order to avoid the crater look.

Walmart or Target? Target. Without a doubt. My best friend and I will actually go there as a destination and spend hours searching the store. We're exciting people.

Do you think lip gloss is the best!? I'm not as into wearing gloss as I used to be, so I actually think lipstick is the best, but lip gloss still holds a special place in my heart.

Do you own any big sunglasses? One really cheap and junky Coach imitation that I never wear. My good sunglasses are medium sized. 

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Usually somewhere around an hour, but that's including the fact that it takes me 15 minutes to get out of bed, and I generally don't pick out my clothes the night before. If I do pick them out, it's just in my head and they aren't prepared. I also shower at night. Not surprising that I'm always running late.

Gold or silver? I really like both. Silver probably suits my skin tone better, but I'm so white that I can pull off both relatively well.

Do you like to wear dresses? Yes! I used to never wear them, and now I want to wear them all the time. Too bad I only own a few.

In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy? My brother!

Do you like to hold hands? Sure!

What do you notice when you first meet a guy? His eyes and smile, I suppose. I mean I obviously notice body type as well, but as far as things that attract my attention, that would be it on the immediate impression.

Do you like making eye contact? I love it! It's actually an inside joke with one of my best friends. I'm not going to bother explaining it. I do apologize.

Would you kill for chocolate? Not literally.

On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping? When I'm shopping for jeans or bras, or work pants it's a negative 10. If it's for fun, then a 10.

Do you yell a lot? Only to the elderly customers who can't hear me at work. Generally I just yell when I'm angry or to avoid being interrupted when I'm trying to prove a point.

Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work? Never.

Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy? Nope.

What makeup could you not live without? Undereye concealer and lipstick.

Do you fall in love easily? Not at all.

Do you have cramps? Not right now. I don't get them too often.

Do you think you have the bestest friend ever? Yes indeed. I have a fabulous group of friends, and my best friends are the best!

Hope you enjoyed this little tag! I'd love to see any of you do it.

xEsther

Image from http://unicomtech.blogspot.com/2010/07/notepad-editor-trick-to-create-log-file.html