Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money?

Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll share the best and the worst with you.

What it is: Dior Skinflash Primer- Radiance Boosting Makeup Primer

Why this should be in your bag: This product is pricey at $40, but it is multi-functional.  You can use it as a primer underneath your makeup, then throw it in your bag and apply it during the day to even out your skin and eliminate shine.  It includes Photo-smart pigments.  Okay, I have no idea what that means, but it must be good because it adds light to your face for an instant glow and makes you look refreshed even if you were up super late studying… or partying.  Instant wonderful glow.

How to use it: This primer has a built in brush, which makes it portable.  Just twist the base and the primer will flow into the brush.  Apply the makeup to the back of your hand and swirl the brush in, then apply to your face to make your foundation last or to look instantly refreshed. Read More »

When I was growing up, my dad always told me, “Caitlin, be prepared.”

I’m pretty sure he was referring to things like school work and job interviews, but I took that advice to heart….with beauty supplies.

Thanks to my dad I never leave the house without my big bag of beauty essentials. You never know what could happen on your way to class – blisters from your shoes, a sudden monsoon, laughing so hard you cry off all your mascara – so it’s best to bring along a few things to save you from a makeup meltdown. I’ll share with you all of my must-brings that have gotten me through all of my beauty emergencies and then you can customize your portable beauty bag to hold whatever you like (yeah, stacks on deck, Patron on ice…). Read More »

Few girls have unlimited time to spend in front of the mirror every morning – most of us are battling for that precious ten minutes of bathroom time with roommates or siblings. But a lack of time is no excuse for tired, puffy eyes and messy hair!

Invest in products that do more than one thing, saving you time, money, and space in your makeup bag. Here are the ones we can’t live without: Read More »

I’m kind of in love with personalization. Whenever I spot a monogram, I’m instantly taken back to memories of elementary school–naps, milk and cookies, frilly dresses and labeled everything. Backpack, clothing, and blanket included. Not only was this trend adorable, it was also insanely helpful when you left your beach bag at the pool or your mittens on the bus. If it had your initials on it, you could get it back.

Obviously, this is the perfect feature to apply to a college-friendly accessory.

This is where The Little Letter steps in. The company provides “unique personalized gifts” for babies, children, and adults. For a monogram lover, the adult offerings are to die for. Chic jewelry, cozy robes, and cute clutches can all be personalized with your initials. My favorite offering from the site, however, happens to be their Emma Cosmetic Case.

The Emma ranges in price from $30-62, depending on your style choices, and girl, you get to pick everything. We’re talking the size of the bag, fabric, monogram fabric and color, and monogram format. There are over 100 different fabrics to choose from! Personalization to the max! Plus, the bag is coated with clear vinyl so it’s easy to clean and won’t stain. No one will have anything like it, and because your initials are on it, your roommate can’t take it and claim it as her own when everyone tells her how cute it is (like she did with your favorite tube top, your American Apparel deep V tee, and that brownie your mom sent you…)

Personally, (hee hee) I’m going to be adding some lower-school nostalgia to my back-to-campus shopping list with help from The Little Letter!

Usually I hate when things happen ahead of season, like when Halloween stuff starts popping up in August, or when Christmas decorations are everywhere in September.  In general it is just plain wrong.  I don’t need a blow up outdoor Santa snow globe before Halloween has even passed.  Actually, I don’t need one of those at all.  Ever.

However, there’s one thing that I don’t mind arriving a wee bit early, and that’s next season’s makeup trends (or any fashion for that matter); it’s never too early to look into/play around with the new fall colors.

Now’s the time to get your makeup bag ready for fall and I’m here to help. You should be glad I’m not actually there with you, because I’d be trying on every lip gloss you got and curling my eyelashes instead of really helping. But I digress. I’ll tell you what to keep, what to toss, and what to buy for Back To School season.

You don’t have to do it right now (obviously), but just keep your eye out for the colors of fall and prepare yourself to part with the makeup of the summer. Read More »