A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

12/31/13

December 2013 Empties!

Hi everybody! Today I have a video all about the products I've used up for the month of December 2013. I hope you all enjoy this video and have a happy new years! I am hosting tonight at my apartment and cannot for my family to come over and spend time together! I am going to work much harder on my videos and blog in 2014 and I hope you stick around. If there is anything you think I should improve upon or do different, please leave a comment below. See you in 2014!!



12/30/13

Meet the Advertiser: January 2014

Earlier this month I held a giveaway to win a month of free ad space on my blog. Today I am going to introduce to the winner and her blog. I asked her to write up a small introductory article about herself and her blog, so here we go:


Hey guys,

My name is Rachel and I blog over at www.beautyqueenuk.co.uk and I love everything Beauty.  Whether it is a new hand cream, foot lotion, perfume or body wash not to mention nail polish or blusher then I want to try it.  I do on occasion like to blog about something other than beauty and that could include clothes, shoes, handbags or my beloved cats whom I affectionately refer too as my Fur Kids.

I love to meet new people and get to know them and thus far in my short blogging life, I have been lucky to meet a lot of lovely people both online and in real life too.  Please feel free to drop by my blog and say hello, I would love to say hello back and if you would like to send me a more private message then please do to beautyqueenuk@gmail.com, I always reply to all of my emails or you can find me on any of the sites below:



12/27/13

Northeast Bloggers Holiday Swap!







I participated in a holiday secret santa swap with the Northeast Bloggers Network and these are all the lovely items I received. This swap was unique because you did not receive a package from the same blogger you sent a package too. I received a package from Melissa; make sure you check out her blog http://annleaartsy.blogspot.com.I love the owl mug and the Starbucks gift card!

12/24/13

My Christmas Tree & Holiday Decor 2013!

Merry Christmas! Today's video is a short one but special. I am showing-off my Christmas Tree and Holiday Decor. My ornaments are from Target, and the Penguin and Snowman are from Pier1. The cards are from family and coworkers. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!


12/21/13

Review: Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer





Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer | $4.99 | Link

So this is the first review post I have done in a long time! I recently ran out of my ELF Primer and went to the store to pick up another one but I spotted this primer in the Rimmel section at Target. The packaging that this primer came in stated that it was a new product, so I was super excited to see another drugstore brand come out with a eyeshadow primer.

This primer claims to "prevents creasing, maximizes and intensifies the color of your eyeshadow, and extends its wear by up to 7 hours." I have worn this under my eyeshadows all week and noticed creasing in about 6 hours, but I have oily lids, so that is to be expected. The primer has a doe-foot applicator, like many primers, and blends to be clear on the lids. It has a somewhat silicone-like consistency and is very easy to work with. It also did not irritate my eyelids.

This has quickly become a staple in my everyday makeup routine and I can see myself purchasing this again in the future. I also think the primer has a great price point at $4.99. It is very affordable, unlike some high end primers that cost upwards of $30 dollars! I would definitely recommend this primer!

12/20/13

Beauty Blogger Bunch Winter Giveaway!





Welcome to the Beauty Blogger Bunch Winter Giveaway! We are giving away the much anticipated Urban Decay Naked 3 palette along with a travel size Naked BB cream to two lucky winners.

Here are the ladies that are helping sponsor these prizes! 

Beauty by Miss L // Liz Loves Makeup// Belleza Kisses
  Ebony Jay // I am the Makeup Junkie // Glamorous Mama 
Ashley Elizabeth // Barbie's Beauty Bits



The Beauty Blogger Bunch is a large group of beauty & fashion bloggers where we all come together sharing tips, hosting giveaways and supporting one another. If you are interested in joining, you can apply to our group of over 300 bloggers HERE





Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter and good luck!






a Rafflecopter giveaway
12/17/13

Free iTunes Download | Christina Perri



Hi guys, I really wanted to share this with in case you were intrested in some free holiday music or if you wanted to hear more of Christina Perri's music! She is amazing and I loved her holiday EP that came out two years ago! She is also going on tour this spring! Check out her website for more info:

*not sponsored
12/15/13

December 2013 | Little Black Bag


Today I am going to share with you what I got in my December Little Black Bag!
If you haven't heard of Little Black Bag, it is an interactive "trading" site, where you can get major discounts on designer products, such as shoes, jewelry, handbags, etc.

Lemon Color Block Terry Crew Sock

timi Stud Earrings

Jules Smith Diamond Wishbone Necklace (this was a free gift!)

Steve Madden Dots & Stripes Scarf this was the center piece of my bag)

 If you are interested in checking out Little Black Bag, visit their website:
12/11/13

Influenster Violet Voxbox


I know this blog post is a little late, but I wanted to share with you all what I got in my Influenster Violet Voxbox.

Products include:
Goody Athletique Headband
Goody QuikStyle brush
Sally Hansen New Triple Shine polish
SOYJOY bar

If you want to learn more about Influenster, visit their website http://www.influenster.com


Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

The Christmas Tag!

Image from http://pixabay.com/

So, who is getting excited for Christmas? It is less than two weeks away!

1. What time of year do you start your Christmas shopping?
This year I started early and made my first purchase in October. I still have quite a few things to get, so hopefully this weekend I will be completely done!

2. Do you have any festive recipes for food or drink you limit solely to the Christmas season to share?
I am not the best cook in the world, so I don't have anything special I tend to eat or drink around the holidays, except for Hot Chocolate :)

3. Tell me how Christmas goes down in your home?
Every year my siblings wake up around 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning. They wind up waking me up because I am not a morning person. We are allowed to open our stockings but have to wait until my mom and dad are awake to unwrap our presents. My mom usually cooks a nice breakfast and then we just hang around the house until other people come to the house. We will then get ready to head to another family members house but no sure what our plans are this year.

4. Do you have any Christmas traditions?
We decorate cookies at my grandmother's house. We also always watch The Polar Express on Christmas Eve before going to bed.

5. Do you have a favorite festive coffee?
I love coffee but I am not a big fan of many flavored coffees, s I ten to stick to just regular old black coffee with cream and sugar.

6. Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
If I had to choose, two of my favorites are Carol of the Bells and O Holy Night.

7. What do you do on Christmas Eve?
We will go to church/service/mass and we always watch The Polar Express before heading to bed.

8. What's your Christmas wrapping strategy? 
I don't have any strategy when it comes to wrapping and I usually wait until the last minute to wrap because this of year seems to alway be so busy!

9. What's your dream gift this year?
I don't have a dream gift but I would love to get a Keurig.

10. Describe your Christmas tree? How tall? Real or artificial? How is it decorated?
My tree is fake and definitely taller than me being only 5 foot 2 inches. It was white LED lights and blue, purple, and silver ornaments.


11. Do you decorate just the tree or other area's of your house?
Right now, all I have is my tree decorated and a few decorations scattered throughout my apartment. I plan on doing a holiday decor video soon on my youtube channel!

12. What do you wear on Christmas day?
I usually wear a nice sweater and some jeans, I usually don't get too dressed up.

12/7/13

The Winter Wonderland Tag




I saw Gaby from AnotherGirlyBlog do this tag and thought it would be a nice start to the Christmas season. 

1What Winter holiday do you celebrate?
 I celebrate Christmas
2. What is the one item you hope to receive as a present for Christmas or another Holiday?
I would love to receive either a Keurig or a new TV.
3. Gingerbread Cookies or Candy Canes?
I am not a huge fan or either but I prefer Candy Cane
4. Snowball fights or Sledding?
I love sledding! There is a great hill by the house I grew up in and you would go flying down it! My sister almost broke her neck one year!
5. What is your go to Winter Outfit?
My go to winter outfit is a warm sweater, scarf, and jeans.
6. What are your favorite Winter/Holiday makeup items?
I love fun nail colors for the winter holidays.
7. Does it snow where you live?
Yes, it does indeed snow where I live in upstate New York.
8. What is your favorite Christmas song/ holiday song?
Oh gosh, there are so many! 
One of my favorite is Happy Xmas(War is Over) by John Lennon
9. What is your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite Christmas movie hands down is The Polar Express. I love the story and the score is phenomenal! 
10. What are your favorite holiday decorations?
The Christmas Tree, light displays on homes,  and stockings :)

I tag:


12/4/13

November Favorites: Beauty & Lifestyle

Image from http://pixabay.com/

Here are my November Beauty and Lifestyle favorites!


1) Victoria's Secrets Sensual Jasmine Body Wash - This is a very sexy, musky scent and I love it! It is my first ever body wash from Victoria's Secrets and it does not disappoint! The scent lingers for a few hours and smells exactly like the body spray.

2) MAC MSF Natural in Medium - I have had this sucker for a few years and am not even close to hitting pan. It gives a nice amount of coverage and does not make me look orange. It also does a nice job at keeping my skin from getting too oily.

3) Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara - This has been my go-to mascara ever since it came out over the summer. It works fantastic and for being less than ten dollars you can't beat it! It compares nicely to most high-end mascaras

4) ELF eyelid Primer - This costs $1 dollar and works wonders! It think it is better than my Urban Decay Primer Potion. I haven't tried many eye primes but this is an essential in my everyday makeup routine!


5) Baby Lips - These are from two different lines but are both baby lips. This do a decent job at moisturizer your lips, while adding a subtle amount of color. I think they are great and only cost about $2,99 at the drugstore. I personally love the Dr.Rescue line because they atre excellent at moisturizing extremely dry/chapped lips!


My TV show favorite for October/November is Ravenswood! It is a spin-off of Pretty Little Liars and I think it is pretty darn good. It's about this town called Ravenswood and its curse. It's very interesting and cannot wait for new episodes coming this January!


My movie picks for November were Thor 2 and Catching Fire! Wow, both of these movies were awesome! I thought they were both extremely well made and really captured my attention for the entire span of the movie. I highly recommend seeing both if you haven't already!


Don't forget to enter my December Giveaway, which ends on December 13th, 2013!


12/3/13

December Giveaway! Win a Free Month of Ad Space!


Wow, can you believe it is already December!? I want to celebrate by giving away a free month of ad space on lizlovesmakeupx3! You will a free ad space in my sidebar for an entire month, be included in a #FF on twitter, and have a little post written about your blog! 
This giveaway will run from December 3rd to December 13th
Enter in the rafflecopter below!



12/1/13

Catching Fire: My thoughts

*This post contains spoilers*

Last night I went and saw Catching Fire with my sisters, and was requests to do a post with my thoughts and opinions. So to start, the trailers before the movie were absolutely awful. 47 Ronin looks stupid, iFrankenstein looks pathetic, and Noah looks OK. Anyways, this movie was awesome! I love how they worked really hard on staying true to the book. They worked really well on character development and the plot. I liked how they really focused on the supporting characters, like Haymitch, Effie, and Cinna. They were spot on with all the makeup and costumery. I also enjoyed how they focused on the other tributes and actually gave them back stories, because it is important to understand their characters more in this movie, because a few of them are going to be in the last movies.  I don't even know to explain how well they did the Arena on this movie. It was spot on with it being a clock! My favorite part of the movie was the when they killed Cinna. I know, weird right? But he was my favorite character in the series and it was powerful. I am very interested to see what the do with the last two movies but this was definitely WAY better than the original Hunger Games.
What are your thoughts on Catching Fire?

11/28/13

Share the Love: Thanksgiving Edition


In honor of today being a day of being thankful in the USA, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite bloggers. 
Hopefully you can check out their blogs & follow them too!
















& many, many more!!

11/24/13

Week in the Life #1

I have seen so many bloggers so this type of post, that I wanted to start doing in on my blog too!
Let me know if you would like to see these posts on a weekly basis!
I put up my first Christmas tree ♥ I made hot chocolate ♥ My new camera ♥ It snowed!!

Instagram: elizabethkathrynx

11/22/13

My Christmas Wishlist

Here are a few items on my Christmas wishlist this year:
It's not very exciting because the other things I want are more apartment/living related, such as a knife set and a blender

  • Philosophy Amazing Grace Gift Set  - I absolutely adore this scent by philosophy and would some more products from this line
  • Michael Todd Sensitive Skin Discovery Kit - I have heard great things about Michael Todd and have always want to try some of his products
  • Tiffany's Heart Tag Pendant - Who doesn't want this? I only have one necklace by Tiffany's but have always wanted the Tiffanys Heart Tag Pendant necklace.
  • Keurig - I currently have a boring coffee maker and I think this would more practical because I live by myself
  • Lush Products - I want some bath bombs and other skin care products to try out
  • Target Gift Card - I constantly shop at Target and this would only make me shop there more
  • Starbucks Gift Card - Need I say more? I only go to Starbucks once and a while because it's a little pricy and I try to avoid all the calories in the drinks


What's on your wishlist?

11/20/13

What I've Been Watching Lately #1


This post is inspired by http://www.elevatormusik.com/

While Pretty Little Liars, Downton Abbey and other shows I watch are on hiatus I have spent some time watching the two above shows.
The Walking Dead - I have been solely watching this on Netflix and am almost finished with Season 3. The battle royale between the Prison and the Woodbury is very interesting and I'm curious what direction the show is going in. Also, the video game by Tell Tale Games is phenomenal!
Ravenswood - This is a spinoff of Pretty Little Liars on ABC Family and I love it! It is about the town, Ravenswood, and its legendary curse. Caleb from Pretty Little Liars is the main character, along with five others. The "finale" was creepy and may reveal even more about the town itself and its connection to Pretty Little Liars. Who else thinks the little girl is creepy??

11/16/13

My new camera!


So my little Canon Powershot point and click camera isn't working properly all of a sudden and isn't taking good quality videos anymore. I've had that camera for over two years and I decided to take the plunge and order a new camera. So I ordered the Canon Powershot SX50 from Amazon last night. It was a rather expensive purchase but it will be totally worth it! This is pretty much my early Christmas present to myself. My next purchase will be a new tripod, which I am going to pick over the weekend! I cannot wait to have better quality blog pictures and youtube videos!


11/12/13

#2014BloggerChallenge

Don't forget to add this button to your sidebar to show your are participating

I am excited to announce that I am going to be a part of the 2014 Blogger Challenge.
This challenge was started by the lovely Gaby over at AnotherGirlyBlog

Here's a little more information about the challenge:
"The challenge is to write a blogpost twice a month about different topics. The #2014bloggerchallenge posts will go live during the 1st and the 3rd weeks of each month. Everyone who signs up will be sent an email with the post topics. The topic ideas are there to give you new ideas and encourage you to write about things you wouldn't normally write about.


Anyone can get involved, whatever your blog topic! Whether you write about cooking, beauty, lifestyle or fitness. What's in it for you I hear you ask? Well... If you participate in the #2014BloggerChallenge, you'll get more blog traffic, discover new blogs and make friends with bloggers you probably didn't even know existed!"
 
All you have to do to get involved is to send an email to Gaby  anothergirlyblg@gmail.com  with your blog URL, email address and name so she can add you to the list of participants.

Comment below if you are going to join the challenge!


11/11/13

No Buy November!

Please forgive me as I am fighting off yet another cold...

So I know I am a little late on this bandwagon but I decided to jump on the no-buy november train! I have done challenges like this in the past and have succeeded! The goal of this no-buy is to stop buying more of what you don't need and start using what you already have in your makeup collection! I personally know I have quite the stash of nail polishes and eye liners, so it's time to start using up those products. The only rule I have is that I can replenish the "basics" ie deodorant and makeup wipes. This will also be a challenge as every brand under the sun is releasing their holiday sets and you just want to buy it all! I only have 19 days left, do you think I can meet the challenge?

11/5/13

MIA Blogger


Wow, I haven't blogger in forever! I have been so busy over the last week with a project at work, I barely have had time to do anything! I hope to be back in the blogging routine soon! Love you guys!

11/1/13

November Photo Challenge!


Doing a November photo challenge! :) by @mrsjknitter

Thanks to my good friend JoAnna, I am going to attempt the November Photo a Day challenge on Twitter! I have failed doing this in the past but I figured since this month is going to pretty quiet for me, to give it a shot! I now have my instagram feed in my sidebar, so make sure to check it out for updates. Also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram @elizabethkathrynx !
10/30/13

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Dr.Rescue in Too Cool



For under $5 dollars, I picked up this new Maybelline Baby Lips Dr.Rescue at my local Rite Aid. The Baby Lips Dr.Rescue line provides a smoothing, cooling sensation because it has menthol as an ingredient.  It is supposed to provide 12 hours of hydration but I find myself applying this every few hours. I feel like this lip balm does an excellent job at moisturizing my lips. I am not a huge fan of the menthol scent, but if you like the scent of cough drops, then you will love the scent of this product. Overall, I definitely recommend this line of baby lips if you have dry and/or chapped lips in the fall and winter seasons! You can find these at your local drugstore!

10/28/13

Victoria's Secret Haul




Just an FYI but I am very busy this week for my work, so I will be lacking in the blog post department

Hi everyone! Over the weekend I had to go my local mall to return something and I wanted to go to Bath & Body Works to pick up some new Body Sprays but the store was closed for remodeling, so I didn't to go to Victoria's Secret to buy some new Body Sprays and  Body Wash. A lost of the sprays an bath washes were 5 for $30, so I went ahead and bought five different products. I got three Body Sprays in Sparkling Citrus, Midnight Exotics, and Aqua Kiss. I also got two Body Washes in Midnight Exotic and Aqua Kiss. I thought 5 for $30 for a good deal, because each product was only $6 dollars. I think if you bought only one, they were $10 dollars a piece. I highly recommend Aqua Kiss. It's a really unique scent and feel like it will be a long time favorite.

Do you prefer Bath & Body works or Victoria's Secrets scents?
10/26/13

Review: Tom's Long Lasting Deodorant

Top: Wildfox Couture

In today's video, I am doing a review of the Tom's Long Lasting Deodorant. I picked this up at Target last weekend because I wanted to try out a new deodorant. It's around $4 dollars, which is a little on the pricey side for deodorant, in my opinion. I enjoy the scent of this product, as well as the fact that it is a cruelty-free brand and it aluminum free! Hope you enjoy this quick video!




10/21/13

Collective Haul: Hautelook & Old Navy


In today's video, I have a collective haul. I did some online shopping on Hautelook and also made a small purchase at Old Navy. In addition to this haul, I also purchase a Playstation 3 this weekend! Game Stop had them marked down to $149.99 and I couldn't resist the deal.  I bought four games to go with it: Tales of Graces F, Tales of Xilia, Time and Eternity, and Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch!


10/20/13

Get to Know Me: Beauty Blogger Tag

Hi everybody! I know I have been lacking in both the youtube and blogging worlds, but today I wanted to do this simple post so you could get to know me a bit better! I saw Amie over on Belle-amie  do this post and thought is was the perfect fit for my blog!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
My hair is very curly. It is also very thick, which makes it impossible to work with. Unless I invest in a good hair straightener, it doesn't straighten very easily.

2. Do you dye your hair yourself or go to a salon?
I have only dyed my hair a few times in my life and it was all at home, using store-bought dyes. I have had black hair, auburn hair, and even highlights.
Circa 2009 - Auburn Hair
Circa 2008 - Long, Black Hair

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
I usually wear my hair up in a pony tail everyday. Sometimes I'll wear a headband to change things up a bit.

4. Do you do your own manicures and pedicures or do you go to a salon?
I have only had my nails done twice at a salon, one from Prom and one with my sister. I usually just do them at home because it's cheaper.

5. How often do you change your nail polish?
I usually change it 1-2 times per week depending on how chipped it is

6. Do you paint your toes in the Winter or just in the Summer?
II paint my toes all year long. Plus, in the winter in can last forever!

7. Do you plan your outfit of the day the night before or just decide when getting dressed?
I always pick my clothes out in the morning when I get ready for work. I rarely decide the night before what I am going to wear unless I come up with a cool outfit idea.

8. How often do you change of your handbag?
I would say I switch it up maybe every few months. If I buy a new bag, I tend to use it for a while before reverting back to a different bag. In the spring/summer, I change them up more.

9. How long does it take you to put on your makeup?
It usually only takes me 5-10 minutes because I don't do a full "face" routine of foundation, concealer, etc.

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
If I actually were to wear face makeup (which I do on rare occasions), I always do my face makeup first.

11. Do you collect makeup or do you just buy what you need when you need it?
I would say I am in the middle of the aisle here. I have a much smaller collection than I use to because I gave away a lot of makeup and threw out makeup that was old and/or expired. I like trying new products, so every so often I will pick up some new things.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
I have never worn fake eyelashes and don't think I would have the patience to every wear them.

13. Do you wear a full face of makeup everyday?
I would say 90% of the time I wear a full face of makeup. For me, that would consist of: primer, powder, eyeshadow, mascara and a lip balm. I rarely wear a bb cream, unless my skin is looking dreaful.

14. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Yes! I usually do this on weekends when I am running errands.

15. How many high end products do you own?
I own a few. I have a couple MAC lipsticks, a lot of Urban Decay eyeliners, and a few eyeshadows palettes and eyeshadow singles. I think the only high ends brands I have are MAC, Urban Decay, and theBalm.

16. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
Typically, I got to bed around 10:00-10:30PM every night. I have issues in the morning, so I will wake up around 6:30AM. I actually set three alarms on my phone to help get my out of bed in the morning. 

17. How many pets do you have?
Right now, I have none. My landlord only allows cats. But, at my parents house, we have a dog named george.

18. How often are you on Blogger?
I actually prefer to read posts on Bloglovin, so I am only on Blogger when I am working on posts.

19. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
If the post I am reading is very interesting, yes I tend to read the comments. I always try to reply to your comments on my blog, even if it is a simple 'thank you'

20. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?
I have this on my About Me page, but I currently use the Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS. It is a simple point and shoot digital camera. I want to upgrade to a better camera very soon. I am very interested in the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS 12MP Digital Camera with 2.8-Inch LCD (Black)

I hope you enjoyed this tag! Feel free to do this tag and tweet me (@lizlovesmakeup) or link it in the comments section below!

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday and I'll see you in my next post!