My All Time Favorite Beauty Buys

I don't know about you but I love nothing more than buying new makeup! I have a tendency to buy lots of it around the holidays because between finals and the holidays with family it's a nice little stress relief. That being said I'd love to share my absolute favorite beauty products with you!

NYX Cosmetics Studio Perfect Primer
$13 (Ulta, Target)
This stuff is seriously liquid gold! I have oily skin and this helps keep my makeup on, and keeps me from getting too oily in my T zone. It's a great dupe for Smashbox!


Younique Mineral Touch Liquid Foundation
$39 (Younique Products)
Bear with me here, for a college student this is a little pricey BUT it is amazing and it lasts forever! Seriously, I've had my bottle for almost 5 months now. I'm someone who has always struggled with acne and scarring on my face and this covers perfectly and never feels heavy. It's also free of harsh chemicals so it's actually good for your skin.


Younique Liquid Foundation Brush 
$32 (Younique Products) 
I know $32 seems like a lot but this provides the perfect coverage and it doesn't shed bristles which is something that I have always had problems with. 


NYX Cosmetics Ombre Blush 
$10 (Ulta, Target)
I originally bought this blush because the ombre color jumped out at me on the shelf and I thought it was pretty, but it's even better on! I'm currently loving the Mauve Me shade (pictured) for fall/winter. 


NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick 
$7 (Ulta, Target)
This stuff is a line of all nude/neutral liquid lipsticks. They are amazing, enough said. 


NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream 
$7 (Ulta, Target)
These are wonderful if you love a totally matte look. They have an awesome range of shades too. A lot of the shades are perfect dupes for Kylie lip kits!


NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
$7 (Ulta, Target)
If you couldn't tell I'm obsessed with liquid lipsticks, especially matte ones. This line is great because they are super pigmented.


e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator
$3 (Ulta, Target, Walmart)
I can't say enough how much I love this stuff, for a few different reasons. It's cheap, it works, it's a lifesaver during the winter, and it makes my lips so soft. Like I mentioned above I love liquid lipsticks, especially matte colors and they tend to settle into lines and dry out your lips. Not if you use the lip exfoliator first, I use it every day and it never fails me.


Dermablend Loose Setting Powder
$27 (Ulta, Sephora)
This is what I use to set my liquid foundation and it lasts all day! The rest of this line is also amazing for full coverage foundation, concealer, and more.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 
$31 (Ulta, Sephora)
Hands down the best setting spray I have ever used. If you're trying to save some money Ulta has a travel size bottle that lasts forever and is only $15. 


Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
$22 (Ulta, Sephora) 
I've used this stuff since the day I got a free sample and I won't ever go back, I just love it. It's not too wet and not too dry and it seriously does not clump, ever.


Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette 
$49 (Ulta, Sephora)
This is my favorite eyeshadow palette. I have green eyes and I love the shades of gold, brown, and purple. It also has a nice mix of shades for every different look. Just don't eat it 🍫


Tarte Double Duty Contour & Highlight Palette
$30 (Ulta)
Both highlighter and contour are in this palette, it lasts forever. I've had mine for almost a year now.


Real Techniques Mega Brush Set
$50 (Ulta) 
Honestly it's cheaper to buy brushes in a set than one by one. This set has everything you need for all the basics, and it's only $50 for 12 items. If you don't want to spend that much tell your parents to buy it for you for Christmas! 
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes
$12.50 for 2 (Ulta, Target, Walmart)
I've used these for years, they're perfect for taking off makeup before bed if you're too lazy to go wash your face, which I am. 
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
$18 (Ulta) 
This stuff is a miracle in a bottle. Best acne treatment ever. Put a dab on a pimple and it's 
totally gone overnight. 



That wraps it up! Hopefully I've introduced you to some new products you've never tried but you will love! Let me know in the comments if you use any of these or if you're going to try them!





Sushi Bowls: Easy Alternatives for College Cooking


Raise your hand if you love sushi 🙋
Raise your hand if you're also a broke college student who can't afford sushi 🙋
It's actually much easier to make, even in a dorm room, than you would expect!

Sushi Bowls are an easy alternative to rolling sushi, which is a little bit more complicated. Unless you have the sushi bazooka! I invested in one and it's actually pretty awesome. You can find the sushi bazooka here.

I recently bought a microwave rice cooker from Amazon and it is a lifesaver, I would recommend it to anyone, but it's especially convenient if you live in a dorm and don't have much space or ways to cook things. Added bonus: it's less than $15! You can find it here.
Contrary to popular belief everyone does get sick of mac and cheese and Ramen! 😂

Personally I prefer California rolls but I don't like cucumber so I substitute cucumber for cream cheese. That's one of the best parts of this recipe, you can add or substitute whatever ingredients you want! If you are planning on using fish make sure you are using sashimi/sushi grade fish or you risk serious illness. This is why I use imitation crab meat.


Sushi Bowls:

Ingredients
1 bag Nishiki Sushi Rice
Soy Sauce
1 package Imitation Crab Meat
2 Avocados
1 package Cream Cheese

Follow the instructions on your rice and the microwave rice cooker to cook the rice perfectly. Cut up avocados, cream cheese, and imitation crab meat into small cubes. When rice is finished cooking, chill in the fridge for approximately 15 minutes. Add rice to a bowl and cover with cream cheese, crab meat, and avocado cubes. Add soy sauce if you want, you can also add spicy sauce. Enjoy!