first impression/review: maybelline fit me matte + poreless foundation

My Skin: I have dry to normal skin, currently use the lightest shades in most foundation ranges and do not have sensitive skin. Because I've been ill, my skin is extremely dry (but not flaking or peeling) around my nose and cheeks.

Cost: $6

Claims: "Ultra-lightweight mattifying foundation for normal to oily skin. Tone + texture-fitting foundation for the ultimate natural fit. Mattifies, erases pores and matches natural tone."

Color Range: 16 shades

Finish: Ultra-matte

Lasting Power: 10 hours without issue; 12-14 with minimal blotting and some foundation wearing off on my chin and tip of my nose.

Pore-Erasing Capabilities: The Force is strong with this one. (If you've never watched Star Wars/don't know what I'm talking about, GET OUTTA HERE!)

Who can wear this: Only people who are combo to oily can wear this. The claim that "normal" skin types can wear this is completely inaccurate.

Un-Positives: This dried my skin out so terribly that I'm peeling today. And not just in the dry patches I mentioned earlier, but practically all over my face. I could not wear this two days in a row. (I wanted to wear it today and take photos for you, but I just couldn't do it.) I even used a hydrating sleeping mask last night, to no avail.

Final Score: 4/5. This is a beautiful foundation that lives up to practically all of its claims. Just stay away from it if you have dry to normal skin, please.

five tips for looking your best (ish) when you're sick

We've all been there: you're sick as a dog, but you just can't afford to miss any more work. Well, right now, that just happened to me is still happening to me. But I wanted to get my butt into the office on Monday morning looking slightly better than dead, so I thought I'd share my tips. Now, there are a ton of sick day words of wisdom that go un-mentioned in this post (drink tons of water, sleep as much as possible, use eye drops, exfoliate, have a cookie or three, etc.), but these are just the five tips that saved my sad little face's life this week.

Moisturizer. Good god, my skin looks horrendous when I'm ill. It's flat, dry and angry. So, I like to use super heavy night creams (sleeping masks are great) and a great morning moisturizer (I used my Caudalie serum) in order to attempt to bring my complexion back to life. 

Concealer. Undereye concealer in a color one to two shades lighter than your skin will totally change the way you look when you're sick. It will hide your tired eyes, brighten your complexion and lift your face. If you were in a real bind, you could apply moisturizer and a dot of concealer on the darkest parts of your eyes and voila you're suddenly not a zombie anymore. (Or maybe you're just a cuter zombie, but hey, every bit helps!)

Mascara. If you have dark, long, full lashes, I hate you. Well, that, and you can skip this step. But much like the concealer step above, a couple coats of mascara will open your eyes and detract from the rest of your pallid complexion.

Illuminating Blush and/or Bronzer. I used Milani's Luminoso blush & Tarte's Park Ave. Princess bronzer here. They both have a slight sheen, so they really make dry, tired skin look luminous and fresh.

Tinted Lip Balm. UGH. My lips get GROSS when I don't feel well. To cover up my dry, flakey pout, I like a tinted lip balm. The Maybelline Baby Lips are a great option here.

2014 life favorites

amy peopler's yes please | cuyana tote in stone | taylor swift's 1989 | pink lady apples | ed sheeran's x | west elm silver stitch pleated duvet cover + shams | hosier's self-titled album | minoux tiny bar necklace | sons of anarchy | john green's the fault in our stars | nectarines | serial podcast | nadine midi rings | louis vuitton speedy 30 | re-doing my apartment's decor | everything about trader joe's | the sacconejoly youtube vlogs | kendra scott navy morgan studs | snowpiercer | garden roses | iphone 6 | gone girl (the novel and the film) | gallery walls | apartmenttherapy.com | messy, slept in curls | my life

2014 high end favorites

Are y'all ready to bust out your wallets...? Because everything I'm talking about today is about to blow your mind (and your budget).

Lancome Teint Idol Ultra Foundation ($45): This is a full coverage demi-matte foundation that claims to last twenty-four hours, and although I've never worn it that long, I can get a solid sixteen to eighteen hour wear time. I'll usually blot my nose and T-zone once throughout the day, but that's all the maintenance it requires. (I love setting this with my Coty Airspun Loose Powder in Translucent. Perfection!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz ($21): I used this pencil a ton in the beginning of 2014, before I switched to the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade and then to the ELF Eyebrow kit. But I've recently brought this back into my routine because it's absolutely perfect to carve out the bottom of your eyebrows. I'll go in first with this, and really define the bottoms of my brows, and then I'll fill in the rest with my ELF kit. Seriously swoon-worthy.

Lorac Pro Palettes (One, Two & Mega) ($42): I COULDN'T PICK JUST ONE. I'M SORRY. BUY THEM ALL. These are the best quality shadows I've ever used. They're so soft they almost crumble, but you don't get tons of fall out. They blend easily and last forever, too. Unfortunately, the Mega sold out and won't be returning (the saddest, ever), but you can still pick up One & Two at your local Ulta.

Lancome Cils Booster XL Lash Primer ($25): Uh, hello, you tiny little miracle worker, you. I've never been a fan of lash primers, mostly because I find that their white color ends up turning your mascara gray. That's definitely not the case here. It will hold your curl, lengthen and thicken, but all the while, let your mascara be as black as can be.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($38): This is both the most effective and most gentle cleanser I've ever used (next to Philosophy's Purity Cleanser, which was a 2013 favorite). It's so gentle that you can open your eyes while using it, but it doesn't leave a trace of makeup behind. I'm almost done with my second mega-sized tube, and will be purchasing another one here in a few days.

MAC Prolongwear Concealer ($20): This concealer is my main bitch. It's full coverage, but has a thinner consistency. It lasts all day, doesn't crease, and can be used as an eyeshadow primer, too. Make sure you properly moisturize your under eyes though, because this can be a bit drying (and who the hell wants to look like a grandma with weird concealer smeared everywhere? Not I.).

Nars Sin Blush ($30): Dying. Dead. This is the perfect blush. PERFECT. Now... Quietly shut your laptop and run to your nearest Sephora as fast as possible to purchase this.

Nars Mysterious Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($25): I've talked about this before on the blog, but it's in my top favorite red lipsticks of all time. The perfect mix between vampy and bright, this lipstick is a must-have for any girl with a red lip fetish.

Nars Ita Brush ($55): I paid $50,034,439 for this brush. Not really, but I did spend $55 on it. AHH NO. WHAT! Okay, but listen, if you're a fan of contouring, or if you're a n00b with a sky's-the-limit kind of budget, go buy this. You can contour your cheeks in seconds flat, and you don't look like a weirdo that drew on their face with brown crayon. Trust me. Just, just do it.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Face Serum ($49): THANKS A LOT, ASHLEY. One of my close friends bought this for me for my birthday, and I'm obsessed. When she purchased it, the skincare expert told her it was like food for the skin. Ashley's skin did a complete 180 and is so, so incredibly beautiful; and now, after she spent her hard earned dollars to buy little ol' me a present, I'm reaping the benefits as well. "You are now cursed with loving French skincare." -Ashley, after she gave me this (rude, but also accurate)

I hope y'all like these kinds of posts, because coming up next is a 2014 life favorites. Get ready to talk about Taylor Swift, homies.

2014 drugstore favorites

lipstick | primer | eyeshadow | mascara | hair mask | face powder | eyebrow kit | nail polish | clarifying shampoo | foundation

Whatcha guys up to today? Want to read a post where I try to describe why I love things and fail miserably? Are you ready to see me use the words "perfect," "amazing," and "the best" fifty million times? You are? THEN GET TO READING!

Rimmel Airy Fairy Lipstick: This is a slightly glossy, pinky nude lipstick. It's practically perfect in every way (hey, Mary Poppins, what up, gurrrlll?!). It's not too nude, so you won't look like a mannequin if you wear it. This lipstick is hard to find, but if you're in the market for an affordable nude lipstick, check Ulta's Rimmel display first.

L'oreal Magic Lumi Primer: This primer is similar to Mac's Strobe Cream but at a quarter of the price. It gives your skin a radiant glow, which is great if you have dry skin, or if you're trying to make your matte foundation a bit more natural looking. I apply this after moisturizer and before foundation. You can also mix a drop or two into your foundation, if you like!

Wet N Wild Brûlée Eye Shadow: The perfect nude shadow. The best, ever, in the world, forever and ever (amen). AND IT'S $0.99. WHAT!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara: This mascara is a relatively new find of mine, but it's an all-time favorite, nonetheless. It gives you the results you'd expect from layering a lengthening and thickening mascara, but you only need one to two coats of this baby to achieve the same thing. It lasts all day and never flakes, either!

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm: Soooo, this product has the longest name, ever. I can't even really begin to explain what this hair mask means to me. It changed my hair forever. The back of the container has these ridiculous claims about reversing years and years of damage in just a few minutes, but they're actually not lying at all. I can't live without this. (If you have the Macadamia hair mask, throw it in the trash, cry about your wasted $30, and go buy this immediately. YOU'RE WELCOME.)

Coty Airspun Loose Powder in Translucent: This powder is so beautiful. (What? Who describes face powder like that? Geez.) It helps keep oil at bay, but it doesn't mess with the finish of your foundation. And I swear to you, it makes your foundation even more beautiful than it looks on its own. I don't know how (witchcraft?), but just trust me. Also, it smells like a grandma's perfume, which I surprisingly don't hate.

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium: GAME CHANGER. I like this better than the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade because it's so so incredibly easy to work with. This would work for women who just want to fill their brows in the slightest bit, or for crazy people like me, who have to draw completely new eyebrows on their face. Hey, when I was in seventh grade, and I had a unibrow (RIP unibrow), I plucked my eyebrows practically completely off my face, and they've never been the same since. Someone, PLEASE, tell me you did this too?!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat: This is the best topcoat I've ever used. Better than Seche Vite. It glides on seamlessly, doesn't shrink or crack, and makes my nail polish last a full seven to nine days. The best part? You can use this with any nail polish you have, and it'll prolong the wear. I really like using the Orly Bonder first, followed by Essie polish and finished with this topcoat. **Angels start to sing at the thought of this perfect manicure**

Clairol Hair Food Clarifying Shampoo: I've talked about this on the blog before, as I have with most of my 2014 favorites, but man, this stuff is good. It gets all the gunk off your scalp and smells like strawberries. I'm on my second bottle in just a couple of months. It's absolutely gentle enough to use every day (well, every time you wash your hair, which is every three to four days for me), and it's sulfate and paraben free. Score!

ELF Acne Fighting Foundation: This is my holy grail foundation, and I just found it in November. It gives you a full coverage look with a satin matte finish, and it lasts a good six to eight hours on me before I have to blot my T-Zone. If I blot though, I can wear it for twelve to sixteen hours easy. I wore this to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (yes, I know, I'm awesome), and it looked amazing the entire day, even with the heat and humidity and rain and yelling and spell-doing and roller coaster riding.

SO. Now that my hands hurt from typing all this, I'm dying to know what you loved in 2014. Please let me know in the comments below so you can help me become even more of a makeup hoarder in 2015. Goals, people, goals.

a reflection

In 2014, I started this blog. I had no clue what I was doing, and to be perfectly honest, I still don't. I thought I was supposed to blog five days a week. I thought I was supposed to host givewaways. I thought I would have more subscribers. I thought it would be all fun and games. I thought content would come to me instantaneously. I thought, I thought, I thought. But the bottom line is that nothing can really prepare you for blogging. It's this weird, up-in-the-air, do-whatever-the-hell-you-want kind of thing, which is practically impossible to prepare for. 

But through all of it, I'd like to think I've learned something. I learned that I can't blog five days a week, because as annoying as it is, I have a full-time job as a lawyer, and sometimes I don't have the energy or time to write a post every single day after work. I learned that my blog is small, and that's okay. So what if I don't have the most subscribers (I have one, to be exact), and so what if not a single person entered my December giveaway, at least I started this damn thing after years and years of hemming and hawing about whether or not I should. I learned I'm not great at photography, and I don't have great equipment either (**goes to Amazon and orders 50 books about photography**). I learned that coming up with new and interesting content is a pain in the ass. But I also learned, that despite how much work goes into this thing, I love it, and I've had a lot of fun. It's given me a chance to write, it's given me a chance to design, and it's given me a chance to use my damn undergraduate degrees for once. 

So for 2015, here's what I want for Navy or Nothing:

To post three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday),

To grow my online presence through Twitter and Instagram,

To gain a larger following,

To produce better quality content,

To make the blog's design more clean and sophisticated,

To incorporate more subject matter, and

To have fun.

So, now that I'm done rambling on and on and on, I'll see y'all tomorrow for a roundup of my favorite drugstore products from 2014.