After a little peruse of my makeup ranks, I found there was a host of products I loved - but didn't use much. Not quite logical. In an attempt to rekindle my affection I'm giving some tlc to a few things I've been missing.

Bare Minerals Power Neutrals
     During a pre-holiday spree, I added this lovely neutrals palette to my cart. I'd heard great rumors about the quality of Bare Minerals eyeshadows and I was not let down. The colors are a great selection, and a little off-beat from your typical "naked" palette. I've dabbled in using these shades, and a standout is Moneymaker - a nice earthy green which is a good alternative to a typical brown.

Forever 21 Cream Cheek Blush
     This one may be tricky to locate, but I did see they repackaged their cream blushes recently and there is a shade nearly identical to the one I own. The formula is less sheeny than other cream blushes I own but still doesn't full transform to a powder finish. As a result, the effect is glowy yet long lasting.This color instantly lifts the face and pairs well with an orange-toned red lip. Definitely one I should be turning to more often.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl Kajal in Taupe
     For days when I'm looking for subltle definition, this is ideal. The color manages to enhance the eyes without looking obvious. The formula is comparable to something like Urban Decay's Glide On pencils, and is almost gel-like.

Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Hot Plum
     To be fair Hot Plum is nowhere in the realm of an 'everyday' shade. It's well pigmented, and a flashy color. Yet I still love it on the lips. Come spring & summer, effortless makeup is epitomized by bright lips and a minimal face. This cool-toned shade works well with my complexion, and would stand out against a warmer skin tone. Bonus: the formula is creamy and non-drying.

MAC Lipstick in Hue
    On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have a muted warm pink. Hue tones down my lip color ever so slightly. The glaze finish helps it to be wearable and simple to touch up on the go as well. Personally, I pair it with a slightly heavier eye to keep things in balance.

¡Adiós!

xx
Rachel

Hello, loves!

Here's a nice little way to end your Monday night with a new video on our channel! This look was inspired by a look on Pinterest and I hope you enjoy! Let us know what you want to see next in the comments.

xx

We all know what big fans we are of neutral colors here at FBG, so I figured I'd share some of my favorite nudes with you - from eyeshadows to nail polish. Plus, I'm pretty sure there's not a better palette to transition from winter to spring (which we're still desperately waiting for here).

From top to bottom: WOS, Naked 2, Nudist, Nude, Subtly Sunkissed

EYES
So it's no secret that my go-to eyeshadow favs are all brown, neutral tones. My favorite nudes are some of my holy grail all time favorites. I mentioned Urban Decay's Naked 2 in a post a couple weeks back, so I won't linger any longer there. My other favorite from the same palette is Walk of Shame (W.O.S.). It's a pale, skin tone matte shade. It's great for brightening up the eye area and especially good on no make up make up days. Lastly, my Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in Nude is a product that I probably couldn't go a day without using. It's the best eyeliner I've ever found. I love to use it in my waterline and it tends to do the trick to looking like I got that full 8 hours of sleep the night before.

LIPS
Now I've only got one tried and true to talk about here - Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker in Nudist. I heard about this from the lovely Fleur de Force, and after raving about it for quite sometime, Rachel got it for me for Christmas. This has a permanent home in my make up bag that I take with me every day. No matter what make up you're wearing this is the perfect lip product to tie it all together. The lasting power isn't as long as I'd like, but I have no complaints other than that.

FACE
I'll keep it short and sweet here considering how much I've talked about this product. I got inspired after watching a Chelsea Wears video in which she talked about how much she loved wearing brown blush. Strange concept, but literally the next day I tried it and my make up routine has never been the same. If I'm wearing a blush at all, 9 times out of 10 it's probably Pixi's Bronzer in Subtly Sunkissed. You can see in the swatch how it's barely there, but when on the face it adds a nice glow.

NAILS
The newest addition to my nail collection is this beauty. I was on the hunt for a perfect nude and I found it. Being pale, most "nudes" are about 20 shades darker than me. This is the exact right shade though. I love how easy it is considering you can pair it with anything and never have to worry about your nail polish clashing with whatever you're wearing. It doesn't hurt that it's the only option for a good transition from winter to spring, if you ask me at least. And it's budget friendly at around $4 for a bottle.

What are your favorite nudes?

xx
Tessa

I tried to get this up ASAP considering the Cats won and I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate by showing you how I did my make up for the game. Yes, I am indeed crazy enough to drive two hours on a Monday night to watch basketball. Also, not sure what happened at the beginning of the video, or why it's choppy in some parts — Sorry!

I know you all are probably really sick of hearing me talk about how I'm always late and running out the door and my make-up to match. But this week I've had some serious issues with that, seeing as I'm in the midst of final papers (perks of being a journalism major: tests are rare, downfalls: papers on papers on papers. And I'm the queen of procrastination). So this week it's been the bare minimum for me on make up. I promise you, this will be the last what's on my face for a while. Unless you really like these, in which case, I shall continue.

Now, when I say bare minimum, I mean: bare minimum. Foundation, eyeliner, mascara, brows, done. That's how minimum I've been this week. Sticking with my trusty CoverGirl Whipped Creme Foundation in Ivory, that I'm sure you've heard all you can about. It's a great alternative to the Revlon PhotoReady Whipped if you're not willing to drop $15 on a foundation. Blending that out with my finger tips is the quickest, easiest, no-fuss foundation application ever. The lazy girl's dream. For liner, I've once again, not broken out of my box. Using Rimmel London's Get in Line, which was discontinued with their Rimmel U line (such a shame, I loved it). Continuing to the point, I have ventured out a little from my typical application and gone for a full, thicker wing. I will wear winged liner, but my version is usually pretty thin with a small flick at the end, nothing too dramatic. But I decided to experiment a little this week and have been loving it. See motto: Eyeliner on point, life in shambles (couldn't be more relevant). Finishing off the eyes, I've gone back to another tried & true: Benefit's They're Real. Recently, I've been raving and constantly reaching for EM Cosmetic's Lash Gallery Clean Volume. Benefit's offering however, just offers a great amount of separation and length. As far as brows, my typical routine has stuck using Anastasia's Brow Powder Duo in Auburn (specifically the left side color) to fill in and setting them with Maybelline's Great Lash in Clear.

Well, that's all from me this week! I hope you guys are surviving finals. I promise to bring you some really awesome stuff over Winter Break!

xx
Tessa

Hello lovlies!

It's been quite sometime since I've shared with you what I've been wearing on my face. Pretty sure it was September, actually. And this week I've settled into quite the routine with my make-up, typically because I'm running about 15 minutes behind and I'm too lazy to do anything else. So here's a few tried & true products, and a couple new ones to the line up that have been helping me look less like a zombie than I feel.

If I've got a long day ahead (i.e. I'm not returning to my house for at least 12 hours, which has been most days this week) I'll start off priming with Hourglass's Mineral Veil Primer. I totally understand the hype surrounding this, it makes my skin feel like silk. Pretty much in love. After, I'll start off my base with Covergirl's Clean Whipped Creme Foundation in 305, which has been my go-to for a while now as it offers medium coverage and I can blend it out without a brush. As for concealer, I've been alternating between my Covergirl Fresheffects and Maybelline Dream Lumi, depending on how tired I look. Finishing up, I'll set my foundation with my tried & true Rimmel London Stay Matte powder. If I'm looking especially pale (which let's face it is most days), I'll dust a little bit of NYC's Sunny bronzer on. For blush, I've been going back and forth with a selection from Cargo and one from NYX. Both are very similar, dusty rose colors, but Cargo offers a bit more shimmer.

For eyes I've been sticking to basics. Starting off with Mac's Painterly Paint Pot as a base and topping off with Venus from the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette as an all over lid color. To trick people into thinking I'm more awake, I've been lining my waterline with Rimmel London's Kohl Pencil in Nude, which I finally got my hands on after months of it being out of stock when I went to buy it. I've kept my basic liner simple using a black liquid liner offering from Rimmel as well. I may have found a new HG mascara in EM Cosmetic's Lash Gallery Clean Volume, which has been mentioned more and more lately. It gives just the right amount of volume, length and curl. So it's pretty much perfect, but I'm not kicking Falsies out of the top spot just yet.

Since going slightly more ginger, I broke down and brought a new brow duo from Anastasia (in Auburn) and have been using the red color to fill in and warm up my brows, and then setting with my usual Maybelline Great Lash in Clear.

I'm a lipstick junkie, so of course I haven't been able to stick to one combo. If I'm feeling particularly lazy, I'll layer Covergirl's Vivid Lipstick in Pink Pop over one of my EOS balms and call it good, though I do find that I need to touch up more throughout the day. My other option has been Rimmel's Kate Moss Matte line in shade 103, a "my lips but better" color that I'm sure I've mentioned before, and topping it off with Juice Beauty lipgloss in Pink. I'm not a lip gloss gal at all, but this stuff just smells too good to resist.

Now that I've rambled on about my make-up this weekend, I guess I'll wrap it up.
What have your go-to's been on busy weeks?

xx
Tessa

For those mornings when you just don't want to put in effort, or you're running late (I'm out of bed with only 15 minutes to get out the door: A novel, by yours truly), and you don't want to skip make-up all together.. Enter: the no make up, make up look. These are the product I immediately pull from my stash and slap on real quick, or throw in a make up bag to do on my way or when I arrive at my destination.

I like to keep my base pretty light on these kind of days. It's nice to give my skin a break from a full face of make up and I also don't have to worry about touch ups. I've raved enough about the Physician's Formula Organic Wear Powder, and you've even seen it in action so I don't think that needs much explanation. It's a great product, I just buff this on with the Real Techniques Buffing brush all over and my base is set. Another go to of mine is Josie Maran's Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation. I picked up a sample of this when I got my Color IQ done at Sephora and I've fallen in love with it. It starts off white and ends up the perfect color and gives just the right amount of coverage. I can never get away without doing my under eye area, so depending on how bad my darkness is, I'll go in with Covergirl Fresh Effects in Classic Ivory, or Maybelline's Dream Lumi in Radiant, or sometimes both.

Since I'm white as a ghost, I have to give my face a little bit of color as to not look like the walking dead. NYC's Sunny Bronzer is a cult product for a reason. I use this with the Real Techniques Contour brush for a slight contour. I then finish up with NYX blush in Spice, a gorgeous dusty rose/pink color (swatches in my Fall Edit video), that gives a great natural flush to my face.

As far as eyes go, I keep it pretty simple. I line my waterline with Rimmel London's ScandalEyes in Nude to brighten up my eyes and make me look a bit more awake than I might actually be. I top off with either Benefit's They're Real mascara or Maybelline's Great Lash, both in black. They're Real gives a lot of volume, and Great Lash keeps things really natural looking. Depending on my mood, or where I'm going I'll choose accordingly.

Last but not least, I keep my brows natural and just keep them in place with Maybelline's Great Lash in Clear.

Comment, subscribe and tweet us to tell us what you would love to see from us!

Til next week!
xx
Tessa

     Alrighty, I know Tessa has an autumn edit queued to go up soon (get excited, woopwoop) but I'm jumping the gun and sharing a few of my favorite nail polishes that are getting me ready for weather less similar to the deepest rings of hell. These shades will help transition me from brightly polished summer nails, which is about the only color I wear as of late.


COMMANDER IN CHIC (370) | SALLY HANSEN COMPLETE SALON MANICURE
   Firstly is a Sally Hansen shade that's been around for a while. This is great when you want something dark, but less dramatic than a black or navy nail. I think the grey-ish color with a purple undertone would be universally flattering, no matter your skin tone. Though the price is a little steep for a lower-end brand, the formula doesn't leave anything to be desired. I find it lasts just as long as its more expensive counterparts, is opaque, and has a flat, sturdy brush. Plus, even after over a year of ownership it hasn't thickened or gone gloopy.

PACIFIC BLUE (420) | SALLY HANSEN XTREME WEAR NAIL COLOR
     Now, for a cheaper offering from Sally Hansen. I'm quite the fan of blue nail polish, but out of my ever expanding collection this is by far my favorite. This garners a lot of attention any time I wear it but never looks juvenile or over the top. As a bonus, these are dirt cheap and the formula is nearly opaque in one coat. I'm not terribly into bright colors (if you hadn't deduced this already) but this is an exception. I've never spotted one of these at Target or Walmart, but picked it up on sale at Ulta so check this bby out.

MAXIMILLIAN STRASSE-HER (1010) | ESSIE NAIL LACQUER
     I have a sickness. I'll admit it. I can't stop with the damn Essie nail polish. I grabbed this in a time of no self control (so a normal day) this past spring and haven't looked back since. Much opposed to my previous listing, this is a nice understated hue. The grey-toned green won't overpower a look yet still manages to not be a bore. Though it will be A+ for autumn, I've been wearing it all year and enjoy it every time I do.

CARAMEL CUPCAKE (311) | RIMMEL LONDON 60 SECONDS NAIL POLISH
     Another muted favorite of mine. I think this is nearly an exact dupe for Essie's Ladylike. At only $1.50, how could you resist? This mauve polish helps me look put together even after I've hit sleep 6 times that morning. I luuurv the little bottle, and the brush is also square and sturdy so application is a breeze. I'm not even upset that I own two nearly identical nail polishes. That's how much I love it. Or how ridiculous I am. Whichever.

See errybody next week!

xx
Rachel

 
      Recently, there's been a new generation of liquid lipsticks cropping up in several brands's lines. No longer are we restricted to the standard bullet lipstick - though that isn't going anywhere. Modern lip lacquers are currently making the rounds. Now after that terribly dramatic intro (and garishly punny title), I thought I'd share my thoughts on a few varieties I've tried and tested.


RIMMEL LONDON SHOWOFF LIP LACQUER | 401 AURORA ($4.99)

     If the name of this shade alone doesn't tempt you to buy this, you're a better woman than I. Watching a copious amount of British YouTubers (as I do) it was basically inevitable that I pick one up. Marketed as "Apocalips" lip lacquers in the UK, I'd heard all about these lil' gems. Tessa and I hunted them down once we caught wind of their release in the states. As of now, they're exclusive to Walgreens.  I'm quite the fan of Rimmel's Kate Moss matte lipstick line, so I was pleased when these had the same fruity scent (the shade range seems to be fairly similar as well). As for functionality, they're soft on the lips and don't bleed or feather. It's a nice hybrid between a matte and gloss finish, while still delivering a solid color payoff. I also find them to be longer wearing than a standard lipstick, which is much appreciated through the work day. The only major con I've found with the Showoff lacquers is I feel like I need to use a lip brush to apply it, at least in this shade. The doe-foot applicator holds a little well of product, which can apply too much to the lips if you're not careful. This, coupled with my ineptitude, is most likely why I use a brush. Still, once I've applied a base layer touch-ups are brush-free. Overall, these are on point and you can consider this me enabling you to buy them. Go.

NYX XTREME LIP CREAM | 05 BONFIRE ($5.99)

NYX SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM | 06 ISTANBUL ($5.99)


     While the other two I've shared with you are quite glossy, this NYX version is totally matte. The concept is a little different from anything else I've tried. It applies like a silky lip gloss but dries without any shine whatsoever. Naturally, the matte finish helps it to be longer wearing. On the other hand, it is slightly drying on the lips; but that can be easily remedied with a little lip balm applied first. I'm actually not the biggest fan of this shade. I do have my eye on both Addis Ababa (a bright fuschia) and Monte Carlo (a deep red). Regardless, I think the unique consistency is worth a gander if you like a matte lip.

     Alrighty dudes, that's it for me today. See you again tomorrow for my normally scheduled post!

xx
Rachel

Yooo.

So I had another post planned for today, but considering it was a holiday weekend and I work retail, and I am now spending my day in class, filming seemed to be a challenge. That post will be coming to you next week, so get excited! Anyway, today I'm just gonna share with you a quick FOTD because I needed a quick-fix to my lack of filming time. Without further delay, here you go. And everyone appreciate the fact that I was taking selfies for this in the computer lab during my break. Which is also why I will apologize for the terrible lighting. Enjoy your day and I'll have a full post up next week!

xx
Tessa

Okay, so, I am throwing in the flag as far as filming goes for another week. However, my brother is working on my camera so hopefully this situation can be remedied in a soonish fashion.

     Hello sweeties, so it might be a bit strange to do a post on my May faves in June, but how else will you know what were your favorites in May until it's over? I have five products here that I am absolutely obsessed with lately. 

Neutrogena Micro-Mist in the color Deep. So, I am someone who loves to always have a healthy glow year round. I have tried various different canned spray tans, because I just cannot afford to have a 30 dollar custom spray tan done weekly. I have tried a few other brand of can spray tan but this one is my favorite. super easy to spray, and works almost immediately. Plus, it doesn't leave a weird spray tan smell. I found at CVS for the price of $10.99

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S Beat the Heat Thermal Shield Spray. I think we are all in agreement that when it comes to straightening, blow drying, and curling our hair we HAVE to protect it from the heat. I have tried tresemme and got2b's heat protectants and while I enjoyed them, they left a heavy feeling on my hair. Alas, I have found this beautiful spray at ULTA, it smells absolutely amazing as well as protects AND keeps your style. Found at ULTA for $5.99

Garnier Skin Renew BB cream, in light/medium. Instead of foundation during the summer I enjoy using a BB cream. Much lighter, protective of your skin, and in my experience has made my complexion look better under my bronzer. BB cream is really something everyone has to experience for themselves, so if you're looking for a brand to try, I personally would recommend Garnier. Found at CVS for $12.99 

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil 002 Hazel. I'm a very big person on eyebrows, they're sort of my "thing". I like to maintain mine and like to help others fix theirs. I've tried a few different eyebrow pencils that have somehow managed it into my make up drawers but my absolute favorite is Rimmel London's. Super easy to blend in, and comes with a little brush on the top to maintain unruly eyebrows. (also, a little tip I use when finding your color, is to find a color one shade lighter than your eyebrows) Found at CVS for $3.49.