5 Must Have Beauty Essentials

5 Must Have Beauty Essentials!

I rounded up a few makeup products for beginners that make a great start to a collection! I am a minimal makeup wearer who likes to go for natural makeup looks and I think that these products are must haves even for people who aren't super into makeup. These beauty products are great for simple makeup looks and each item is an essential for any type of makeup collection! I also include reviews and my thoughts on the products!

February Favorites 2019

February Favorites 2019

Another month of 2019 has come and gone and one of the many things that means is that it is time for February favorites! I do not have a ton of things to discuss for this month because many of the things that I use frequently are things that I have been loving for a while (and I probably have already discussed them a decent amount). I did not want to bore you and keep harping on the same things, however there are some things that I do feel that are worth mentioning! Now on to my monthly favorites!

Fall Favorites: What I'm Currently Loving

Happy Fall! I always look forwards to fall and what the season brings! It always feels like a fresh start. Along with all of the fun fall activities like apple picking and pumpkin carving I also love the weather and I enjoy finally being able to wear cozy sweaters again! I wanted to share some things that I have been loving lately! Read on for my fall favorites and you may also find out about about an Urban Decay sale!

June 2018 Favorites

Hi everyone!

As June recently came to an end I thought I'd share some things that I've been loving including products, food, movies, and music!


 
But first off - wow how is June over already! We're halfway through 2018 which is hard to fathom! May was a pretty big month for me as I graduated college!  June went by so fast and right now it just feels like I finished another regular year of school and that I'll be going back to my college in the fall though but I won't be 😱. Congratulations to all of you Class of 2018 graduates!

via GIPHY

As I should theoretically have more free time now I hope to post more frequently on this blog, so fingers crossed that happens lol. I tried to organize this post into categories but there were some miscellaneous items so I thought I'd start with those first.

Miscellaneous:

Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

I had been wanting to read Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get It Together (Sort Of) for so long (I guess since it came out). While I was in school though I did not have much time to read books of my own choosing rather than what I was required to read for classes so this book was definitely on my list for the summer! I usually always rent books from the library as my local library is part of a network that lets us borrow books from other towns. It turns out though that my mom got the book at a book sale without even knowing that I had been wanting to read it. It was a nice coincidence when I saw it on a bookshelf in our house! (In general my mom has good taste in books and usually picks/recommends good ones for my sister and/or I to read).

On to the book itself- Almost Adulting is a very fitting name for the book and for the point of my life that I am currently at. In the book one of the themes that Arden discusses is how most people who are perceived to be full adults and have it all together may very well be "struggling" just like the rest of us no matter what age they are. She also talks about the concept of adulthood in general and how it is arbitrary and can mean different things to different people. Arden's writing style is very enjoyable to read, I like her voice and the humor that she inflicts into the book. The book covers many topics and has a nice balance of funny, uplifting, and serious sections. I really recommend this book to any young adult! It is reassuring to know that there are others who are in the same boat! I liked getting to know more about Arden's life as well, for those of you who may not know, Arden is among other things, a YouTuber, actress and in her words "person of the internet" I have been subscribed to her for a while and enjoy watching her videos so it was nice to get to see another side to her and her thoughts.

( I also wanted to comment on how cute the jacket of the book is and I like the fact that there are little doodles scattered throughout the chapters of the book as well!)

Converse All Stars

Next I wanted to give a shout out to my new Converse sneakers. My Converse are a staple in my wardrobe and I have loved Chucks  for so many years. As I wear mine so often they go through a lot and so I've gone through quite a few pairs of them. I got a new pair for Christmas but only recently started wearing them as I did not want to ruin them. Now it's the perfect time of the year for them. Converse are so comfortable and versatile and are one of my go-to pairs of shoes. I like sticking to neutral colors as I feel I can wear them with anything but they do come in so many colors and can be personalized as well!

Products:

OPI Nail Polish in Schnapps Out of It

I believe that the OPI Schnapps Out of It nail polish was part of OPI's German collection. It is not a recent purchase but I've recently started using it more! Even though the color is not a typical summer color as it's more muted than vibrant and seems like more of a fall color I like that it is versatile! Depending on what you are wearing it can make your nails standout or be more understated. I also think that it is more of a mature color and now that I am a "real adult" it helps me feel more put together and "professional" lol (do you feel that way about certain shades of nail polish too or is it just me? 😂 )

The exact shade of nail polish is no longer available but I found some similar shades/shades in the same color family!

Ole Henriksen C- Rush Brightening Gel Creme

I started trying out the Ole Henriksen C- Rush Brightening Gel Creme about a month or so ago as I received it complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes and I have been really happy with this moisturizer! I have been using it twice a day after washing my face in the morning and at night and my skin feels great! The moisturizer is lightweight and has a nice consistency. I don't like lotions that feel super heavy or greasy and so I'm so glad that this one is not like that. It absorbs nicely into my skin and a little product goes a long way. I do feel like my skin seems brighter and more awake which is why I love applying it in the morning. I feel like it just smooths my skin so well and keeps it hydrated. This is part of Ole Henriksen's Truth Line and contains vitamin C, and Rose of Winter which is rich in antioxidants and is free from parabens and sulfates. This is a great ingredient for brightening and the creme also has a citrus scent. It reminds me of an orange creamsicle! It smells so good but the scent is not overpowering or too strong!

Music:

I am so excited that so many artists that I really enjoy have been releasing music recently!

via GIPHY

(this clip is actually from the BBC show Sherlock which is a show that I really like!) 

So first up, I love Shawn Mendes' new album! I feel like with each album we get to see him grow and try out different things. I think that In My Blood is probably my current favorite song from the album. It's very powerful- lyric wise and sound wise.

Also I started listening to BTS last year and so their most recent album was the first one that came out since I've been into them which I was so excited for! It's called Love Yourself: Tear and follows their previous Love Yourself: Her album. My favorite songs off of the new album would have to be Fake Love and Airplane Part 2 (which is connected to a song from one of the member's mixtapes, hence the part 2). The album has a huge variety of songs from really upbeat to more emotional. BTS also has worked with UNICEF on an anti violence campaign called Love Myself.

And last but not least for music favorites is 5SOS's new album Youngblood! This album has been a long time coming but I'm glad that the band took the time that they needed in order to make something they feel accurately reflects them and is something they are proud of. It was definitely worth the wait for new music. My favorite songs from the album are the title track Youngblood and Valentine! They also have a nice diversity in the songs on the album as well.

Movies:

I had wanted to see The Greatest Showman ever since I saw previews for it but was never able to get to a movie theater to see it while it was playing. I recently was finally able to see the movie and it lived up to, well I guess surpassed my expectations for it! The soundtrack is hands down amazing and the choreography was so good too! I really like musicals and am glad that so many people enjoy seeing them too, especially one that has such a great story and message! The story in the movie is so moving and a roller coaster of emotions, I teared up a bit several times actually. The cast is so talented and I think that everyone fit their roles so well.

I also recently watched The Maze Runner Trilogy! I wanted to read the books but haven't yet. I usually prefer reading the books before seeing a movies of the story but oh well lol. I like action movies and typical young adult dystopian movies and books and I think that The Maze Runner has great characters and that they and the story/plot developed very well over the course of the trilogy. I definitely got invested in the story and was intrigued! It did remind me a bit of The Hunger Games and Divergent but that is not a bad thing and is to be expected as they are all the same genre. I'm really glad I finally watched the movies as my mom and sister had told me how good they were! 

Food:

As it is summertime that means that so many more types of fruit are in season! I have been loving blueberries lately ( I used to not like them), they're great on their own as a snack or perfect in oatmeal for breakfast! Other snacks I really like are sea salt almonds, specifically the Blue Diamond ones, they're so tasty and good for you too! And the final snack I'll mention is wheat thins, they have great taste and are a decent "healthy snack" option!

Thanks for reading! What are some of your recent favorites?

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My Favorite Mascaras

         Today I decided to share my current favorite mascaras with you! And it turns out they are both from the same brand. That didn't happen on purpose, I guess I just really like Maybelline mascaras.

         One of the first mascaras I ever owned was a Maybelline Great Lash and I still love it! I have it in Very Black. I find that this mascara really helps to lengthen my lashes and also does a good job separating them. I do not usually like to go for a clumpy look. 
      The wand of this mascara is pretty small and straight. Since it is so small you can get pretty close to your eye and bash of your lashes without having to worry.  I also like my lashes to look "natural". As I have dark brown hair my eyelashes are already dark so if I apply mascara it may not always look like I am wearing it. It may seem like my lashes are already that long. I do always curl my lashes before putting mascara on. My eyelashes are pretty long but sometimes just stick straight out rather than up. Using an eyelash curler solves this "problem" though. I don't wear mascara everyday but if I were to do my "everyday look" than this is the mascara I would be using.
      I really recommend Great Lash if you are looking for a new mascara to try or if you are just starting out with makeup!

        My other favorite is Maybelline's Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara. Now you may be thinking "Emily, the word falsies, as in false eyelashes is in this mascara's name, and didn't you just say you liked your lashes "natural", didn't you just contradict yourself?" and to that I would reply "Yes and no"! Yes, it has the word Falsies in it and this mascara was designed to give you the effect that false lashes does, as in a lot of volume and length. It does a great job of doing so without being overkill. Yes, I like my lashes looking more natural than fake but, (here comes the "no" part)  but no I didn't contradict myself because my lashes can still look "natural" when I wear this. 
        When I apply this mascara  (or any for that matter) I do not glob it on and make it really obvious that I am wearing it. I want to point out though that there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that though and I don't purposely try to make it seem like my lashes are just that gorgeous without mascara,  I just simply do not like that clumpy and thick, thick lashes look on myself. 
       I love how volumizing this mascara is and that it holds a curl really well. It helps make my lashes curl up nicely. I think that the size and shape of the wand are key  factors in how it makes the lashes so voluminous. The wand is curved and also has bristles at the tip. This makes it easy to apply the mascara to each lash and get pretty close to the base of most of the lashes. And I like using the tip to apply the mascara to my outer lashes especially.  
     It is a mascara you can definitely build it up to make it really look like you are wearing false lashes or to intensify your look. I recommend this mascara as well, especially if you are going for a bolder look and really want volume!

Thanks for reading!

-Emily

Do you have any favorite mascaras? Let me know in the comments section!

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Favorites from February

Hi everyone! Long time no "talk", I know. I need to post more consistently but college and work keeps me pretty busy. As I am writing this I should probably be doing accounting homework but that can wait until later! I really wanted to get this up.

There were a few products that I really got a lot of use out of other than the products I use on a daily basis for skincare that I wanted to talk about.

The first is the Wet & Wild palette in "Comfort Zone". I think I have had mentioned this item before. The pigmentation of the eye shadows is very good and I love the colors themselves. They are pretty neutral but you can use them in a variety of ways to create different looks.

The second is the Maybelline Better Skin Concealer/Corrector. This concealer has great coverage for me and does not cause me to breakout. I recommend checking it out.

I have also been loving the new Maybelline Fit Me line. I have one of the matte and poreless foundations and I really like it. It covers nicely and does not look caked on. I find that it lasts pretty long but that may be helped by the fact that I use a setting spray. This product does not irritate my skin and to me it actually makes m skin feel soft. It does have a matte finish like it's supposed to and overall I am very happy with this foundation!

Because it is winter that means I get dry skin a lot which s not fun. My lips also get chapped. I love using Vaseline on my lips and it's very convenient that they specifically make Vaseline "lip balm". The one I have has coconut butter. It not only hydrates my lips but it smells pretty good too!

One of my all time favorite perfumes is actually by Victoria's Secret, it is called Shine Pink. It has a nice, sweet floral scent and it lasts pretty long. I think it also helps me get in the mood for spring which can't seem to come soon enough!

Finally, the last product is a nail polish, it is Vernis Classique by Cherimoya in the shade Americano. I think this is a color that could really work for the majority of the year but I see it as being more of a fall/winter color. It is metallic and almost a bronze-silver color.  It is definitely one of the colors I got the most use out of this winter.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to let me know what you think about these products in the comments or what some of your favorites are!

- Emily

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Winter Must Haves

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed your holidays.
I decided to share a few of the pieces that are my essentials for winter!

Winter 2015 Must Haves by emsessentials featuring red home décor

You can see all of my must haves above but I thought I'd choose a key few to talk more about.

Vests are a definite for me for winter and I find myself wanting to wear one basically everyday, I refrain though. Chunky sweaters are great for fall and winter so I like to stock up on these.  I especially like ones with high necks since they keep me warmer. Knitted headbands are a great accessory and very practical. I believe that Forever 21 probably has some but Etsy would have more of a variety. Over the knee boots are another favorite and as opposed to leather riding boots that are a fall staple I gear more towards suede tall boots for winter. The last thing I'll mention is nail polish. To me blue is a color I think of for winter nails, I like dark blue but some lighter blues also work for me for winter.

Thanks for reading!
-Emily
What are your must haves for winter?

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October Favorites

October is over! To me it seems like the month just flew by. Now every one is gearing up for the holidays!

There were a few things that I couldn't get enough of this October and I thought I'd share them with you guys. 

 

October Favorites 2015 by emsessentials

First up is the Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin Concealer & Corrector. This concealer gives pretty good coverage and is definitely buildable. It has a doe foot applicator and I apply it with my clean fingers. It does not break me out. It is supposed to last a long time and I find that it does. Another benefit is that it is supposed to help clear you skin after you have used it for a while. I haven't used it long enough yet but I think that it has potential! Even if it doesn't end up doing that it is still a great concealer and I will continue to buy it. There is also a foundation from the same line.

 

The next product that I have been loving is the Wet n Wild eyeshadow palette in Comfort Zone. These are very neutral and earthy colors, great for doing natural eye looks. You can use it to do more dramatic looks as well though. The pigmentation is pretty good and the shadows do not crease even without wearing primer. I was very impressed by the quality. 

Another thing I got a lot of use out of was my eyelash curler. Although I use it all the time and it wasn't an item I just recently "fell in love with" I did recently just start only curling my lashes and not always wearing mascara. Curling lashes makes such a difference and for me the curl lasts pretty long with/without mascara. Sometimes it's nice to not put it on since it can be time consuming and then a bit annoying to remove at night. I  do love mascara though! And I am a college student so I don't get too much sleep and curling my lashes makes me look so much more awake even without mascara and sometimes my eyes water a lot in the mornings and I don't want to have to worry about my mascara running.

I also really like metallic nail polish during the fall, especially golds, rose gold tones, greens, and other jewel tones such as purple.




I have been drinking a lot of tea lately. It really helped me get over a cold and there are a lot of benefits of drinking tea. There are also so many varieties so I think there is at least one flavor out there for everyone. Tea is a great beverage for the fall and winter and just symbolizes those seasons to me. My personal favorite teas are black tea, raspberry tea, and Christmas tea and as for brands I really enjoy Lipton, Twinning's of London, and Bigelow.

 
 
 
 
The last thing I thought I'd mention is a snack food. It is Popcorners! Theses are so delicious and my favorite is the kettle corn flavor, other flavors include white cheddar, butter, caramel, and sea salt. If you don't know what Popcorners are, they are basically popcorn in the form of triangle chips. There are a bit of a healthier alternative to chips and are amazing!

What were some of your October favorites? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you for reading!
-Emily

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