Red lip classic thing that you like.

I love winter. Winter is the season of red lipstick, in my opinion. It was one of my new year's resolutions to make it more than a "one season" color for me. Trying out all different shades has been half the fun, but I've found the lip color that rules over my heart. It's the lip color tint I introduced you to in my previous post. It's turning out to be one of my favorite Christmas gifts. A little goes a long way and stays on for a much longer amount of time than my lipsticks. It's not sticky and my favorite part - it doesn't feel like I have anything on. Perfect!

I like classic looks. I love pairing a bold lip with a neutral eye. Here are some pictures from my makeup look for church on Sunday - featuring my new favorite lip color!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Yes, I'm a little late. But as I said earlier, I'm in the middle of moving out. Once everything has calmed down (probably around February), I'm going to start posting much much more. Makeup looks, outfit looks, product reviews, etc. My resolution is to post more and that's a resolution I'm going to keep (I'm putting it in writing on the blog, so I pretty much have to keep it now to avoid looking like an absolute idiot). What resolutions are you guys making for 2015?

Also, most importantly, what kind of things would YOU like to see on the blog? It would help out and inspire Summer and I so much to hear what things you guys are interested in.

If you have any beauty resolutions for 2015, post them below. We'd love to hear them!

Have a great weekend. X

Christmas Goodies!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season this year.

This year has been wonderful and insanely busy for me. I'm starting a new season of my life in just a few weeks ... I'm moving out on my own! I've been crazily shopping for the perfect pieces of furniture in IKEA and countless vintage thrift shops. Most of my money has been going toward that - so my makeup (and concert) addiction has taken a serious hit! I've been cutting many, many corners. So, I haven't felt like many of my looks or reviews have been worthy of posting.

This Christmas, though, I received some new goodies I've been dying to try. I haven't tried them all yet, but I'm looking forward to trying everything for New Year's Eve.

Here are my Christmas makeup goodies:

Things I asked for  - 

Benefit High Brow Glow

As you know from previous posts, I adore Benefit's High Brow pencil. I've purchased it multiple times. But I never branched out to try the Glow version of this makeup staple. This year I put it on my Christmas list and I'm so glad my mom decided to buy it for me. I tried this first thing on Christmas day. I don't know if I'll say that I love it more than the original high brow. But it's definitely a nice option to have when I'm wanting to add a little more shimmer. . 

NARS Illuminator in Copacabana

I haven't tried this yet, but it was one of the top reviewed I found while researching highlighters! Is this a "must" in your beauty routine?

NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette

I saw this on Sephora's website and immediately added it to my list. Too pretty not to, right? So far I've only tried the Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush Powder and Laguna bronzer. A++ in my book. I'm sure I'll love the blushes, too!

Things I didn't ask for - 

I love getting new beauty items that I haven't asked for nor ever heard of. It adds that element of fun to Christmas and it's always a nice surprise ... especially with these four products. LOVE.

Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge

Oh. My. Gosh. This stuff is amazing. That's all I can say. I don't know if I'll ever wear my red lipsticks ever again. Just try it. She also got it from Birchbox. Do any of you subscribe to that? Is it worth it? I'd love to hear some more opinions before I fork over the cash and commitment to feed my beauty addiction.

Tory Burch Rollerball

This is my first Tory Burch product. Ever. My cousin got me hooked on J.Crew and Kate Spade ... now add Tory Burch to the list! This perfume is now my all-time favorite. 

Lush Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb

Alright. I'll admit it. I've never been to Lush before. My best friend and future roommate got me this bath bomb from them. Everyone raves about them so I'm really excited to try this! In my current home, I don't have a bath tub. But in my new home, I do. So props to my bestie for her creativity. I'm looking forward to trying it.

Lush So White Shower Gel

So, I don't have a bathtub. But I do have a shower. So I tried this on Christmas morning. Funny thing is - I ordered this online for my Mom for Christmas based on the reviews. It smells amazzziiinnnggg and my skin feels just as amazing after using it. My mom 100% agrees. I will definitely be visiting and spending too much money in a Lush store very, very soon.

Merry Christmas to me (my gift to myself) - 

And now for the grand finale ...

Custom Makeup Vanity Mirror 

I sent my dimensions to this etsy seller. So mine will be 40x42 and a white matte color to match my white IKEA dressing table. HUGE. And I am so so so so excited. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to have a huge Hollywood-ish mirror like this. I will definitely post the pictures when I receive the mirror and install it in my new home. Y'all are going to die and obsess over this project when it's done. I'm already obsessed and it's not even here yet.

This new makeup station will definitely inspire more looks and more posts!

Cheers to 2015!

What did you all get for Christmas and the holidays? What did you get for yourself?

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Bookish Nails!

As most of you know, I recently started a book blog which has become extremely successful in a short amount of time. Since I havent had much time to blog here, on Groupie Glam, I decided that I should start combining my posts! I recently read the most amazing series by Stephanie Perkins and the books were SOOO GOOD that I thought, why not use these books as my first inspiration for a nail design. The ombre on all 3 of these covers are so beautiful and it was really hard to decide which to do first. After debating it for a while I decided to just go with which book I enjoyed the most! Isla and the Happily Ever After won out because the characters were extra adorable. 

Ill post the next few designs in the coming weeks. Do you guys have any suggestions on which books you would like me to interpret onto my nails?!! leave suggestions in the comments!

My Makeup Prep Routine

Skincare is extremely important when it comes to your makeup routine. Using the right products not only helps keep your skin healthy, but it gives your makeup a photo-finished look!

I've suffered from acne all of my life and I've been working really hard to keep up a great skincare routine. I have tried many, many products from both the doctor and my local drugstore. 

Here is my current pre-makeup routine that I'm quite pleased with:

1. Aveeno Positively Radiant Targeted Tone Corrector: $13.59 at Ulta.

This is the newest addition to my skincare routine. I received this product from an Influenster Vox Box and I was beyond impressed with the results. Aveeno is a great brand in my book! My dermatologist recommended it to me years ago. 

I have a lot of acne scars on my face, so this product has significantly helped with the overall tone and evenness of my skin. I apply it to my uneven spots on my skin right after I finish washing my face. It leaves my skin silky smooth and also has been a great help with the overall appearance. When my sample runs out, I will be running out to the store to buy some more. Give it a try! You won't regret it. 

2. CVS Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15: $9.99 at CVS

If there's one thing I learned from years at the dermatologist office, it's that SPF and moisturizer are your best friends! A SPF moisturizer will help keep your skin looking fresh and protect you from damage from the sun. Even on a day when I don't have much time in front of the bathroom mirror, I always always always apply my moisturizer. 

I go between three different brands ... depending on how well I'm doing on my budget that week. Right now I'm using a CVS brand. Usually, I like to go for something with a higher SPF, but I've been trying to cut corners lately in my wallet. This CVS brand has been pretty comparable to my other favorite brands on the splurging side: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($17.49 at CVS) and Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 ($13.79 at CVS).

You can't go wrong with one of these brands!

3. Ponds Luminous Finish BB+ Cream: $9.99 at Target

Ugh, can I tell you how much I'm in love with this stuff? Like I said before, I have a good amount of acne scars that I'm trying to lighten up. I told my mom I wanted a good BB+ cream and she came home from Target one day and surprised me with this. Best mom award! This stuff is a lifesaver when it comes to evening out my skin tone! Before I started using Aveeno's Tone Corrector, I could have sworn this actually helped with my acne scars as well.

When I first started using it, I broke out for a good two weeks. It was not fun. But I just kept on using this in my daily routine and before I knew it, my skin and makeup were both looking fabulous! I've tried pleeeennntyyy of BB+ creams but this one has become a staple! It really transforms my skin into a clean canvas for some makeup!

On days when I will only be leaving the house to go to the gym, I'll stop my makeup routine right after applying this. It's perfect under your makeup, but also perfect if you want to keep it light on a low-key day.

4. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15: $52.00 at Sephora

I was a diehard Smashbox primer enthusiast until I came across this Hourglass primer. I had to try it out after the sales associate at Sephora gushed over it. I'm usually too trusting of sales associates, but luckily the associates at my Sephora are honest and have completely freakin' awesome taste in product. 

There's nothing like a good primer to make your skin feel silky smooth before applying your makeup! Give this one a try if you have a little extra money to spend. Or better yet, if you're a Beauty Insider, maybe you'll be lucky enough to snatch up one of these samples the next time you're at the checkout counter!

Let us know what products you like to use as you prep for your makeup application! Have you tried any of these?

Win All 3 Of Zoyas Newest Magical Pixie Polishes!

As some of you know, We have been sponsored by Zoya Nail Polish for a few months. We received all of their new Summer Collections in May. Since I was out of the country - I havent had a chance to post any of the swatches or discuss much about the products. ANYWAY, since they are Zoya Polishes - they are all perfect. Would you expect anything less??

Its also been a while since we have had a giveaway, So we thought.. "Lets just go ahead and giveaway the whole set of pixie polishes!" Now these polishes are matte glitters and im sure you are thinking UGH! matte always chips... NOT THESE BABES. I swatched each of these colors on one finger, no base coat, and no top coat (obvs, its a matte so I didnt want to make it shiny with a top coat) and I did NOT see any tip wear or chips until the 3rd day. I left it on for 5 days and in that time I only had 1 finger chip, the other two showed a bit of tip wear.. but these ARE AMAZING... hmmm, on second thought maybe I should keep these for myself. HA! Just kidding!

Instructions for the Giveaway and will be listed after the Cut.

European Makeup Haul

As most of you know from my last post, I recently went on a trip to Europe with my best friend. Part of the reason that I was so excited was that I would finally be able to get my hands on a few products that aren't available in America. The friend that I was travelling with, Taylor, watches several European beauty gurus on youtube and had a list of things she wanted to pick up - I on the other hand, just purchased what called to me in the moment haha.

Most of the products that I purchased are in the photo below. More detailed pictures of each product will be after the cut!!!

Travel Makeup Essentials

As some of you know, this week I am going to be heading out of the country for a trek across Europe. That being said; I am planning on taking as little as possible since that pesky luggage allowance limits me to 50 lbs. As I was going through my makeup kit trying to decide what I wanted to bring, I realized just how hard it is to limit yourself to just the basics!

This is what made the cut for me. Everything you see here is something that I use every day. Ill list all of the products after the cut! 

Product Review: Younique 3D Fiber Lashes

Recently, I made a purchase with Younique. I purchased the 3D Fiber Lashes. This isn't your ordinary mascara. This mascara is a four-step process that promises fuller and longer lashes. 

3D Fiber lashes includes two tubes: the transplanting gel and the natural fibers. 

Step one: Put on your everyday mascara as normal. I use Revlon's 3D Volume mascara, which you can find at your local drugstore. 

Step two: After your regular mascara dries, coat your lashes evenly with the transplanting gel. 

Step three: Immediately after, coat your lashes with the natural fibers. (Tip: Do one eye at a time to prevent the transplanting gel from drying up.)

Step four: Finish up by coating your lashes once again with the transplanting gel. You can repeat step three and four to get your desired result.

Pros: Yes, it works. As you can tell from the picture, my lashes are much fuller and longer in the "after" picture. I used about two or three coats of Younique's product to achieve this affect. I used only one coat of Revlon in my "before" picture. It's a great alternative to using false lashes. If you don't feel like dealing with glue or don't have any false lashes on hand, I would definitely recommend adding this to your beauty bag. 

Cons: It's a lengthy process. It's also messy, clumpy and takes quite a bit of practice. At first, I had the fiber lashes all over my face. With practice, I've learned how to keep the stray fibers and clumping to a minimum. The above picture was taken after my first time using this product. Don't be discourage the first time you use it!

Price: $29

To Purchase: click here

Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone who wants full lashes without the hassle of using fake lashes. Personally, I like the end result of fake lashes better than using this product. For a special event, I will still use my favorite falsies. For an everyday event when I don't feel like wearing false lashes all day, I definitely pull this out! I will most likely purchase this product again ... unless I find a better drugstore solution in the meantime!

What do you think? What's your stance on false lashes? Will you give this product a try?

ZOYA POLISH PREVIEW - SUMMER COLLECTION '14

Earlier this week I received an email from our friends in the Zoya Nail Polish PR department. After reading the email - I was SO EXCITED. Zoya is one of my all time favorite nail polish brands. All of their formulas are consistently amazing and their color selection is always so yummy. Some of my all time favorite polishes are made by this amazing brand.

Anyway - onto why they emailed! Zoya is going to be releasing their Summer '14 polish collection on May 15th (pre-order starts in April) It has been a while since I have been this excited about a polish collection. These colors are perfection. Some of the stand out colors for me are Muse, Harper, Rooney, Ling, and Tilda.6 of these beauties have holographic glitter (bubbly) 6 are creme finishes (tickled)

The Tickled and Bubbly polishes will sell for $9.00 each. We are so excited to be apart of this launch with you all and We can't wait to get these on our nails!!!!

What are some of the colors that you are most excited for? - Comment below with your faves!

ZOYA POLISH PREVIEW: MAGICAL PIXIE

All of these polishes will sell for $10.00 and will be available for pre-order on the Zoya website. These will be released on May 15th. I'm in love with Arlo!

7 MAC Lipsticks Duped by Wet-N-Wild

Have you ever visited the MAC makeup counter just to look at all the pretty lipstick colors only to leave feeling sad because you can't buy ALL THE COLORS?!!! ME TOO. So I am on a mission to save us all from that feeling! I have thrown together a list of the B E S T dupes that will save you TONS of money.

Below is a list of 7 MAC lipsticks that have been duped by Wet-N-Wild, who is quickly becoming my favorite lipstick brand.  All of the MAC lipsticks listed are between $15.00 and $18.00. The drugstore dupes by Wet-N-Wild come in at $1.99 each. CAN YOU BEAT THAT?? No. You could buy every WNW lippie on this list and it would still cost less than ONE of the MAC lippies.

More after the cut!

My Favorite Drugstore/High-end Matchups

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and I have been racking my brain trying to think of something to show you that we haven't really discussed much on this blog.. I've been in sort of a rut, doing nail art that I havent been super happy with and lots and lots of makeup looks that just left me feeling a bit uninspired. I didn't want to post those things just for the sake of having content so I have been writing ideas down and I think now is the time to start sharing those.

The first idea I had was to share a few of my favorite dupes for high end beauty products that EVERYONE should own. These are necessities that every girl should have in their makeup bag. Even if you can't afford the super expensive stuff, there are always products that match up to those highend products and i'm here to pass along my FAVES!!!

Unconditionally - Katy Perry (Naked3 Daytime Look)

Hey y'all. I am a happy girl...because I just got Urban Decay's Naked3 this week! I am already obsessed with their Naked line so when I heard they were coming out with a palette that featured rose gold shades...I freaked out. No, really. I freaked out. 

I went to Sephora on Wednesday night to wait in line and pick up my order before it went on sale to the public on Thursday. I was third in line. By the time I left, the line was out the door! Looks like my concert-line skills have finally paid off in the beauty world! I promised I would review it..and I'm pretty sure I'm going to sound like an advertisement for them...that's how much I love this palette. Two words: Absolute. Perfection. Rose gold shades are my favorite. I think they compliment my brown eyes really well. I overused the "toasted" shade in my original Naked palette on my lid crease. So I feel like this palette is just a major extension of "Toasted," which I think has a rose gold tint to it. If you love "toasted," then you won't be disappointed in this palette. 

The quality is up to Urban Decay Naked standards. The already-vibrant colors stand out even more when paired with eyeshadow primer. 

The price is steep, but well worth it. If you can get your hands on one, I highly recommend it as a gift for a good friend...whether they're makeup savvy or not. Perfect for beginners and perfect for addicts.

Standout shades: Dust, Buzz, Liar, Mugshot.

Perfect for daytime/everyday routine: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Trick, Liar, Limit.

Perfect for nighttime/dramatic look: Strange, Buzz, Nooner, Darkside, Mugshot, Blackheart.

Naked is obviously great for subtle looks, but you can also darken it up. If you're going on a trip, there's no need to bring 20 different single shades. Just throw Naked3 into your suitcase and you're ready to go!

To prove it, I'm going to do one daytime look and one nighttime look for y'all. First up: This is how I integrate Naked3 into my "everyday" makeup look. I put this makeup on at 6:30 a.m and left for a meeting. When I got back home in the afternoon, I decided to do a little "photoshoot." Hours later...still looks great! Summer teamed up with me and made an awesome manicure inspired by Naked3's daytime perfection. Enjoy the pictures below the cut!

Afraid - The Neighbourhood

Hey guys! Hope you all had a spooooky Halloween! Summer and I teamed up to show y'all our Halloween looks. We have a sweet Minnie Mouse look and a dramatic vampire look! Both ends of the spectrum are covered :)

Halloween Collection Post

Hey y'all...it's that time of year again! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I adore decorating and dressing up. There's so much room for creativity. Out of all the collection posts we've done, the Halloween-inspired ones are my favorites!

Send in your Halloween mani pictures, name and blog link to admin@groupieglam.com by October 30, 2013. I will upload the post on Halloween.

If you're dressing up this year, feel free to send in pictures of your costume also! I'm dressing up for a party this Saturday, so I will have a separate post for that. But, I decided that I still wanted to do the collection post this year.

To kick things off...look at these spooky and famous Halloween nails from my favorite girl, Demi Lovato!

Umm...can she or her nail artist come by and do that to my nails this Halloween?!

MMMBOP - The Vamps (cover)

Hey guys! So I just have a quick update for you all. This summer I went on a weekend trip to see my two favorite bands in concert... TOGETHER... in Washington DC.  It was seriously everything that dreams are made of. we visited several of the monuments and finished the day with seeing Hanson AND parachute in concert. My mani is below along with a snapshot from the WW2 memorial. We vlogged all of our shenanigans over on our channel. Check it out "here"

Much love xx - Summer

PS the cover of mmmbop is something everyone needs to see.

Treasure - Bruno Mars

We all love trying new things but let's face it...we all fall victim to routines. Makeup is no exception! We all have our routines and our favorite products. Ever since we created this blog I've been dying to create a "makeup bag" post of my absolute favorite products that own my daily routine.

I'm going to start this "makeup bag" series with three of my all-time favorite products at the moment. I swear by all of these products! I hope you all find something that intrigues you and ends up in your own beauty routine.

(Also - if there are any products that you would like me or Summer to review -  Leave a comment on this post! You can also send an email to admin@groupieglam.com or get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing from you all!)

This post features: Lancome Visionnaire, The Original Beautyblender and Benefit High Brow. Read the reviews after the cut.

Hurricane - Parachute

Hey guys!! I have a quick update from my time in Indiana last month.
I saw several people in concert, ate smores by a campfire, shopped more than I should have, and most importantly I spent lots of time with my best friends.

More after the cut!

Out Alive - Kris Allen

It's no secret. I am head over heels in love with Urban Decay eyeshadow. It's also no secret that I am a die-hard fan over "Midnight Cowboy." It's one of my all time favorite shades. Day time or night time: it's perfect.

When I love something, I share it with friends. Last Christmas I decided to go on a Urban Decay shopping spree for my friends. I got the Naked palette for my mom, the Vegan palette for my long-distance friend and I saved the best for my best concert buddy, Heather. I purchased the Midnight Emergency Kit for her. Normally she doesn't wear eyeshadow so I was hesitant to give her this gift. But then again, I believe in this shade so much that a nonbeliever would love it too. It's the perfect kit for someone who doesn't wear eyeshadow and wants to just add a little bit to their everyday routine. As expected, she appreciated and loved the gift (of course with some apprehension as to if she would actually be able to apply it correctly). It was something fun, something I loved, something I know is quality, something new for her to try and play with.

The Midnight Emergency kit includes four lovely midnight shadows (midnight cowboy, midnight rodeo, midnight 15, AC/DC), a mini eyeshadow brush and some lip gloss (Midnight Cowboy Lip Junkie). 

About a month later, we met up to go to Kris Allen's Out Alive tour a few hours away. It was an incredible concert and we had so much fun. The next day, I asked her if she had her emergency kit with her. She did! So, I offered to do her makeup and "teach" her how to use it.

I wanted to share the pictures with you all because I think she looked fabulous in the Midnight Emergency kit.

I loved the final result, my mom loved the final result and even her family that night complimented her on her "Midnight" look. I think it's perfect for the day but she could also darken it up a bit for a night time look.

I hope you loved the little "midnight makeover," Heather. Thanks for being the best concert pal around and thanks for being an awesome makeup model. :)

If you can get your hands on a Midnight Emergency kit - do it! You can still find it around online. If not, I would recommend at least buying "Midnight Cowboy" and pairing it with your favorite darker shades. It looks great with any other color!

View more of the pictures behind the cut: