How-To: Look Flawless In Photos!

Okay girlies, time for us to fess up. We all have that one (or more!) truly awful picture of us floating around out there that we wish we could burn or delete off of social media forever. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about those pictures that have already been taken (besides Photoshop), but there is hope! Throughout the years I've learned some really useful tips for looking your best in photos. From what to buy to how you should apply, I've got it all covered for you!

10 Wardrobe Essentials Every Girl Should Own

As much fun as shopping can be, it can also get a little stressful. There is just so much great (and not so great!) fashion out there, it's hard to sort through the racks to find pieces that are trendy, flattering, and affordable. 

That's why I like to start each season by stocking up my wardrobe with an updated collection of classic pieces that I know will never fail me. While fads like Ugg boots and crop tops have made their way in and out of my closet, these are the kind of pieces that will always stick around. 

So what are you waiting for? Break out the checklist and open those closet doors for my ten must-have wardrobe essentials! 

Review: Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms

When I first heard about the Clinique Chubby Sticks I was soooo beyond excited. I ran out and bought one right when they came out and it was just love at first use for me. However, the Chubby Sticks are definitely not cheap, and that is the one major issue I had with them. I certainly don't mind shelling out a little bit of extra money for a really great quality product that does something extraordinarily better or different than anything else out there, but to me $16 for a tinted lip balm seems a little much.

So when I happened to be browsing through the drugstore cosmetics section and saw that Covergirl had their very own version of the Chubby Sticks for less than half the price, that made me pretty happy! I went ahead and bought three different colors: Coral Twist, Ballet Twist, and Blush Twist. Coral Twist is obviously a bright shade of coral and it turns out to be a really pretty color on my lips. Ballet Twist is a super pale pink, and although it looks pretty in the stick there is almost no color payoff when you put it on your lips. Blush Twist is a classic shade of pink, and it's a great everyday color that I'm sure I'll be getting a ton of use out of.

The consistency of the jumbo gloss balms is basically the same as the Clinique formula. I love that they give just a hint of color like a gloss without being sticky or goopy. If the texture of a lipstick, the moisture of a lip balm, and the color payoff of a lip gloss had a baby, this would be it. And for that, I absolutely love it. My biggest issue with all of the jumbo gloss balms/chubby sticks I've tried is that they just do not have any lasting power. The second you eat, drink, or breathe the color will be almost completely gone. It's not a huge deal to reapply, but it would be nice not to have to worry about constantly reapplying.

Overall, I really do like the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms. They are super moisturizing which I love, especially in the winter when my lips get chapped so easily. I will definitely be repurchasing Coral and Blush Twist and most likely trying some other colors. I don't love the staying power of these guys, but the affordable price makes them more than worth it!

Have you tried out any of the jumbo gloss balms? Let me know what you think in the comments below! ♥

How-To: Sleep In and Still Look Pretty!

I just have a quick announcement to share with you guys- sparkle & mine has joined the twitterverse! I'll be using Twitter to share blog updates and other randomness so be sure to follow s&m and say hi!

Aaand moving on, I don't know about you guys, but I love my sleep. And as much as I always plan to get up early the next morning to curl my hair or do a full make-up routine, I end up hitting the snooze button about 10 times. After doing that for years, I've finally mastered a routine that allows me to get a little extra rest on those early mornings and still look put together for the day. So here they are, my morning time-savers for hair and makeup!