smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer: First Impression + Review!

I've got yet another video up on my YouTube channel for you all; holy cannoli! As always, if you check it out, I hope you enjoy. Have a great weekend everyone and know that you can look forward to my best & worst video coming up in a few days as well ₍₍ ◝(・ω・)◟ ⁾⁾

xoxo - Cassie

Makeup & Thrift Haul!

Now that is the face of a very happy Cassie. Smiles are aplenty in the haul I just posted on my YouTube channel so feel free to watch it if you're in need of one yourself… they are contagious after all (ღ˘⌣˘)❛ั◡❛ัღ)

xoxo - Cassie

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm "Breathtaking Apricot" & "Radiant Raspberry": Swatches + Review!

It's a gloss! It's a balm! It's a lipstick! It's effing beautiful! It's the Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balms (please companies: cool it on the long product names… they kill me!)! I'll let it slide though because of the makeup feels these have brought into my life; I haven't wanted to catch 'em all quite like this since my Pokemon days on the Gameboy Color. 

Unfortunately for me (but thankfully for my mom's sanity and my wallet), restraint has been on my side as of late so I've only got two of the Maybelline Color Elixirs. I'd like to think I picked the prettier of the bunch though, those being "Breathtaking Apricot" and "Radiant Raspberry", so for now my appetite is satiated… these things are pretty freaking fantastic though so don't expect that to last very long.

Maybelline Dream Pure BB: First Impression + Review!

New video up on YouTube!! Have a gander if you're interested; I know it's been awhile ꒰♡ˊ͈ ु꒳ ूˋ͈꒱.⑅*♡

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: Dazzle Tips

I'm embarrassed of the title too, don't worry. Definitely not my proudest of moments but I really had no idea what to call the manicure I've been wearing for the past week! 

Regardless of title though it sure is (was) pretty. Unfortunately I'm going back to work this weekend after a week off due to the pneumonia… I couldn't really run around my retail job fully medicated and unable to breathe, you know? I mean I could have, but my grandma specially called to tell me I needed to call out of work haha (she knows me all too well) so I did. Either way, I had to chop my nails off today (long nails + clothes hangers = disaster and sadness) and figured this was the perfect time to reminisce over my nails that recently once were. 

These are all polishes that I've reviewed before, time and again, so I'm not going to go on about them. 

I used a 'mannequin hand' nude as the base for this manicure, then added dark tips in an angled fashion with one of my favorite dark polishes. It's really easy to do; just position the brush about a third of the way down from the tip of your nail, then, in one stroke, pull the brush upwards toward the middle-ish of the tip of your nail. Do that on both sides of each nails and tah-dah! Easy peasy. Once that's completely dried just repeat that same technique with essie's "shine of the times" (yes, use that polish specifically because it's beautiful and looks spectacular over O.P.I.'s "Black Cherry Chutney") and there you have it! Dazzle tips. 

Doesn't that look fantastic!? I wish I could take the credit for this but I can't completely; I saw a similar manicure somewhere in a google search (I'm sorry I don't remember where exactly) and knew I could replicate it on my own. Whether or not I used the same polishes as the aforementioned manicurist is beyond me… I saw the picture (not bothering to look at the original page) and immediately set out to do it myself. To be honest though I think it turned out nearly identical and pretty freaking cool looking!!

Anywho, I've blathered on long enough about pretty much nothing. I hope you're all doing well and, as a little farewell gift for the evening, here's a picture of my adorable fluff booger:

xoxo - Cassie (and Galileo)

YouTube Made Me Buy It!: Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balm

I'm working on a proper review post for these little guys but, until then, here's my first impression in video form! Just a little spoiler though: major cosmetic crush on these right now ( ´͈ ॢꇴ `͈ॢ)･*♡ 

Happy Monday to you all… I hope your week is starting off on a good note!!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: essie "go ginza" + "shine of the times"

If you follow me on Instagram, you may (who am I kidding, you may not/probably don't) remember this nail combo I was sporting a week ago. My girl over at sleepandwater was having a bit of a moment when she finally got her hands (and therefore her nails) on essie's "shine of the times". It sparked something in me as well; there are just absolutely no ifs, ands, or buts about it… this top coat is an absolute beaut and I wanted to slather it over of ALL of my nail polishes.

Truth be told, I had never thought to pair "shine of the times" with pastel polishes. Which actually seems quite silly in retrospect because I adore the way it looks over nude polishes. Wabam (that's the sound effect that's supposed to happen when you open up that link)! Something about the way it looks with lighter colors shining through is mesmerizing. Granted it looks pretty 'effing  spectacular with darker colors beneath it as well (which I have yet to photograph… my apologies) but in a way completely different than this.

The word that comes to mind when I see "shine of the times" over "go ginza" is whimsical. I felt like a freaking fairy when I had this on my nails and honestly, looking at these pictures, it makes me want to slap it back on immediately. Also, I was very thankful to find that the luxe polish prevented "go ginza" from going all crack-nasty on me like it does on its own so I think I found its match made in heaven!

And as an added bonus: I just had to include this picture of Galileo (even though I know the color/light balances are all sorts of off because of the window-white-balance-blow-out). We've both been enjoying our afternoon snoozes with my pneumonia keeping me fairly sedated all week. Lots of time has been spent cuddling with this fluff booger ♥

Have you tried essie's "shine of the times"?

Love it? Hate it?

Has anyone else caught a spring/summer bug like me?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

Guerlain Météorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer: First Impression + Review!

It's been up for a few days now but, in case you missed it (or aren't subscribed to my YouTube channel), here's my latest product review video for your viewing pleasure! I'm still recovering from the pneumonia I caught last week but I think I'm close to feeling mostly normal. Thanks for all of your well wishes along the way! It definitely makes the mending process easier when you can feel so much love (/∇＼*)｡o○♡

xoxo - Cassie 

mally Volumizing Mascara: Swatches + Review!

I'm trying to get this post written before my meds start to really kick in; please bear with me as I drift in and out of a numbed stupor. I may be slightly incoherent but my pneumonia lung sure will be happy!

Anyways, I can't believe I'm just getting around to using this mascara from my September '13 Birchbox (oh who am I kidding… with a whole dresser drawer and multiple counter tops devoted to makeup hoarding storage it's a wonder I ever get around to some of my stash) but hey-ho here we are! Unfortunately my feelings for the actual mascara aren't quite as enthusiastic as my initial excitement in trying it out.

The mally Volumizing Mascara is an extremely wet mascara… aka my least favorite kind of mascara. It makes application extremely messy (getting all over the skin around the lashes) and causes the need to be cautious while blinking—or, god forbid, sneezing—during the dry down. I do have to give credit where it's due though and say that this is, surprisingly, one of the most lightweight mascaras I've ever used. Usually wet mascaras cause my lashes to droop and feel quite heavy but, like said, that's just not the case with this one from mally. It holds a curl and really does open up your eyes by making your lashes look lifted.

So I'm torn; I actually really like the way the mally Volumizing Mascara looks on my lashes but, at the same time, I abhor how wet the formula is. It's messy, can be a bit clumpy upon application, and just isn't fun to work with. Ugh. A definite love/hate relationship for sure. 

Oh well. I've got a feeling this is going to be one of those mascaras that gets better with time but, as I've said many times before, I just don't think you should have to wait for a mascara to dry up in the tube in order for you to enjoy it. Especially not when it's costing you a pretty twenty out of your wallet to take it home with you in the first place. You could get some pizza and cinnastix from Dominos instead and be happy now and the next few days (leftovers ftw) to come!

Have you tried the mally Volumizing Mascara? 

Love it? Hate it?

What mascara are you using at the moment?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

NOTD: Urban Outfitters "MYSTIC"

Something about this month has sparked a need for reflective flakes in my nail polishes. There was a time where ZOYA's "CLOE" was atop all of my polishes, then a little love affair with essie's "shine of the times" was rekindled (mainly because of the lovely lady behind "sleepandwater"), and now this. THIS beauty came into my life. And after the last UO nail polish mishap? This was a much needed manicure.

"MYSTIC" renewed my faith in Urban Outfitters polishes. Which is super important because they're at a great price point (more often than not they're on sale 2 for $8) and, let's be honest, I love the look of the bottles. Sturdy cube shaped glass with super soft rubberized applicator? Sign me up and get ready to listen to me sing "I'm A Slave 4 U".

"MYSTIC" is a royal purple base with rainbow reflexive flakes that shine on the surface. The flakes pack a much greater visual punch in the bottle compared to on the nail. They're borderline invisible unless you're looking for the magic which, to some, may be a major con but to me it's subtly beautiful. Nuances like these can be the spice in life if you let them… 

which is super fitting for me at the moment since I just got diagnosed with pneumonia! Yay!!

Haha weren't expecting that little jump in conversation there, were you? Well, neither was I; just as I was about to finish up this post I knew that the pain in my chest I had been feeling all weekend wasn't about to get any better—in fact it was getting much worse. So I skippity-doo-dah'ed over to the hospital (if only I had actually been so joyous and graceful) and seven hours of laying in the hallway (all of the rooms were full) later here we are: pneumonia. 

The one good thing to come out of this is that now I've got some drugs to make me all sleepy-happy-comfy for the first time in almost a week. I'm so excited I could cry… which I'll happily do on my pillow tonight as I drift off to sweet drug-induced dreaming.

So excited to cuddle up with this fluff booger!

How are you all?

Well, I hope? Any pneumonia-laden companions?

Do share!

xoxo - Cassie

L'Oreal true match super-blendable crayon concealer: First Impression + Review!

I'm doing my darndest to pump out videos that you've all requested of me… it's the least I can do when I have, oh I don't know, the best supporters/viewers/readers/friends ever? Like, ever ever? Seriously, after all of the comments on my last product review attempting to cheer me up (you succeeded, by the way) I basically have no words. I know I usually respond to all of the blog comments I receive but on that one I'd basically just be responding to each of you the same, most likely with individually wrapped bags of tears and heart emoticons. 

Anyways.

Mushy-gushy feelings aside (they're genuine, believe me), I just uploaded a new first impression video to my YouTube channel so feel free to watch it if you're interested! I'm still kind of getting my general feelings together for this product but I should have a real blog post/review on it up within the next week here. 

As always, I hope you're all well and looking forward to a fabulous weekend!

xoxo - Cassie

My Everyday Hair Routine!

I was requested to do a video on my everyday hair routine/styling so… well, I obliged! So if you've ever been curious about my hair and what I do to it then feel free to check out the video listed above. My routine really isn't anything special but I hope you enjoy nonetheless!!

xoxo - Cassie

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick "Rose Velvet": Swatches + Review!

Get ready for a roller coaster of a post (I'm assuming; I haven't written it yet haha) people. Something set me off this morning and I'm still recovering. I can handle all of the stupidity and hate that comes with working in customer service (you know, considering I've paid my bills/expenses by fake-smiling my way through the industry for nearly 10 years now) but getting a long and hateful comment on YouTube… 

well, that was a new experience for me. 

So I decided to cheer myself up by ordering Dominos (the Easter money I posted on my Instagram was well spent on Cinnastix and Parmesan Bites rather than chocolate this year), watching a string of Trisha Paytas' videos (she's my favorite, don't even get me started), and remembering all of the beauty in my life… specifically in the form of beauty products. SO. APPROPRIATE. And considering I haven't been able to keep Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick "Rose Velvet" off my lips since purchasing it a couple weeks ago, I figure it's about time I showed it off to you all on the ol'blog.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love the way that Revlon lipsticks look when they're brand spanking new. It's probably just me but there really is something about the top slanted plane of the lipstick that makes me undeniably happy. It makes it that much more painful for me to taint the tube but "Rose Velvet" needed to go on my lips. Immediately. 

How this lipstick has remained under the radar (or maybe just my radar) in the beauty world is beyond me; it is such a beautiful everyday nude and I could see it working on a large spectrum of skin colorings. "Rose Velvet" is your typical rosy-brown so it gives your lips a wash of color and pop of sophistication in a way that only these hues can. Don't get me wrong, pinks and mauves can be subtle and nude-y as well but there's something so utterly je ne sais quoi about these more muted shades that I just can't deny. 

The other appeal of "Rose Velvet" (apart from the name, I mean come on) is hands down the formula. Revlon nailed it with this one; ultra creamy, ultra pigmented, ultra perfect. Finish-wise it's that perfect blend of not too matte and not too glossy, plus it stays on my lips much longer than some of the sheerer Super Lustrous Lipsticks Revlon has on the market (i.e. "Jungle Peach", "Primrose", "Coralberry", etc.).

Bam-pow! Beautiful. Seriously I'm beyond in love, this is just pure, blissful, immaculate infatuation.
Do check out this lipstick if/when you get the chance because, like said, I can see it looking absolutely lovely on a multitude of people.

Cassie, where's that emotional roller coaster you were talking about at the beginning of this post?
A very good question my darlings! I think I got carried away by the loveliness of this lipstick because I kind-of-sort-of definitely forgot I was feeling bummed. Excellent diversion if I do say so myself! But I suppose I'll lean on you all a bit and let you in on what happened…:
I got a hate comment. And I know, I know, it's all very trivial and silly but… well… it got to me. It was posted on one of my most recent videos and, to put it very lightly, it doesn't feel good. Clearly, being on YouTube and whatnot I knew that this day would come but for some reason it feels a whole lot worse than I ever thought it could/would. It's not like I haven't dealt with hate in 'real' life either but I think since it was such a long and fleshed out comment (essentially on how "annoying" and upsetting I am to watch) it made it so that I took it to heart in a really big way. Maybe it's the "Minnesota nice" in me. Maybe it's monthly hormones. Maybe it's the fact that they also hated on my love for Galileo. Yeah, actually, I'm going to go with that last one; mess with Galileo and you mess with me in all the wrong ways. If loving my cat (my child) and treating him like I would a human (my family) is offensive then the problem clearly lies elsewhere. I can only hope that this person doesn't have a pet of their own because, if you ask me, when you decide to take in an animal then you signed up to make its life the best possible and full of all the love you can provide (which for me is a whole darn lot with this expansive heart of mine).

I don't know where I'm going with this though… essentially I know I need to grow a thicker skin but it's just something I've never been good at. Putting on a strong face is something I've always excelled at but I really do internalize these sorts of things whether I know the hate is valid or not. Le sigh. Like said I just need to focus on the good in my life because it SO outweighs the bad.
I have food!
I have shelter!
I'm employed!
I'm following my dreams!
I have THE MOST caring and supportive friends and family a girl could ever ask for!
I have the day off!
I can take a nap and cuddle with Galileo!
Awww yeahhh (to my hater, that last one was directed at you ٩꒰ಂ˘ ▿❛ಂ꒱۶♡)

Have you tried the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick "Rose Velvet"?
Love it? Hate it?
How do you all deal with hate (if you receive any at all; I like to live in my happy bubble sometimes and think that most people don't have to deal with hatefulness even though I know this is far from the truth)?
Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie

Thrift Swap w/Veronica Anne!

And the award for worst blogger ever goes to…? 

Awww yeahhh~ I accept that shiny imaginary trophy with open arms. My speech you ask? Shucks people I couldn't. Just know that I'm so sorry my blog has basically turned into a dumping ground for video posts. I pinky promise that I'll be typing up a proper review tomorrow though for your reading pleasure. Bear with me until then? *glitter-rainbow-eye-beams-of-love* ( ᵒ̌ัૢ▱ᵒ̌ัૢ )

xoxo - Cassie