Category Archives: Beauty and Hair

Summer Must-Haves

Summer Must-Haves

 

 Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely start to your week. Today I wanted to share with you my summer must-haves. These are my go to products that I couldn’t go without in the summer.
1. Floppy Hat – I think floppy hats are perfect for summer. They keep the sun out of your eyes while also protecting your face from getting burnt. They’re also just really cute. If you would like to see how I’ve styled hats in the past I will have them linked here and here.
2. Sunglasses– If you don’t feel like wearing a hat but want to keep the sun out of your eyes sunglasses are the perfect summer must-have. I love a cute pair of sunnies! I think the instantly dress up any outfit and make you super chic. These black cat eye sunglasses are one of my current favorites.
3. Sandals – I live in sandals in the summer. Nothing else adorns my feet other than a pair of sandals all summer long. I’ve wanted to pick up a new pair lately and I think these are going to it. I love the gladiator look and all the straps.  The colors are perfect, too!

4. Basic Cropped Tee – I am in love with just a basic plain white cropped tee. I think there is so much you can do with it. You can dress it up with a pair of high-waisted pants, a gorgeous statement necklace, and a pair of heels or you can dress it down with some high-waisted short, a pair of little tennis shoes and your hair in a messy bun. I’ve linked a couple different options because I couldn’t decide on just one, I’ll have the other one linked here.

5. High-Waisted Denim Shorts are another summer must-have for me. I own about 10 pairs of them and I wear them all the time. These distressed ones are so cute! I think they would go great with the basic white tee that I mentioned above.
6. Dr. Jart BB Cream – This stuff is the best! I have searched far and wide for a BB cream that has good coverage but was still light-weight and had a good SPF. This one has it all. It’s perfect if you’re going on vacation with an SPF of 45 it will protect you for longer than most other foundations. It lasts all day, also.
7. Tinted Lip Balm – I can never remember to put lip products on or if I do I always forget to touch it up. So most days I don’t even bother with them. However on the days when I do want something I will go for a tinted lip balm, especially in the summer. It hydrates while giving you a bit of a color. I think they look so gorgeous on the lips with just the subtlest amount of color.
8. Dresses – I love dresses. I’ve said this before but they’re so easy just to throw on and go without having to think about anything. It gets pretty hot in the summer where I live, so a dress that is nice and airy is a must for me. This off-the-shoulder one is adorable!
I hope you all have a lovely week. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Follow me on my social medias. They’re linked in the side bar and down below.
x. Cattleya

My Favorite Spring Lip Products

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share my favorite spring lip products. During the warmer months I like to keep things pretty natural with the exception of a few corals. I’m a big fan of lip stains and glosses in the spring/summer. They’re easy to throw on and go.

Mac Lipstick in Creme Cup – if you have read my blog for a while you will have read about this lipstick before. It’s slightly lighter than your natural lip color, giving you this gorgeous baby pink look. It’s great all year around but I especially like the subtle pink in the spring.

Tarte Lip Tint in Joy – this is a gorgeous coral color. It’s just bright enough to notice without being too in-your-face. This is definitely one of my favorite spring lip products. It’s a gorgeous color to add to anyone’s collection and it lasts a long time. This shade is discontinued but there’s similar shades here.

Revlon Lip Stain in Honey – this is probably the darkest lip product in this post. I love this color and it’s slightly darker than your natural lip color. It’s the perfect spring neutral when you want something a little darker than your normal lips.

L’Oreal Wet Shine Stain Lip Gloss in Pink Resistance – I love this product. The formula is super smooth and creamy.  It last super long like a stain. I love the color. This is one of my all time favorite lip products. The quality is amazing and they’re super affordable which is always a plus.

NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight – I’ve spoken about this product before. I love the baby pink color. This is also another amazing product. I love the formula, it goes on super smooth and creamy. It’s great to wear on its own or on top of another product.

Benefit Coralista Lip Gloss – I got this in a little kit with a bunch of Benefit products and instantly fell in love with it. I love the color. It’s sheer but still has a really good color pay off. This is slightly on the sticky side of glosses but I don’t mind at all. I think the product is worth the hype for sure! I’ll definitely be purchasing a full size when this little one runs out.

 I hope you all enjoyed my favorite spring lip products. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here. Check out my social medias if you haven’t already. They’re link in the side bar and down below.

x. Cattleya

What’s your favorite spring lip products? I would love to know.

April Favorites 2017

Hi, everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely day.  As it’s the last day of April, I thought I would share my April favorites. I discovered a few new products this month as well as rediscovering old ones.

Sunglasses – I recently picked up a new pair of sunglasses after my old favorite broke. I’m in love with the cat eye frames. These are from Jones New York.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs – I received this perfume as a present a few years ago. I love going back to it when it gets warmer out. If you couldn’t tell by the name it’s a lovely floral scent with notes of strawberry, violet leaves, jasmine, and white woods.

Benefit’s Waat’s Up – I don’t always wear highlighter but when I do it’s usually this one. I love the shimmery golden color. Because it’s a cream highlighter I find it gives more of a dewy look.

Rose Salve – I picked this up at Bath and Body Works a few weeks ago. I had heard about rose salves before, they’re advertised as a balm that you can put on any dry patch of skin to help moisturize it. I like using it on my lips the most.

Urban Decay Naked Basics – I think I’ve mentioned this in favorite posts before. As it says in the name it’s the perfect basic eye shadow colors for everyday use. You can go from a natural look to more of a dramatic look with just 6 shadows.

Maybelline Line Stiletto – I’ve been using liquid liner lately and loving it. I like to put just a thin flick on my upper lash line. The thin tip is perfect for keeping control. It holds up throughout the day and doesn’t smudge or move.

Anastasia Brow Duo – I had never been much for making a fuss over my brows. Lately though, I’ve filled them in and it’s made all the difference. I’m sure if you’ve been in the beauty community for a while you will have heard of this product, it really does live up to all the hype though. I have the color blonde.

Arrow Endure Mascara – I received this in a Birchbox a few months ago and have tried it out. I have fairly oily eyelids so many mascaras transfer onto to my upper eye throughout the day, even if they’re marketed as water proof. This mascara doesn’t transfer at all. If you’re looking for a good water proof mascara that’s actually water proof I highly recommend this one. It stays all day and looks just as good in the evening as when you put it on in the morning.

Essie Gel Nail Polish – If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know that Essie is my favorite nail polish brand. Well, I’ve recently discovered  their gel line and I don’t think I’m ever going back. It’s super smooth and doesn’t chip for days. It lasts longer than normal polish would.

Sign of the Times – Last but not least I have a song favorite. Harry Styles released his first solo single this month and it has been on repeat ever since. I’m a huge One Direction fan and have missed their music since they went on hiatus. This was like a breath of fresh air to be able to hear new music from one of them. If you haven’t heard it you need to! It’s a bit of a rock ballad and his voice is just beautiful.

I hope you all enjoyed my April favorites. Check out my last blog post! Follow me on my social media they’re linked in the sidebar and down below.

x. Cattleya

What are some of your favorites this month? Leave it in a comment down below.

 

 

My Favorite Spring Essie Nail Polishes

Hi, everyone! I wanted to share my favorite spring Essie nail polishes with you. I love changing my nail color up to go along with the seasons. It’s quite cliché but pastels in the springtime are just the best. If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that Essie is my favorite nail polish brand. I don’t think it can get better with all the amazing colors and the formula.

“Lilacism” – Obviously from the name this is a gorgeous lilac color. It’s not an in-your-face purple tone. I think it’s the most neutral a purple can get. This is the most ‘springtime’ color for me.

“Mint Candy Apple” – I love this color! It’s one of my favorite Essie polishes that I own. This minty color is so pretty. I wear this color all year around but I especially favor it in the spring/summer months.

“Bikini So Teeny” – I would say this is the brightest color out of my favorite spring Essie nail polishes. It’s the perfect transition shade from spring to summer. The baby blue is just perfect and has tiny flecks of shimmer in it.

“Fiji” – This is one of my perfect pink shades. Light pink is my favorite color. I wear this polish all year around. It’s a little more vibrant than a baby pink. Great for spring!

“Adore-A-Ball” – This is a very light pink almost cream shade. I love these almost skin tone shades. They’re gorgeous. It’s perfect when you want polish on your nails but you want to keep it neutral. It’s a nice change of pace between all of those colorful polishes.

I hope you all enjoyed my favorite spring Essie nail polishes. Check out my last blog post, if you haven’t yet. Follow me on my social medias, I love connecting with you all! Have a great week!

x. Cattleya

What’s your favorite spring nail polish? Leave it in a comment down below.

Zoella Beauty

Hi everyone! I hope your week has treated you well. I recently received some products from Zoella Beauty and I wanted to share them with all of you. When I was younger I discovered the beauty/fashion/lifestyle world on YouTube. A big part of the reason I started my blog was from watching and reading these people’s content. One of the people I started watching early on was Zoe. I’ve been a fan for some time, so I was thrilled when I was contacted to try some of her products out. Zoella Beauty has recently launched in the US! You can now buy the products at Target.

Everything I received has a very fresh smell. I’ve been very impressed with it all. One of my favorite products is the ‘ Pretty Polished’ sugar scrub. This scrub is very gentle on the skin while leaving it smooth and soft. I’ve tried scrubs in the past that are very abrasive on the skin. I feel like this scrub accomplishes the same thing as an abrasive one without feeling like you just removed a complete layer of skin.

Something that intrigued me when looking through the products was the ‘Soak Opera’ bath and shower gel. You can pour this in your bath water for a creamy bath with bubbles or use it as a shower gel and put it directly on your skin. I like using it both ways. The soak has vitamin e, shea butter, and aloe extracts to make your skin extra soft.

I’m a bit of a sucker when it comes to lotions. I like to changed mine up quite often. However, something that is a requirement with my lotions is that they moisturize. The “Creamy, Madly, Dreamy’ lotion passes the test for me. It leaves my skin super soft and smelling lovely. I think this would be the perfect lotion for the warmer upcoming months. It’s lightweight while still moisturizing.

Last but not least we have ‘Soap Pop’ which is a fragranced soap on a stick. How cute is this packaging and concept? I haven’t used bar soap in forever, but I had to change that with this cute little thing. This also has vitamin e, shea butter, and aloe to keep your skin soft and clean.

I hope you all enjoyed this post. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

Have you tried any of the Zoella Beauty range yet? If not which are you most interested to try? Let me know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: These items were sent to me for free to review. All opinions are my own.

VIIcode Eye Masks

Hi everyone. I hope you all are having a lovely week. For today’s post I’m talking about these VIIcode eye masks.  VIIcode eye mask is an 8-hour overnight treatment, which is different from other sheet masks. You put this eye mask on before you go to bed and wake up with the results. The VIIcode eye masks help combat dark circles and fine lines.

I find the eye masks to be cooling, the gel-like material is very soothing on the eyes. I am lucky enough to not have very dark under eye circles, however I could see a difference in the little I do have. My under eyes also feel very hydrated. I think these are great for when you don’t have time during your day to put on a sheet mask and wait for the allotted amount of time. With these, all you do is put them on before bed and are left with the results in the morning. If you do have a bit of time on your hands though, I think these are great to wear around the house for a few hours. You still benefit from them and they’re just so relaxing.

The VIIcode eye mask can be applied two or three times a week and three boxes a course treatment. These masks have essential vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, and fatty acids that your under eye skin needs to keep healthy. Each box comes with 6 packets. If you haven’t yet, I definitely recommend trying these out. You can buy them here.

I hope you all enjoyed this post. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Follow me on my social media. They are linked in the side bar or down below. I know I’ve been MIA lately, life has been super crazy lately. But I’m back and ready to resume normal schedule. Have a great week!

x. Cattleya

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for free to review. All opinions are my own.

My Skin Care Routine

Hi, everyone! Today I wanted to share with you my skin care routine. I started using the Pur-lisse line a few months ago and fell in love with it. My skin hasn’t always behaved very well for me. Over the years I’ve tried just about everything. After years of using harsh products on my skin to try to combat breakouts and oiliness, I’ve discovered that my skin reacts better to gentler products. This is what my daily skin care routine looks like:

In the evening, if I have worn makeup that day, I remove it with the Neutrogena makeup wipes. For my eye makeup, I remove it with the Neutrogena oil free eye makeup remover.

I first start out by cleansing my skin with the ‘Blue Lotus Cleansing Milk‘. This cleanse is super gentle on my skin, it leaves it feeling moisturized but still clean. I use this cleanser with my Clarisonic Mia 2. I’ve had the Mia 2 for years now. I’m so in love with it. It’s an essential in my skin care routine now. I use the acne cleansing brush head.

After I finish cleansing my face, I use Witch Hazel for a toner.  I’ve tried other toners before but I like using witch hazel as it naturally helps with oily skin, acne, and prevents redness.

I have started using the ‘Blue Lotus Brightening Serum‘ and I’ve seen improvements in my skin. The Brightening Serum brightens and evens the skin tone. I find my skin is more even in color and my dark spots are lighter.

To finish everything off I use the ‘Blue Lotus Essential Daily Moisturizer‘. This has SPF 30 in it which I love. I am very fair so a sunscreen is a must, even in the winter time. This moisturizer is what completes my skin care routine. After I finish this routine my skin is so smooth and soft.

At night I will also use ‘Mario Badescu Drying Lotion‘ on any problematic spots.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

What are some of your favorite skin care products? Leave it in a comment down below.

Disclaimer: Some of these items have been sent to me for free. All opinions are my own. 

2016 Blog Post Round-up

Hi, everyone! I can’t believe it’s already 2017! Today I wanted to go back and do a 2016 blog post round-up. I want to share some of my favorite blog posts I did this year. Looking back I think my blogging style has changed a bit as well as the quality of the blog posts. This was super fun to do. I put them in order of when I posted them. If you would like to read any of the original posts I will have them all linked in pink.

Pretty in Lace

This is one of the first blog posts I did in 2016. I love the gorgeous lace crop top. I’m still in love with this post.

Wide Brim Red Hat

 

I had a thing for hats this year as you will see in later posts. I loved this post. I like the simplicity of the shirt with this beautiful red hat. The snow didn’t hurt the pictures either.

Braids on Braids

I love how this hairstyle turned out! I’ve actually gone back to this blog post a few times for reference when doing this.

Black and White Tribal Print Shorts

This outfit turned out so cute! I’ll definitely be wearing it again when the weather warms up.

Light and Airy Tank Top

I kind of felt like a hippie wearing this with the glasses. I’m still so in love with this look though.

Hats and Crochet Tops

This was a really fun day. I enjoyed writing this blog post. Also, this hat was just so cute!

South Carolina 2016

This could be one of my most favorite blog posts I’ve written to date. It’s quite lengthy but I’m in love with it. The pictures are gorgeous. I love looking back and reminiscing.

Charleston

Everything about this post I’m in love with. The dress. The city. I’m still so in love with it.

A Red Dress and A Floppy Hat

I had picked up this dress on that trip to Charleston that you saw above. I love the color and style of it. The hat goes with the look perfectly.

A Weekend Getaway

This was another fun trip that I had the opportunity to go on this year. I’m not sure why but travel/trip posts are my favorites to write.

Collaborating with The Daily Delicacy

This year I had the opportunity to make some new friends via the blogging community. One of which was Hannah from ‘The Daily Delicacy‘. I loved doing this post with her!

An Autumn Outfit

And finally we have an autumn outfit. I wore this look when I went on that weekend getaway and absolutely loved it.

I hope you all enjoyed my 2016 blog post round-up. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

What was your favorite blog post that you have read/written in 2016? Leave it in the comments down below.

 

Gift Guide for Her

Gift Guide for her

 

Hi everyone! Today I’m sharing my holiday gift guide for her. I will be posting a few more holiday gift guides so keep your eye out for those. All of these items are things that I would love to give/receive. I hope that you get some ideas from this gift guide for her.

One: Coco Mademoiselle – Chanel

Coco Mademoiselle is my favorite Chanel fragrance at the moment. I think is such a versatile scent for all ages. I always love receiving perfumes for holidays. If you aren’t sure if you would like the scent before you buy it, you can always ask for a sample or buy the roller.

Two: Monogram Ring – Bauble Bar

I’m a huge fan of delicate rings. I have small fingers so I feel like larger rings are too much for my hand most of the time. This monogram ring is perfect! I love personalized things especially during the holidays.

Three: Body Butter – The Body Shop

Body Shop body butters are some of the best in my opinion. They always make your skin feel so soft and smell amazing!

Four: Leather Tote – Kate Spade

I’m not sure you can ever go wrong with a black tote. They’re so versatile and you can carry a ton of things in them. I love the small tassels too.

Five: Blanket Scarf

I’ve seen blanket scarves everywhere this season. If you live where it gets colder I feel like this is a must, plus they’re also super cute!

Six: Candles – Jo Malone

I am a huge candles lover. If you know someone who is like me and want to get them something special, I feel a Jo Malone candle is the perfect gift.

Seven: Bow Heels

I’m in love with these bow heels. They’re different from most pumps and are perfect for a girly girl. The color goes with so much, too.

Eight: Cosmetic Bag

How cute is this make up bag? I saw it in Victoria’s Secret a few months ago and feel in love. The colors are perfect and that bow just makes the bag. Everyone needs a makeup bag, especially when traveling. I don’t think you can have too many.

Nine: Lipstick Set – Burberry

I love these beauty sets during the holidays. It gives you the chance to try multiple products for a cheaper price. I find that they last for a long time too. These from Burberry are gorgeous.

Ten: Gel Nail Polish – Essie

I’ve loved gel nail polish lately. I find that it lasts longer and doesn’t chip as soon. If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know that Essie is mt favorite polish brand. I love this pink color, its gorgeous!

I hope you all enjoyed this gift guide for her. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

 

November Favorites 2016

November Favorites Hi, everyone! Today I’m sharing my November favorites. I know I say this every time, but I can’t believe another month has already gone by. November was really busy, I’m looking forward to the holiday break and things to slow down a bit. I cannot wait for the holiday season, it’s my favorite time of year!

November favoritesMakeup Wipes

I’ve used make up wipes for a while now, it wasn’t until I ran out that I realized how much I loved them. I used to do a two-step cleansing process to get all of my makeup off, now I just use makeup wipes to carry out the same thing. These by Neutogena are my favorite! They don’t irritate my skin like ones I’ve used in the past. They always get all of my makeup off and are super easy.

Scarves

It’s finally started to get colder here, which means I’m able to pull out the scarves. I’m a huge lover of scarves, especially in the winter. I own them in so many colors, patterns, and fabrics. They make styling outfits simpler with the added bonus of keeping me warm.

Peppermint Creamer

If you know me, you know that I love coffee. Maybe, just maybe, as much as the Gilmore Girls do. However, I’m not a huge fan of just black coffee. I love to add creamer to mine. In the autumn I add pumpkin spice creamer. Recently I discovered International Delights Peppermint Mocha creamer. It is so good! I’ve become obsessed with it. If you’re someone like me you need to give it a try.

November FavoritesSparkly Nail Polish

This was a rediscovery this month. I had painted my nails the other day with this polish from Essie and fell in love again. I’m a huge sparkles fan but I hadn’t painted sparkles on my nails in forever. I think will be perfect for the holiday season.

Laura Geller Highlighter

I’ve used this highlighter for a while now. I love the subtle glow it gives. It’s the perfect barely-there shade while still giving some shimmer.

Fuzzy Blanket

I recently went to a Christmas craft show and picked up this fuzzy blanket. I’m in love with it. The color is gorgeous and I love the pattern. There’s something about a fuzzy blanket that makes you 10 times comfier. I use it all the time now. It’s the fuzziest blanket I own.

I hope you my November Favorites. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya