Haters Gon' Hate... A Short Lil' Rant.

The other day I ran across a website that is dedicated to "trashing" YouTube "Beauty Gurus"… Ummmm… Seriously??? WHY?!?!  Do we really have nothing better to do with our time than tear others down???  I just wanted to take a moment today and say a few words about this… First, I'm not preaching.  I'm not a preacher.  I do not preach.  Or judge.  You do you, I'm gonna do me.  I am not perfect.  I am not a supermodel.  I am an ordinary person.  And I choose to put myself and my thoughts out there by writing this blog.  Does that condemn me to the same ridicule, slander and just plain ugliness that runs rampant on the internet?  Probably.  But here I am… I am not gonna lie…  I was sucked in.  I started reading all these hateful, hurtful, and spiteful comments and I couldn't stop.  It disgusted and intrigued me at the same time.  I needed popcorn…  Oh the D-R-A-M-A… And then I realized… That's why this exists.  Because we (we = people like me) can't help ourselves and continue to read this garbage JUST BECAUSE.  So I stopped.   Yes, some people said things that I was thinking in my head… But that's the difference.  I left those thoughts IN MY HEAD.  I didn't feel the need to spread the negativity or be purposefully hurtful and post those same thoughts for the world to read.   Some people on YouTube may annoy you.  DON'T watch their videos then!  Some bloggers may get on your nerves.  DON'T read their blogs! Most people annoy me in real life, I ignore them!  No seriously, I do.  The point is… It takes a lot for some to put themselves out there and for others to come along, who don't even know them, and say the things they say while hidden behind a computer screen is just… Well there aren't even enough descriptive words.  Grow up.  And like my grandmother always said… "If you can't say anything nice… then STFU" I know this post isn't about beauty products, but what does it matter what you put on your face if ugliness spills out of your mouth when you open it???  Until next time!!! ;-)

Clarins Skincare Haul!!!

Hey everyone!!! Sorry about the delay between posts… I had a lot going on and took my son to NYC for a few days… (birthday present!)  We had a blast but now it's time to get back to reality.  Mehhhhh… Lol.  Just kidding… But today's post is long overdue. Let's jump in!   A couple weeks ago, while visiting The Boyfriend, we went to the outlet shops in Orlando.  I loveeeeeee the outlet malls there.  As we were walking around (I was looking for the CCO I've heard so much about) I found a Clarins Factory Outlet!  As it happens, I am on a skincare quest.  And Clarins is one of the brands I've been dying to try out.  So I wandered on in… Now if you follow me on Instagram (@_stephiee_bee_) you may have seen this pic:

Welllll today I'm finally going to let you see what exactly was inside… First let me explain what I mean by "skincare quest"…  Until recently, I was never into the whole everyday moisturizer/toner/serum/etc thing…  I used a cleanser and that was about it.  But I was starting to notice lines and wrinkles… and the dreaded crow's feet… and also my skin was looking dull and dry.  So I freaked out.  (I was like… OhhhEmmmGeeeI'mgettingoldIhavewrinklesIlooklikeI'm80IneedhelpIneedbotoxIneedacosmeticsurgeonwhatamIgonnadowheredidtheselinescomefromwhendidthishappenwhydowehavetoagewhyareweherewhatisthemeaningoflife?!?!?!?!?!?!?! All in one breath, like a nutcase.)  Then I thought to myself, why don't you just try taking care of your skin like your mother has been telling you to do for YEARSSSS. (Thanks mom. Glad I'm such a good listener. It only took a decade.)  And that's what I've been trying to do.  I have only tried a few different brands so far and they've been okayyyy.  Nothing that's "holy grail" status.  Which brings me to Clarins.  I hear nothing but amazing things about this brand.  And if you watch HerLateNightCravings on YouTube (if you don't then you should! They are so funny and sweet), then you've heard Mendi go on and on and on and on about her Clarins products.  So in an effort to shift blame and not feel guilty about spending habits… I blame this whole purchase on my mother and the girls from HerLateNightCravings.  This one's for you…

I purchased three different sets.

The Skin Smoothers set- $51
(Full sized Multi-Active Day cream and generous sample sizes of the Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Cream and the Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum.)

The Cleansing Duo- $21
(Full sized Gentle Foaming Cleanser and a small Toning Lotion- it's not a sample but it's not full sized either.)

The Firming Eye Wonders see- $39
(Full sized Extra Firming Eye Lift Perfecting Serum and samples of the Instant Eye Makeup Remover and Extra Firming Eye Wrinkle Smoothing Cream.)

Originally I only purchased the first two sets… But as we were walking around I kept thinking about the eye set too… So we went back for it.  (And by "we" I mean ME with The Boyfriend grumbling in the background as I dragged him back there against his will.) So that was everything I purchased.  I am almost done with the Ole Henriksen products I've been using and can't wait to get started on these!!! Have any of you used Clarins?  Thoughts??  Experiences??? Let me know in the comments!  Until next time!!! ;-) Side note: I did end up finding the CCO… The stuff they had was sooooo much better than my CCO in Fort Lauderdale.  But I didn't purchase anything… YET.

The Blog Formerly Known As...

After my last blog post (The Wonky Brow) I got to thinking… Hmmmm… Something about the name… I like it.  It's growing on me.  It has personality.  It's a lil' goofy, a lil' spunky.  And it makes me laugh… Kinda like me.  (Plus, I HAVE a wonky brow!!!)  THAT should be my blog name.   When I started my blog I sat thinking about a name for a while and nothing really SPOKE to me.  Nothing captured my attention and kept it.  Until now.  And so I figured I should make this name change BEFORE I become world famous.  ;-)  (It gets so confusing when celebrities change their names… I mean is it Puff Daddy? P. Diddy?? or Jlo? Jennifer Lopez?? or Prince? The Artist Formerly Known As…?? Oy Vey!)  So I hope you all will bear with me… I am still learning and new to the blogosphere but this is a change that I need to make…  I am keeping today's post short and sweet… And though I am still (and always will be) StephieeBeeMakeupJunkiee, I will now formerly introduce you to…   The Wonky Brow.  

Welcome/Welcome Back.

What do you think of the new name? Love it?? Hate it??? (Tough.)  Let me know in the comments! And don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin'… And Instagram (@_stephiee_bee_)… xoxoxo! <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12125639/?claim=9r5b7uwqyc9">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

The Wonky Brow; My Eyebrow Staples

I have a wonky brow.  Yup, I said it… Wonky.  Don't believe me???  Check it out for yourself…

^-----Normal Brow

FML Brow-----^

It drives me CRAZZZZZZY… So crazy that I took myself down to my nearest MAC store and begged to be taught what to do… (Okay, I didn't actually beg… I just asked).  I had already tried filling my brows in with pencil and those weird colored gels.  I do not like either.  For me, pencils are too harsh or the coloring just wasn't right.  And the gels leave my brows looking toooo sparse.  I wanted something that was easier to blend and gave a softer overall look… So my MAC Artist suggested powder.  She pulled out a MAC 266 (Small Angle Brush), picked out two different eyeshadows for me, Espresso and Brun, and showed me her technique for filling in brows (Start from the bottom and work your way up and through with small strokes).  She did a warmer brown on one side and the darker, cooler brown on the other.

I loved both.  So we popped them into a lil' 2-pan palette and off I went…  But not before she left me with these ancient words of wisdom:  Brows are sisters, NOT twins.  (You can apply this rule to eyeliner too).  That means your eyebrows do not have to be perfectly symmetrical… I mean nothing on our bodies is!  (Let's be real, we all have one boob that's smaller than the other… It's all good…)  But you can officially stop stressing if they aren't exactly even.  It's not normal… IJS.  Espresso (on the left) is a warm brown that I use when I like my brows to look more natural.  Brun (on the right) makes more of a statement… Occasionally I combine the two and end up somewhere in-between. You might be wondering why I made such a big deal about my brows… I mean who even notices them, right?  Wrong.  Your brows frame your face.  I used to hear people say that and think "WTF?!?"… But it's true.  A well maintained brow is the difference between looking polished and unkempt.

^-----Untouched Brow and Filled in Brow ------^

Now for the steps I take… 1. Spoolie- You can use any.  I got mine at Target by Sonia Kashuk for $1.99.  I use this to comb my brows into place before applying powder.

2. Powder-  Like I mentioned before, with my MAC 266 (or any other small angle brush) I start from the bottom and draw small lines with light strokes working my way up but stopping before I actually get to the top of my brow.  Then I work through the arch to the tail.  I have thick enough eyebrows that there is no need for me to create a shape with the powder, I simply fill in.  Another way you can utilize both shades is by using a lighter powder for the front part of the brow and the darker shadow through the arch and tail.

3. Clear Brow Gel-  This is just to seal everything in place.  I use the e.l.f. $1.00 (YES, A DOLLA!!!) gel.  One side says it's for lashes, the other says brows.  I use both sides for my brows.  You can find this at your local Target or on the e.l.f. website.  This is an inexpensive product that works like a dream. I hope this helped if some of you are struggling with brow products…  And remember, don't be afraid to ask for help when you don't know what or how to do something… Or if everything you've tried just isn't working!!!  What are your thoughts, techniques, or favorite products?  Let me know!!!

xoxoxo

Confessions of a Shopaholic; Online Shopping Edition

Let's talk for a moment about online shopping... It's truly a beautiful thing.  You can buy anything you want, in the  ENTIRE world, from the comfort of your own bed (while in your sweats with your hair in a mess on top of your head and pimple cream on your face) and have it arrive on your doorstep. It can even be shipped Next-Day if you're so inclined and willing to shell out a few extra dollars. I love online shopping.  (Wellllll... Let's be honest, I love ALL shopping.)  So today I wanted to share a few of my favorite websites for deals and steals that EVERYONE needs to know about… (Disclaimer: I do NOT work for/am affiliated with/or sponsored by any of these companies or websites.  Simply an avid shopper here.)  ;-)

For any and all online shopping excursions you must start somewhere, and the BEST place I've found is... Ebates. (Rhymes with Rebates. As in, YOU GET MONEY BACK!) No gimmicks here, this site is legit.  Just by shopping through Ebates you will earn a percentage of what you spend BACK! (By that, I mean, you go to the Ebates website FIRST and select the store you want to shop at from their extensive list of online shops.  Then they redirect you to the website of your choosing with a shopping trip id# to keep track of your purchases)  Typically the cash back amounts range anywhere from 2-8%. Every few months they send you a check. SIGN UP. IT'S FREE. It's just that simple.  You can use my referral link or just google 'Ebates'.  Shopping and saving= #winning (and usually more shopping) in my book.

Hautelook- A Nordstrom company.  How do I explain Hautelook.  Hmmmm… It's an online shopper's dream.  They have everything from fashion (men, women and kids) to beauty to home decor and kitchen gadgets… All at discounted prices!  They feature some amazing brands… (A few you may have heard of like Steve Maddon, Rebecca Minkoff, Dolce & Gabbana, Lorac, NYX… Others may be new to you like Elizabeth and James or Jules Smith).  Every day at 8am PST different events begin/end, act fast because really popular brands/products sell out quickly!  You need to sign up but once again… Membership is FREE!  Feel free to use my referral link or google 'Hautelook'… Whatever you decide... Sign up and stop missing out!!!  One last thing… There's also an app for that! (Get the iPhone app here or Android app here) 

For the beauty obsessed… I give unto you… Ipsy.  This is a monthly beauty subscription service.  That means every month they send you a cute lil' bag (called Glam Bags) filled with (4-5) deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products catered to you (simply take their beauty quiz) for only $10.  I have been a Glam Bag subscriber for about five months now and have yet to be disappointed.  In comparison, I used to receive Birchbox (another $10 beauty subscription service), you may have heard of them… I cancelled that.  I found them very disappointing.  Every month they would send tiny samples of very random products that didn't suit me.  Ipsy, however, makes me happy… EVERY month.  As always you can use my referral link or google 'Ipsy'… Take heed… There is a wait list.  It's worth the wait.  Decide for yourself, check out some of my past Glam bags here, here, and here…


That's all I've got for you today… Until next time!!!  What about you?  Any sites you think I should look into?? Let me know!!!

Trash Talk! The Good, The Bad, and The Mehhhh...

It's that time again!!! And I have decided to refer to my monthly empties post as 'Trash Talk' (as I'm sure you've already read above…) Original, right?!? Lol… But really that's what I'm doing soooooo… That's what I'm calling it.  So let it be written, so let it be done. ;-)  (Anyone catch that reference???)  Enough of the nonsense.  Onto the products/mini-reviews!!!

The Good…
I'm going to start with the Dickinson's Witch Hazel Towlettes.  I am in LOVEEEE with these.  I use these nifty lil' wipes after I exercise, just as an added cleansing step to get the sweat off.  And they are cool and refreshing and moist… saturated. (Moist is just an awkward word.)  Plus they are individually wrapped, so they are great on the go.  I use them daily and these wipes do not dry out my skin.  They do have a strong scent.  You've been warned.  I've gotten used to it and just attribute the scent to the wipes "refreshing-ness". 

Another great traveling product is the Spongeables Travel-Sized Pedi-Scrub Foot-Buffer.  I got this at Ulta with my rewards points a while ago.  And just got around to using it.  Now this is no pumice stone.  BUT for traveling… This is awesome.  It has a sponge-y side and a scrubby side.  The sponge-y side has soap in it, so once you've wet it, it begins to lather.  After you've washed you just flip this lil' sucker over and scrub-a-dub-dub… Voilà!!! Fresh and clean toes!!!  The travel-sized version is good for 5+ uses.  There is a larger version that claims to get 20+ uses.

Bath and Body Works Vanilla Berry Sorbet Pocketbac… GO SMELL IT.  NOW.  'Nuff said.

I got a sample of the L'oreal Youthcode Pore Vanisher.  Love.  Okayyyy… I got two samples.  And I will be purchasing this once I've used up my L'oreal MiracleBlur.  This stuff puts the MiracleBlur to shame.  It doesn't feel oily or greasy and is a skin tone color that blends in flawlessly.  AND it really does blur your pores.  It's very similar to Benefit's Porefessional (which is a FAVORITE of mine)… But you get a lot more for your money with this, than with the Porefessional.  Maybelline Baby Skin? Ha!  That ain't got nothing on this bad boy.  Go get you some…

Ok, last one… Degree MotionSense in Active Clean.  Good stuff.  I recently switched to Degree because I've been using Dove for about 10 years (+/-) and it just stopped working.  All of the sudden.  Out of the blue.  One day, I was fine.  The next, I was stinky.  I really like the scent of this particular deodorant and the slogan is true… "It won't let you down."

The Bad and The Mehhhh…
Completely Bare Bikini Bump Blaster.  This claims to get rid of bumps and ingrown hairs.  I beg to differ.  I believe the only accomplishment this product can attest to is drying out my skin and making it worse.  (TMI ALERT!!!)  And not in an area that anyone wants all dried out and worse… #truestory

Bettina Nail Polish in Marshmallow.  Nope. Nope. Nope.  Try again… This stuff is thick.  And gooey.  Even after using a thinner.  And nail polish remover.  If you see this in your drugstore, keep on walking.

You might have noticed that one of my "empties" is full… Yup. It was THAT bad.  The Dove Stlye + Care Non-Aerosol Hairspray left my hair so crunchy.  And crispy.  And crackly.  Like a potato chip.  I used this once.  Never again. 

Dear, Dear Duo… What happened… One day your fine… The next, HOLY CRAP! WHAT IS THAT SMELL? Why, it's my eyelash glue.  Eww.  I really don't know what happened here.  I don't remember it smelling bad, but all of the sudden it did.  And I mean baaaaaad.  Like, rotten eggs bad.  I'm going to buy a new one just to see if the smell was because it was old, or if it always smells… Because it really does work.  

I don't get all the fuss about the Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment.  Okayyyy… It tingles. But what else does it do?  Nothing that I could see.  I'm glad this was a sample because at $69 for the full size, I'd want to see SOMETHING… I'll keep my money this time around, thank you very much…

Another one I just don't get… the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment… It was nice.  But I wouldn't spend $22.50 on a lip balm that makes me say "Mehhhh…" Don't get me wrong, it moisturizes but so does my Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm.  And my lips still feel moisturized in the morning when I use it at night.  And it lasts longer.  And it's only $12.  AND it's Mojito! IJS…
Last but not least… Simple Revitilizing Eye Roll-On.  Once again… I didn't notice a difference.  Supposedly this product "helps reduce the appearance of puffiness and wakes up tired eyes by instantly cooling and gently massaging the eye area"… Ummm… Huh?  Not for me.  Sure the metal roller felt cool under my eyes for the few seconds I rolled it around there but, uh, that's about it… 

So the search continues for the best and worst in beauty… What did you use up this month?  Anything worth trying??  Or anything completely worthless???  Let me know in the comments!!!  
Oh! and BTW,  Happy April Fool's Day!  Anyone play any good pranks? Until next time… ;-)