Saturday, June 29, 2013

New Goodies From Beauty Moxie

 Hey ladies! 

I am so sorry for my lack of posts here lately, but life has had me busy in other areas. What can ya do?
Today, I wanted to share with you a few new products that my friend Kristen from Beauty Moxie so kindly sent to me from the States! I am sure most of you have already heard tons about these products, but it's my first time ever trying them and I am super excited!


The first thing she sent me was a lipstick from the Maybelline Vivids collection in Shocking Coral. I'm just...ah! In love doesn't even begin to describe my feelings for this lipstick! I have never tried Maybelline lipsticks before, and I have to say that I may be hooked. The formula is so rich and creamy and the color is just to die for. It really makes me feel like a Barbie!


The next two things that she sent were eye products. She sent me the Revlon Lash Potion mascara, which had me squealing like a little girl because I have wanted this since I first saw the Emma Stone ads in Glamour. I knew it wasn't going to make my lashes look quite that dramatic, but I still wanted to try it! It claims to be a lengthening+volumizing mascara, and while I find that the volume is quite normal (definitely doesn't beat the Rocket) the length is CRAZY! My lashes doubled in length when using this mascara. I am so so so so in love! THANK YOU, KRISTEN!
She also included one of the Color Tattoos in Bad To The Bronze, which I absolutely love! I am getting a bit lazy as far as eye makeup goes, so this product will be great for me! To use, I just applied with my fingers at the outer corner of my lids and blended towards the inner corner. It looked like I had actually spent a good amount of time blending and shading, when really it took two seconds. 

I am so beyond excited for all of my new goodies! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kristen! I hope you love everything I've sent you! 

Have any of you ladies tried any of these awesome products? What did you think?

Have a lovely weekend! 













Thursday, June 20, 2013

Italy Update

Hi all! 

I apologize for my lack of posting over the past week or so. I finally have a car that I can drive, so I've been spending as much time away from home as I can. Being able to drive yourself to the commissary and gym is such an amazing feeling. 

Today, I just wanted to update you all on my current status here in Italy. Let you all know how things are going. And to be entirely honest, I hate it with almost every fiber of my being. I honestly cannot wait to be back on U.S. soil in the next few months. I am probably driving my husband crazy because almost every day I ask, "Is there any way we can leave?! I hate it here! What can we do to get out?" He's got a few tricks up his sleeve to hopefully get us out of here sooner than three years, but we will just have to see about that. 
I'm sure you're wondering why I hate being here so much. Where does the list begin? Let's see...

1. You can't just go out to eat whenever you want to because most restaurants do not have set hours and are closed at random days/times. 
2. Nothing is convenient. You can't just get in your car and drive to Target whenever you want to.
3. This country, as is most of Europe, is VERY expensive. 
4. There's no easy way to do things here. To get one thing done (like on post) you have to go through about 12 different departments. 
5.I can't just pick up the phone and call my family whenever I want. 
6. I miss my friends from LA and NC. 
7. I don't have very many options for work, so it makes the days very long and boring. 

I'll stop there because the list can honestly go on for days. 

Husband has a lot of training in the Fall, so I will be going back to the states alone for 3 months or so. I am sad that I won't see him for a pretty long time, but I can't wait to be back in the ole boot. I can't wait to see my friends and my family! I also can't wait to have the convenience of Target and Walmart. 
It's going to suck being without S for so long, but I can do it. I will be so ecstatic to be out of this country I am sure that the time will fly by. He will be missing my 20th birthday, which will be the second birthday he's missed in a row, so that stinks a lot. And because of scheduling with leave and whatnot, we don't get to have a proper Christmas alone together for the second year in a row. I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that as long as he is in the Army, I won't get my intimate Christmas with just the two of us and he will p
robably miss the vast majority of birthdays and anniversaries. Meh. What can you do?

Well, this post has now taken a turn to a completely different subject, so I'll stop it right here. 

I'll be back soon with regular postings. 

Have a fantastic day! 


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Channeling My Inner Pin-Up Girl


Today I decided to to be a pin-up girl. Except not really. This is pretty much my typical every day face. The only difference is I don't typically wear berry colored lipstick. I actually don't wear lipstick that often. Well, okay, that's a lie. I do wear lipstick but not every single day. 

Urban Decay Naked2, KIKO blush, e.l.f. brow kit, Benefit They're Real! Mascara, Wet N' Wild liquid liner, e.l.f. brow and highlighter pencil, Sephora brow pencil, Pixi eyeliner, KIKO brow gel, Revlon ColorStay, Maybelline Age Rewing, Tweezerman eyelash curler, MAC brow brush, RT crease, base shadow, and buffing brush, KIKO lipstick, Too Faced lip injection, Garnier BB cream, KIKO beauty blender.


I am really getting into defined brows. So much that I use three to four products to achieve my desired look. My brows are really sparse at the beginning, so I have to do a lot to make them fuller. I honestly had never done anything with my brows until recently, and I am loving the way I look with fuller ones! I feel like it adds so much to the face. 

How do you feel about bold brows? 




Monday, June 10, 2013

Ways to follow AWSL

Hey lovely ladies! 

I just wanted to remind you of all these ways to keep up with me and my blog. I am signed up with multiple blogging & beauty communities, and a few social media outlets! Don't forget to "like" and follow AWSL on all that you take part in! 




Wet N' Wild Color Icon Palettes

Hey everyone! Today I wanted to share with you some of my most favorite things-the Wet N' Wild 8 Shadow Color Icon Palettes. If you haven't heard of these, where in the world hve you been? These palettes have been all the rage on beauty blogs and beauty guru channels everywhere. I was a skeptic for quite some time, and that is sad to say. These palettes are quite possibly the greatest palettes in the world of palettes. Kill me now because what I'm about to say is sinful. I, Megan of Army Wife. Style. Life., love the Wet N' Wild Color Icon Palettes more than my Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. Yep. It's true. I said it!


The two palettes that I have are the Nude Awakenings and Comfort Zone palettes. Nude Awakenings has a nice balance of colors. It includes two matte shades and six that are shimmer/satin finish. This palette is realatively new and hasn't gotten quite as much attention from me as it's older brother, Comfort Zone. This is the palette that actually gets more use than my Naked2. This is also the palette that everyone talks about because of its Naked2 dupes. These colors are all satin/shimmer ones, but they're not over the top. I absolutely love the green eyelid shade in this palette. It adds a nice pop of color to my rather ordinary,every day neutral look.


Above you will see swatches from Nude Awakenings. I'm sorry for the horrible quality of photo! It definitely doesn't show the shades true to color. This picture makes most of these look matte, when in fact only two of them are. 


These are the swatches from my beloved Comfort Zone. I love each and every shade from this palette sooooo much! This photo picked up the first four colors perfectly, but the last four didn't show up to great. :(
This palette has a lot of Naked2 dupes. I plan on posting those very soon so you can see them in comparison to each other.

Overall, I give these palettes a 5/5. The colors are highly pigmented, they're so smooth, and I have no problem with fall out. I was able to pick up both of these palettes for $3.99, but I am pretty sure they are $4.99 in most drugstores. For the price, you absolutely cannot beat these palettes. For quality, you pretty much can't beat them either. Well done, Wet N' Wild, well done!

Do you enjoy the WNW brands? Let me know what your favorites are!


Friday, June 7, 2013

Little Black Bag...What Number Is This?

Aaaaaaaand we're back with another LBB. Of course. I'm sure those of you who aren't able to try out this amazing company are super tired of seeing what's always in my bags, but I don't care. I'm too excited and I love this company too much to not share it with those of you who are able to! 

Back to ront, left to right: Melie Bianco Color Block Satchel, Clairol Professional Leave in Conditioner, Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow, Deux Lux Gigi Coin Pouch, Lydell NYC Skinny Oval Earrings


I was really trying to save up all of my credits and whatnot and hold off on opening a new bag. Until I got an email from LBB announcing that a, they had just gotten new Melie Bianco bags and b, they were giving away 2(?) Pixi products with each bag. I had neve tried Pixi products before and being the beauty junkie that I am, I couldn't resist. Dammit, I just couldnt!


I was in need of a really good waterline color, and when I saw this color on LBB I had to have it. The color is a gorgeous champagne pink/white. It glides on super smooth and lasts all day! After leaving that swatch on my hand for a few seconds to dry, it would not smudge no matter how hard I tried. I am so very pleased with this product!


I had traded one of my Pixi items for this leave-in conditioner. I honestly can't tell you how well it works just yet because I haven't used it. I was in the market for a good leave in conditioner as my hair is super dry, tangly, and is lacking moisture. I'm hoping it'll fix my problems!


I ended up getting stuck with these earrings, as noone would trade for them. I do like these in person,  but they are a bit heavy so I'm not sure how often I will actually wear them.


I was able to trade one of my add ons for this cute little coin purse. I was worried that it would feel super cheap, but to my surprise, it doesnt! It's super smooth and sturdy. It's a little small for my liking, as I was hoping I could fit my iPhone5 in it, but it's about an inch too short. It'll make a nice little pouch for lipgloss an powder!


This little girl. AH! I had opened the email, saw this one and had to have it! When I went to LBB immeditaley after recieving the email, they were already sold out. There was a melon and coral one that I ended up purchasing in the beginning to try to trade for this one. It took me almost my full week of trading to get someone to do that with me. I am so happy I finally got it! This is my first Melie Bianco bag and I am sure it won't be my last. The feaux leather feels real and is so soft. I love the detail in the lining!

I'd say that this is probably my favorite LBB yet! I am so pleased with LBB and their service! If you want to check them out (US and Canada residents only!) please use my link to do so!

Have an awesome weekend, ladies!


Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Curious Ginger: Products Worth/Not Worth The Hype





Hello! 

So this week, we are going to share with you some products that we think are (or are not) worth the hype that surrounds them! I'm going to dive straight in...

Products WORTH the hype!

This first product is a bit of a no brainer. The Naked Palette from Urban Decay exploded onto the scene, and everyone was talking about it! Honestly, people still are raving about this.

They have good reason to, as this palette honestly is so so so so so beautiful, and has the ability for you to create a ton of different looks.

I didn't jump onto the Naked bandwagon (sounds a bit sketchy:P) until my most recent birthday, and oh wow, I have been missing out!

These 12 shades are so pigmented, and beautiful, and I love just experimenting to see what looks nice.

This is quite pricey, but If you are in to neutral eye shadows, you should definitaley invest into this! You will not regret it! :)





Now, this may not have LOADS of hype around it, but it is quite popular in the blogesphere.

This is the Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream. Apologies if you get grossed out by things like this, but honestly summer is just around the corner, and if we want to wear our nice sandals, we need to get our tootsies in tip top condition!

I like to put this on just before I go to sleep, and when I wake up, my feet feel so soft and smooth. It works better then any other foot cream I have tried before!


The Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, has quite a lot of hype around it here in the Uk, but I was a bit skeptical.

As soon as I tried this, I understood why. It removes all traces of makeup, without stinging your eyes. It doesn't break you out, or clog your pores, and the whole experience of using this is really pleasant. 

I have already repurchased this as I am about to run out of this one! If you have problem skin, then this is something you might want to try. It won't clear your spots immediately  but over time my skin has got a lot better, and if I do get a spot, If I keep using this, it goes down a lot faster than usual!!




Products NOT WORTH the hype!


This is the Garnier oil free BB Cream.
Personally I don't really get the whole obsession with BB creams, I got this to try it out and I wasn't blown away with the results.

For starters, as I am quite pale a lot of the western BB creams lightest colour is often too dark for me. 

I also prefer more of a medium coverage, so again this probably puts me off as most BB creams have very light coverage.

I think this would be good for days when my skin is having a 'good skin day'.



This is a bit of a controversial one as I know many people love this, but for me, The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade Honey, isn't all that great.

I don't know if its just the shade I'm not a fan of, but I also don't like how it looks on my lips. I feel it makes them look a bit plasticy, or too fake. 

My natural lip colour is quite dark/red so maybe if I try another colour, I would like this!

I do like the smell of these though. They have a fresh minty scent, which I think would be nice for summer.

And lastly, I dont think that the L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray is all that great either! 

I have heard loads of beauty bloggers rave about this so I got a little one to try out. 

I don't like the scent of this (but I have heard you can get an unscented version) and honestly, I don't think it holds a curl very well. It may just be my hair, but for me this doesn't work very well.



So, there are some products that I think are worth/not worth the hype!  Obviously if you agree/disagree let me know!  If you would like to see Megan's Post then click here.

I'll see you all soon, but in the mean time if you'd like to check out my blog then click here.

Do you agree with my choice of products? :) Let me know!!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

May Favorites

Just like every other month that has come and gone, May flew by just the same. And just like all the others, this month I had many a favorite! I also acquired way more products than one could possibly neeed, but eh, yolo, right? Now, while I go bask in shame for my use of yolo, here's last month's favorites!

 Back to front, left to right: Benefit The Bronze of Champions kit, Coach Poppy Perfume Clinique Moisture Surge, KIKO Brow Gel, Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in Athens, e.l.f. Complete Coverage Concealer, e.l.f. Powder Brush, Real Techniqus Buffing, Contour, Crease, and All Over Shadow Brush.

If you read my blog at all, you know that I love the benefit kits. I'm sure I've talked about this one before, but I couldn't resist talking about it some more. I use the Hoola bronzer and the Whatt's Up highlight almost every day. These little kits pack in a lot of product, and I would definitely say that they are a much better value than the full size. If you don't know, Benefit is NOT stingy with the amount of product you recieve. In fact, I'm sure one could never possibly use up all of one of their boxed powders in an entire lifetime. That's why these "try it" kits are so amazing. For around $30, you get to try a lot and they will definitely last you a very long time. 
My e.l.f. concealer really isn't that big of a deal. It's a good concealer, especailly for $3, but of course there are better. I'm just trying to use all of this one up before I go to my higher end concealers. This one definitely get's the job done. If you're in need of a decent concealer on the cheap, this would probably be the one I would suggest most! The palette comes with four shades, so you can mix them together to get your perfect match. It's a pretty handy palette to have, I must say!

Last year for my high school graduation, my grandmother bought me this amazing perfume. It is probably one of the best gifts I have ever recieved. While you all know I love my Daisy, as far as scents go, this one is my favorite. Daisy is just my "favorite" because it's perfect for every day and I don't feel like I have to ration it out as much. This perfume is really good mix of sweet fruits and florals. I'm not even going to try to get any more in depth than that. It's really just the most amazing smelling thing ever.
My Moisture Surge is  new purchase, but it's not something that I'm exactly new to. I've been using this product off and on for probably the past three or four years. I've been having drier than normal skin lately, and my regular Neutragena moisturizer wasn't doing the trick. Moisture Surge is a pretty expensive product, I'm not going to lie. But like Benefit product, this one goes a long way! I'm talking a little dab on one finger will do more than enough for your entire face and neck. 


I have had this Buxom lipstick for well over a year and it has held its own as my number one favorite. It's the perfect coral color.  I actually have another in the color Milan that I love as well. It's more of a natural, my-lips-but-better. These lipsticks tingle on your lips, as they have a small amount of plumper in them. These lipsticks also last, and last, and last. I don't feel like these products are talked about enough, an they definitely should be! 
If you saw my last post about KIKO, you saw this product. It's nothing very special, but at the moment it's the only brow gel that I have. So that's that. 

And last but not least, we have my favorite brushes of the month, erm, ever! As you know, I, just like every other beauty obsessed blogger, am head over heels in love with my Real Techniques brushes. The application and coverage is always perfect and flawless. I use them every day and I don't foresee myself using any others until these fall to bits. 
My other favorite brush is the e.l.f. powder brush. I am sure that If I had the RT version, I would never use this one, but I can't complain. This brush is super soft and fluffy. It's perfect for applying powder to set your foundation. 

Well, that's all I have for you guys this month! What products were your favorites? Any thoughts on mine? 

P.S-I'm trying to work up the nerve to start doing outfit posts. I use to have a style blog, but those days are loooong gone. My style has drastically changed since then. Definitely in a good way! Just getting infront of the camera is not something that I enjoy doing. 
P.S.S- I am planning a giveaway soon! Well, as soon as I reach 100 followers on GCF. Spread the word, ladies, because what I have planned is pretty exciting! 


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

KIKO by Milano

Hey guys!

Today I'm bringing you one of my new favorite brands, KIKO. KIKO is an Italian brand made in Milan. I know that they have stores in a few Eurpean countries, including England and Germany. To me, KIKO seems like an Italian version of MAC. The plus? KIKO is way more affordable! I actually don't own any MAC products, so I can't really make that many comparisions but I know just based on store appearance alone, they seem very similar to me. 
 I don't have a ton from this brand, but I do have a decent variety of products. From the few eyes, face, and lip products I have, I can already tell that I love the brand!


These are the face products that I have. My two favorites are the powder and the dusty mauve color blush that I actually use for contouring. The powder is a baked mineralized powder that I'm going to say is probably very similar to the MAC Mineralized Skin Finish. Plus, it's only 10 euro, which is about $13, and I am pretty sure the MAC is much pricier. One of my best finds at KIKO has been the coral colored eyeshadow. It is what I have found to be the best dupe for NARS Orgasm blush. 


I love the KIKO Eyebrow Designer Brow Gell and the False Lash Concentrate. The Precision eyeliner is great too! I really love this nail polish too. It's a beautiful bright blue color that is perfect for Spring and Summer.

I'm sure you've all heard of the Beauty Blender. A lot of companies have their own version of this beauty sponge but I'd have to say that my KIKO blender is the best. The original Beauty Blender is designed to be used when wet, and upon doing so it doubles in size. I have the Sonia Kashuk version and I thought I liked it until trying this one by KIKO. Unlike the Sonia Kashuk version, this one actually increases its size and becomes super soft and squishy, like the original Beauty Blender, when wet. I also find that this one is much easier to clean. It still stains, but not as much. I love the finish that this gives me when I apply my liquid foundation. I refuse to use a brush because they just do not compare to this lovely tool!
left to right: KIKO lipstick in color 914, Colour Explosion multi-tone blush in 01 Wild Sienna,Soft Touch blush 102, Long Lasting Wet & Dry Use Eyeshadow in 218.

I absolutely can't wait for Fall to come so I can wear this lovely vampey purple lipstick! I love it paired with the multi tone blush! The colors go great together, in my opinion.

I'm sorry to tease my US readers with this lovely brand, but from those of you here in Europe, I hope you can find a way to get your hands on some products from this amazing brand!


Monday, June 3, 2013

Real Techniques Starter Kit

Hey everyone! 

Today I'm going to tell you all about the Real Techniques Start Kit, as promised. I absolutely love this kit so I'm definitely excited to share my thoughts!

Here is the official RT description:
"Boost your look with effortlessly enhanced eyes. Eye definition goes high-definition with this essential set:
  • Includes 5 full-size brushes + case:
    • Base shadow brush: applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color
    • Deluxe crease brush: soft, oversized design for effortless contouring
    • Accent brush: designed for precision detailing, spotlighting, highlighting, and smudging
    • Pixel-point eyeliner brush: tapered cut is ideal for dense or fine eyeliner application
    • Brow brush: distinctive shape easily defines eyebrows
    • Panoramic brush case is a 2-in-1 case + stand
  • Look pixel-perfect even in harsh light
  • Ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free
  • Extended aluminum handles are light and easy to use"

 Brushes from left to right: deluxe crease brush, base shadow brush, brow brush, accent brush, pixel point eyeliner brush.
I absolutely love this collection. I love it so much that I honestly don't know where to begin! Unlike the Core Collection, I use each brush for it's made purpose. I love each brush for exactly what it's supposed to be used for. 

My two favorite brushes are the base shadow and the deluxe crease brushes. The eyebrow brush comes in as my third favorite. I really just love all of these brushes, but those are the three that I use the most of. They're my everday brushes and they will probably continue to be until they fall completely apart.


The base shadow brush applies your lid color so evenly. The color distribution of this brush is like no other. The crease brush is a little big and it takes a bit of getting used to, but once you work with it, it builds and blends your crease color flawlessly. The brow, eyeliner, and accent brush all have excellent preciscion. I especially love the accent brush for applying a highlight to my inner corner.


If you've been considering purchasing these brushes, I really hope that this review has swayed you into doing so. I promise that you will not regret buying these! These brushes have helped me apply my eyeshadow better than ever before. When I say these brushes are worth their hype, I sincerely mean it!