January 2015 – The Hustlin’ Homemaker

2 Mask Review : Freeman Drugstore Masks

Hi everyone! Sometimes after a long day, I like to do a “spa night” and do a face mask while I paint my nails and read magazines (and drink wine). My favorite mask is of course the Glamglow, but that is pretty spendy – so I’ve been looking for some drugstore alternatives. The other day at ULTA I saw these masks for $3.99 each and I decided to give them a shot.

The first one I tried was the Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask. This mask is supposed to be a exfoliating sugar scrub that purifies the skin. The texture of it is gritty and warms up a little bit on your skin while you rub it in. I left it on for about 8 minutes and then rinsed it off with warm water. It left my skin really soft and gave a good clean feeling. I noticed my pores were diminished and my skin looked radiant. I really liked this one.

The next one I tried (a couple of nights later) was my favorite one out of the two. This one is the Freeman Mint and Lemon Clay Mask. This mask has a smooth, mud – like texture, and is supposed to help control oil and breakouts. Well, I don’t have oily skin or problems with breakouts, but I wanted to try this because of the lemon-mint combination. I applied this to my skin and left it on a little bit longer – about 25 minutes. It felt tingly and smelled really good. This mask left my skin feeling squeaky clean and soft. My skin wasn’t dried out at all after this, and like the other mask, it really cleaned my pores. I really liked this one.

So, if you are looking for a nice drugstore mask to use, you should give these a try. You also get a lot of product for your money.

Do these masks replace my beloved Glamglow? Sadly, no. There is something about that Glamglow. I don’t know what it is, but it’s amazing. Maybe that’s why it is so spendy!

Have you tried these? What is your favorite mask?

Thanks for reading!! xx

NARS Creamy Concealer vs. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

The NARS Creamy Concealer was recently featured in my Favorite Beauty Products of 2014 post. This concealer is amazing and I have used it everyday since I bought it. I have read numerous reviews and blog posts about the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer being a good dupe for this NARS Concealer. Now, I already owned the Maybelline concealer and felt I was able to do this comparison because I have used this concealer for years.

First off, the packaging of both products is very similar. Both in a tube, both have a doe-foot applicator. Now, the NARS packaging is a little heavier and sturdier, but it is a lot more expensive than the Maybelline one. The NARS concealer retails for $29, while the Maybelline concealer is around $5, depending on what drugstore you go to. So, big difference there.

The formula and texture of the concealers are very different. The NARS concealer is pretty thick, and has a nice cream consistency. The Maybelline concealer is thinner and slightly…slicker.

Now the coverage is very different also. The NARS concealer is pretty full coverage. You only need a little bit and it will cover great. The Maybelline concealer is more sheer, so I do not use this around my eyes. It’s a little more thin and tends to crease. I will only use it for redness, blemishes, or anything on my skin that I would like to cover. It does a great job of that.

The NARS concealer works for both. I use a lighter shade (Chantilly) underneath my eyes to brighten and cover circles, and I use my exact skintone shade (vanilla) on my face. It lasts all day (I set it of course) and it’s just perfect.

So, if you are looking for a concealer that works great for your face and not for under your eyes, I would say definitely go with the Maybelline concealer. It does do a good job of concealing on your face. There are 6 shades, so it is easy to find your match.

If you want a dual purpose concealer and want to splurge a little, I say go for this NARS one. It is pretty spendy – but I think it’s worth it.

Hope this helps you out if you are looking for a new concealer! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

3 Steps to Radiant and Glowing Skin

It seems like everyone is on the quest to find products that give them a glow. A matte face is out, dewy skin is in! I’m going to show you what I do to get that dewy look – without glitter or sparkle.

I really like to use some sort of illuminating moisturizer or primer on my face before applying my foundation. Starting with some type of illuminating product like MAC Strobe Cream will not only help your foundation go on smoothly, but will shine through your foundation and give your skin a healthy looking glow.

The next thing I like to do is to use a foundation that is not marketed as matte. I have dry skin, so the last thing I want is a matte foundation. I go for the ones that are supposed to look like skin, with a light to medium coverage. Maybelline’s True Match Lumi is a great one, but right now I am loving Dior’s DiorSkin Star Foundation. It gives a nice sheen to the face without any shimmer or sparkle. It just looks like fresh, dewy skin.

The last thing I like to do after I apply my contour and blush is to use a highlight. The right highlight will give you that oh so pretty J-Lo glow. I really like this one from Becca, it is the Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. It is a beautiful shimmery gold that looks brilliant on the tops of the cheekbones – no chunky glitter here – just a lovely sheen. Another one I love is The Balm’s Mary Loumanizer – it’s very similar, and I believe a lot cheaper. Don’t go overboard with these highlighters – a little bit goes a long way!

What products do you use to achieve this look?

Thanks for reading! xx

Liebster Awards 2015

I am so grateful to be nominated for a Liebster Award by Stephanie of the blog stephieestie! It was so nice of her to think of me, and I feel so honored. If you have not seen her blog, check it out! She writes her posts about beauty and lifestyle, and always is upbeat and positive. You’ll love it.

The Rules :

1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who presented this award and link back to their blog.
3. Write 5 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 5 bloggers (they should have less than 3000 followers)
5. Answer 5 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 5 questions.

5 Random Facts About Me:

1. I talk in my sleep and say crazy things like “I’m gonna be late for work”…and I’m a stay at home mom.
2. I hate vegetables, except if they’re fried. FRIED OKRA IS LIFE.
3. My house has a well.
4. I love putting groceries away.
5. I haven’t dyed my hair in 12 years.

5 Blog Nominees

aprettytrippyblog.com

beingplum.wordpress.com

4everfashion.wordpress.com

lifeaslisaknowsit.com

Debelloyd.com

Questions from Stephanie:

1. What inspired you to write your blog?
I was inspired because I love to read about the beauty and fashion industries, and I thought I could share everything that I know with others!

2. If you could pick one high end makeup brand to try, which one would it be and why?
I really want to try out more products from Marc Jacobs. I have only tried eyeshadows so far, and I have heard great things about the foundation and lip products.

3. What do you hope to accomplish in 2015? Well like most people, I would like to get into better shape. I am going to join a gym so I can tone up for summer! I also plan on putting my oldest daughter into preschool this year, so I will try my best to prepare her for that.

4. What is one staple item you couldn’t live without? Moisturizer! I use Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer and I love it. I have super dry skin, so moisturizing my face really helps my makeup go on smoothly.

5. What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog? The only time I have to work on my blog is at night, after my girls are asleep. Yes, I pre-write all my blogs. I have like 13 saved and scheduled for upload. Haha. If I’m not working on my blog, I’m probably doing crossword puzzles or painting my nails, with a glass of wine of course…!

Questions for my nominees:

1. What is your favorite makeup brand?

2. When do you write your blogs?

3. Why do you blog?

4. What is your all-time favorite nail polish?

5. What is your biggest beauty tip?

Good luck to the nominees! Thanks for reading my blog 🙂

BEST OF BEAUTY |2014

The time is here! It’s the beginning of a new year – which means it’s time for my yearly favorites. Now, if you are a product on this list – you’re a big deal to me. It means I probably used you every other day, if not every single day! So here they are, all my faves from 2014.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

I used this moisturizer every single day in 2014 before applying makeup – and for good reason. For one, it’s pretty cheap – you can find it at any drugstore. It sinks into the skin fast, and never leaves a greasy feel. It doesn’t even feel like you have anything on your face, but plumps and hydrates your skin fast. It also doesn’t make me breakout. I love it!

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment

You guyssss. This mask. I have used this product up, that’s how much I love it. This mask lasted me about 6 months, and I used it AT LEAST once a week. It is a thick mud mask that you apply to your skin and leave on for about 30 min. It pulls the junk out of your pores, and after rinsing, you see a noticeable difference. After I use this, my skin is so soft, smooth, and my pores are freaking non-existent. This stuff is spendy – but it’s because it is awesome! Full review here.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

I have already mentioned this dry shampoo on my blog a couple of times, and I just love it so! I’ll just never wash my hair again and just use this. (Lol) It is my favorite dry shampoo because it doesn’t leave any residue, doesn’t weigh down my hair, and gives VOLUME. I love dry shampoos that give volume, because dirty hair feels limp, and I just like that oomph! The smell is awful (to me) but I am more than willing to look past it.

China Glaze No-Chip Top Coat

Ok, I do not like China Glaze nail polish AT ALL. It’s horrible, thin, streaky…just a terrible formula. BUT. This topcoat is amazing, and believe me when I say I have tried EVERY topcoat. There are other topcoats I like – Seche Vite, Out The Door, OPI…but this one is my favorite. It’s not the quickest drying – I paint my nails after the girls are in bed so that isn’t a problem – but it’s worth the wait. It gives a glass-like shine, and my nails do not chip at all. I change my nail polish once or twice a week, and I always reach for this. Love it.

It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF 50

After a long hunt for this product, I am so glad to have found it. I wanted to try this product so bad because of the physical sunscreen. The SPF is 50 which is awesome. This is a medium coverage “cc cream” that has tons of skin benefits and goes on so smoothly to blur imperfections. I like a light coverage foundation, so this is just perfect for me. It has menthol in it, so it gives a cooling sensation when you apply it, and it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy on the skin. It has a pump which is great, and one pump is all I use for my face. I apply it with my fingers or a damp sponge. If you are looking for a great light to medium coverage foundation, I would recommend this. I wear the lightest shade, Fair.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This is probably my top favorite of 2014. Ever since I have started using this, I have forgotten about all of my other concealers. This concealer is so good that I can use it on my face AND underneath my eyes. Yes, this concealer is so good, it even covers up my dark circles (not an easy task). It is thick, but still creamy and blendable, and it stays on all day. I do set it with the NARS Light Reflecting Powder, but it lasts so good. It really does cover. I love it. I have it in Chantilly and Vanilla, which are the two lightest shades.

Maybelline Color Tattoos

Yes, I am still using these. I have been a fan since they came out and still love them! They are cream shadows that stay on ALL DAY. I even put them to the test and eeek, slept with them on my eyelids, and they were still on – good as new – the next day. They do not budge. They have lots of colors, and I use them as a base for other shadows, or just as a wash of color if I’m in a hurry and don’t have time for brushes and blending.

LORAC Pro Palette

Move over NAKED palettes. There’s a new palette in town. If you are new to makeup, or just want to purchase one palette for everything, GET THIS ONE. It has all of the colors you will ever need to create any neutral look, and it has shimmery and matte shadows. They are super blendable and creamy, and they stay on the lids with no fall out.

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils

They stay on my waterline. End of review. Haha. But yes, these are my favorite eyeliner pencils. They come in literally every color you could ever want, they are creamy and blendable, and they stay on all day. What more could you want?

Lipstick Queen Lipsticks

I re-discovered these lippies this year when ULTA started carrying them (I used to only be able to find them on QVC), and I’m so glad I did! They come in different finishes and have fun names and packaging, but that’s not the best thing about them. They are so moisturizing. They almost feel like a tinted balm, but they last much longer than that. Every shade I have tried has been beautiful and so smooth.

Ok, so those are my favorites, thank you for reading if you made it this far! My fingers hurt from typing! Haha.

Have you tried any of these?

What were your faves from 2014?

Happy New Year!