HELLO VCE BEAUTIES!

It's been a million years since I've posted here!

I'm creating a newer, cleaner, more organized blog.

I am going to re-swatch and re-photograph EVERYTHING for you and my new subscribers!

Stay tuned to find out the URL (it's undetermined right now.)

 Thank you so much for reading!

I really do appreciate all of you.

Katie

Bath and Body Works has the best candles ever. Period. The end!

Happy fall! It doesn't feel like fall today with the temperature reaching 83! (WHAT?) I think it's really strange how warm it is but I loved it outside today! I wanted to talk about my favorite thing about fall and winter - new yummy candles! I have been doing my research and finally picked out my set of 4 (I always buy seasonal candles in 4, hello OCD!) I love relaxing, yummy scents in the colder months. I get pretty down in the winter because it's so dark and it really helps having delicious candles around. My mother's favorite winter candle is Yankee Candle Blueberry, but don't you dare buy it.. it's hard enough for her to find as it is! Check out my selection and let me know if you agree and what you'd add to the mix! Have a great day off tomorrow.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Hello VCE beauties. I am so sorry I haven't written this post sooner considering the entire month of October is  Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I find it hard to explain how I truly feel so I made a sign! Here is some background on it. My mother's best friend has breast cancer and she is my hairdresser. I've been going to her since I was born and I don't trust another soul with my hair! She has been fighting the cancer for 4 years now and she is finally in remission after 20+ surgeries. I made this sign with her in mind because even with cancer she was the most beautiful, put together woman I have ever met. She is so strong.. such a fighter. I created this sign using high quality, classic makeup products to symbolize the endless beauty these courageous women have. I used MAC liquid eyeliner to write "October is" because liquid eyeliner is a staple in every girls wardrobe. I then used Chanel nail polish in the shade Morning Rose to write "Breast Cancer Awareness Month". I chose this polish to write with because it is light pink with gold flecks which symbolizes, to me, an almost ethereal beauty that cannot be altered. I finished the sign by using NARS matte lipstick in Carthage. I chose this hot pink shade because it embodies the strength and perseverance these women have. I had such a great time making this sign and I would love to know how you celebrate life and health while raising awareness!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Fusion Beauty StimuLashFusion Lash Enhancing + Lengthening Mascara is something you need in your beauty arsenal if you want beautiful lashes!

This mascara has some serious claims. This eyelash-fortifying mascara is said to increase lash length and thickness, immediately and over time.  I was pretty skeptical because most of those products that say they are going to enhance my lashes usually fall short. I wasn't born with beautiful long eyelashes and frankly they are quite invisible without mascara.. pretty stubby right? I figured that I couldn't go wrong with this product, and at $28 I thought the numbers had switched on me. $28 for a beautiful mascara AND growth treatment? Unheard of. As you all may know, Fusion Beauty has quite the cult following on their eyelash enhancer, StimuLashFusion™ Intensive Night Conditioning Lash Enhancer. That product is $89. YES, $89. It is extremely effective and has rave reviews and I've personally tried it and saw the effects within one week. Can I afford that price regularly? No, so this mascara is great news for people on a budget like me. This mascara is infused with a clinically-proven, lash-enhancing peptide called SYMPEPTIDE™. This ingredient improves the appearance of your lashes in as little as four-to-six weeks. I've had this for 2 months and I've seen serious lash growth. My lashes look full even without mascara! I adore the brush because it is very hard but flexible so you do not get anything but a beautiful fanned out look - without clumps. I don't think you could create clumps if you wanted to with this mascara, it's really that good. I sometimes have issues taking off mascara from other companies but never this one! It is so gentle and really does remove with soap and water. For such a gentle product, you'd assume you'd get raccoon eyes right? Nope! It stays on your lashes unless you cry soapy tears... which I think I can safely assume you all don't! I will always repurchase this mascara because it volumizes, thickens, curls and lengthens over time. What else does a girl need? 

What do you think about this mascara? Do you think it can solve your lash issues like it did for me? Let me know in the comments!

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette blows my mind!

Let me begin with saying I can't get enough of Urban Decay eyeshadows. I think they are amazing formulation and pigment. I usually buy them in singles, however, because I usually don't like UD palette packaging.. until now. This packaging is the definition of luxe. The outer box is a gunmetal purple that features a faceted jewel “UD” on the cover and a beautiful laser-cut filigree design on the sides. Inside, the shadow tray pulls out to reveal a velvet-lined compartment that can be used to stash jewelry or personal mementos like tweezers, rings, etc. I love that the entire tray of shadows comes right out! Sometimes I just hold that up while I'm doing my makeup because it's lighter than with the box attached. 

The first row of eyeshadows is my personal favorite. I love these neutrals because they don't have any duplicates.. they truly are unique. These shadows are Midnight Rodeo (medium metallic brown w/silver and gold glitter), Midnight 15 (oyster pearl w/silver glitter), Vanilla (shimmery white gold), Flow (soft peach shimmer), Chase (metallic bright bronze.) I didn't experience any fallout issues with these and all of them are true to description except Vanilla has more gold in it than the description warrants. The second row, the brights, are so fun and very pigmented. Omen is my absolute favorite color! It is unbelievably beautiful in real life. I make a smokey eye using Half Truth in the crease, which is in the next row. These shadows are Tainted (pale matte purple with golden shimmer), Junkshow (bright pink w/fuchsia shift), Omen (shimmery metallic bright purple w/blue shift), Evidence (deep metallic blue), Deep End (bright teal shimmer.) All of those are extremely pigmented and true, including Tainted. I know some bloggers experienced difficulty with that particular shade but I found it pleasantly pigmented and workable! The final row is my "smoke show row" (aptly named) and I love how these colors work.. they aren't chalky in the least bit and are surprisingly forgiving for such pigment. These shadows are fabulous when used as liner. I use my Tarina Tarantino liner brush with the Blackout color and get phenomenal results! These colors are Deeper (deep shimmery golden brown), M.I.A. (soft shimmery dark brown), Ace (dark gunmetal shimmer), Blackout (darkest, most saturated black), Half Truth (shimmery smoky purple.) 

These are also full sized eyeshadows at .05 each which makes this palette a steal for $55. I usually do not feel comfortable investing in something with 15 eyeshadows but I knew I'd use them all - and I do! My only gripe about this product is that it is not very travel friendly. The lid does not securely attach to the box so it makes it a palette that stays at home. I wish this wasn't limited edition, it really is the most gorgeous set of eyeshadows I've ever seen.. far from any gimmicky palette similiar to what we've all been seeing lately. Do you have this palette? Are you going to grab it? Let me know in the comments! 

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens saved my life!

I have combination skin that is really tempermental. Some days I am really oily on my cheeks and tzone and other days I am not oily at all. I am pretty acne prone because of the oil that sometimes sits on my face (yuck!) I don't use oil control products because they dry out and irritate my dry skin so I was very excited to try these babies! As I stated above, these linens are exceptionally crafted from Abaca Tree Plant and let me tell you - these feel so luxurious on the skin. I noticed the oil on the blotting linen as soon as I finished wiping it over my face - it was amazing! After I used this linen I noticed my skin felt renewed and very clean. I am so happy to report I have not had a breakout since using these, even at my most oily points! I highly suggest you grab these if you get oily sometimes or a lot of the time - even on the hottest summer days this year these linens kept me shine and blemish free without drying my skin! I can feel the antioxidants freshening my complexion! These are a constant staple over at VCE! Do you love these or are you planning on trying? Let me know! I love hearing from everyone who reads this blog!

(product was sent to me for review. 100% honest opinions everyday!)

Battle of the Louis Vuittons! (NEED YOUR HELP!!)

Hello and sorry I've been so M.I.A the past month! I have been looking for a new job and organizing my make up, I have a TON of stuff to show you guys. I know it's been awhile but I have a favor to ask of all of you! I am going to be getting a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bag for my birthday in a few months. I am torn between which pattern to get - Monogram Canvas or Damier. Please give me your honest opinion and why you feel that way. I look forward to your help lovlies!! 

Damier

Monogram Canvas.

Thanks again!