Top 5 Foundations For Oily Skin

Featured by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup

Starting the day off with a fresh face of makeup is a feeling like no other but it’s frustrating having your makeup go from matte to oily over the course of a few hours. Everybody should have that go too foundation that keeps your makeup matte and touch up free. Here are my top five foundations for oily skin.

#1 Revlon ColorStay foundation in combo/oily skin

This foundation retails for roughly $8.00 and comes in 43 shades. The formula has a satin/matte finish that with a setting powder will look completely matte. The foundation is medium coverage but is extremely buildable if you are going for a more full coverage look. This foundation provides a smooth, even base that blurs out pores without clogging them.

There are a few cons with this foundation such as it slightly oxidizes and it is not a 24 hour wear like it is marketed. But for the price point and the shade range, it is a great foundation overall.

#2 Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This foundation has become a fan favorite among the beauty community. It retails for $43 and comes in over 55 shades. This foundation has a matte finish and despite it being medium to full coverage, the foundation feels very lightweight on the skin. It is one of those foundations that doesn’t entirely melt in humid or extremely hot weather and with it being water resistant a day at the beach or being out in the rain isn’t a problem.

The one con is that this product does not come with a pump but is available for purchase is you choose to do so.

#3 Too Faced Born This Way

This product is known for it’s natural finish but still providing the long wearing, full coverage formula. This foundation retails for $39.00 and comes in 35 shades. It smooths out your skin, is light weight and has an oil free formula ensuring that your face stays shine free. People may think 35 shades isn’t much, but this shade range has a variety of undertones allowing everybody to find a match. It is meant to provide a skin-like look but will hide any acne, redness, scarring, or other problematic area.

The only con that has been pointed out about this product is that it does oxidize.

#4 E.l.f Cosmetics Acne Fighting Foundation

If you’re looking for a foundation to work with acne prone skin, this is the one. It retails at $6.00 with only 6 shades. People love the acne fighting ingredients that reduce breakouts. Not to mention, it is full coverage but will not cover all acne spots depending on how bad the breakouts are. Foundations can often clog pores and cause breakouts but with this product, the salicylic acid and witch-hazel within the formula fights acne allowing people with acne prone skin the comfort they deserve without worrying about bothering their skin.

The con about this product is the shade range has six shades total which doesn’t allow everybody the ability to test this product.

#5 Maybelline Fit me Matte and Poreless

This foundation is another fan favorite but at an affordable price! It retails for $7.99 and comes in 40 shades. People love this foundation because it does exactly what it says. Its medium coverage but is buildable in the areas where you want more. Although this foundation is not long wearing and will more then likely need one or two touch ups, it does the job and has a shade for everybody. This product is good for those who have an oily t-zone or specific oily areas.

A con about this product is that it is pumpless, and there are none that you can purchase for it.

How I Transformed my Oily Skin

by simplyhayleyk, posted in skincare

My whole life I have struggled with severe oily skin. For many, this may not be serious but as someone who loves makeup, it has become something that I have struggled with. Over the course of only a few hours, my foundation became a shiny mess and it made me feel embarrassed. I slowly stopped putting in the time to do my makeup unless it was for a special occasion or to go out because I would only have the makeup on for a few hours and I knew that my skin would get oily but not ridiculously oily. Not to mention, I have acne prone skin so finding products that work for me while also not breaking me out was hard. I became extremely tired of my skin so over the past two months I took it upon myself to take care of my skin and just try to make a change. I can safely say my skin is not as oily, I don’t have a lot of acne except for then normal amount that occurs during that time of the month, and my love for doing my makeup everyday has come back. This is how I did it because I know a lot of people out there struggle just like I did.

Products I Use

Before my makeup:

At night:

How Each Product Helps me

Both the Garnier micellar water and witch hazel just balances out my skin while also removing the dirt and oil that appeared over night. I don’t believe either of these products did a lot for me but they do indeed remove the dirt so its a nice alternative to washing your face every morning. I actually feel like washing my face very morning makes me more oily during the day so I choose not too.

My night routine is what really changed my skin. Now that I am wearing makeup a lot more, my skin is a lot more sensitive to dirt and oil which often will lead to my breakouts. At night, I remove my makeup with Neutrogena makeup wipes in the blue back, then wash my face with the Cetaphil everyday facial cleanser. The facial cleanser will remove the rest of the makeup which preps my face for the acne scrub without overly washing my face. The facial cleaner is just a nice way to ensure all the makeup that was resting on top of my sin is gone. The acne scrub is a very gentle exfoliate that really gets deep into the pores. I like using a scrub every night because it does get below the surface into all the pores and fine lines in my face. If I have one, I sometimes go in with a harsher scrub once every two weeks but because I haven’t needed it, I haven’t gotten around to buying one. After the scrub, I use my Nuskin toner and moisturizer. I feel like the toner really balances out my skin and the moisturizes adds back the moisture to my skin that all the cleansers stripped.

I never really believed in moisturizing my face just because every time I had done it, my face was just as oily as before but for some reason the Nuskin product soaks into my skin rather then laying on top. I will eventually do a whole post on Nuskin itself once I can test out more products and also provide a discount because it is a luxury brand meaning that it isn’t cheap. I am sure there are cheaper alternatives out there but there is no price tag on a product that really did what I needed it to do and I plan on keeping this skincare regimen until I feel like it isn’t doing great things for me anymore. It may also seem like I am hyping this product up as if I am in sponsorship with them, but I am not. The two products I have from them was the first step in me realizing how far my skin had come and that was a really amazing moment when I could go six hours and my makeup look as matte as it had when I had first done it especially after feeling so embarrassed for years when my makeup would be an oil fest.

When it comes to all these products, I use it how the directions say to on the back. I never exceed the amount they recommend and I even wash in the direction they say too. I am pretty sure it doesn’t make a difference but I was so serious about taking care of my skin that even I wanted to do even the littlest things right until it eventually formed a habit.

Where You Can Purchase These Products

Both Nuskin products can be found at Nuskin.com. Like I said it is pricey so I am hopeful that I will be able to provide a discount code for anybody who is interested.

The makeup wipes, Cetaphil cleanser, and Clean & Clear scrub can be found at any drugstore, Ulta, Walmart, Target, etc.

Why the Norvina Vol.1 Palette is a Must Have

by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup

The Norvina Vol.1 palette just launched on August 26th and I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the palette with two day shipping. I have had a few days to mess with the palette and admire the beauty of it. The packaging is a beautiful violet color with reflective details that appear gold in the photo above but it is more of a mirror affect. The palette itself feels very heavy and it comes bubble wrapped, wrapped in some tissue paper, comes in three boxes, and there is no extra space in the box for the palette to move around in. The palette did come in two days even with the launch being a very big one and the tracking information was always kept up to date so it was easy to know where my package was.

The Inside

The shades are organized by letters and numbers. It is A-E down the first row and 1-5 across (A1-A5 is the top row, B1-B5 is the second, and so on). I personally really like this because it makes it super easy to know at a glance what shade is which rather then trying to memorize names. The color setup of the palette is very eye catching because all the purples are together, the random miscellaneous colors are together, and then the “sunset” type colors are together. Although the colors aren’t perfectly grouped together, the layout is still very beautiful. Another amazing part of the palette is the giant mirror. This mirror is such a great addition because it makes the palette great to travel with and mirrors are always a must have no matter what. The background behind the shadows is black which makes the shadows look super vibrant and makes it easy to see the undertones of each shade, the reflects within the shimmers, and so on.

The Formula

I truly believe that this is the best formulated palette from ABH cosmetics. The shades are so pigmented with very minimal fall out compared to other ABH palettes. The formula is cruelty free and vegan so some of shades may stain your eyelids but it will come off after a day or two. The shimmers in the palette are amazing as well and compare very well to shimmers from other ABH palettes. I preferred applying these shades with my finger because they popped more. When I used a brush sprayed with Mac Fix Plus, the shadows didn’t appear as shiny as they did with my finger.

The matte shadows are highly pigmented. I believe these eye shadows are more pigmented then the Morphe x James Charles palette which I didn’t think was possible. They are extremely easy to blend and the shadows don’t get patchy which was a problem for me with the first Norvina palette despite it being one of my favorites from ABH. All the mattes in this palette that are very hard to formulate such as purples, apply beautifully and none of the shades budge once they are packed on but they still have the ability to blend with others and create a smooth look.

I Highly Recommend This

If you want this palette, it is online only at anastasiabeverlyhills.com, ulta.com, and sephora.com.

I highly recommend for anybody who loves creating a bright colorful look or people who want to start branching out and experimenting with bright shadows as it can be intimidating.

Top 4 Makeup Palettes for Fall

by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup

I know its only August but the need for summer to leave and for fall to come has been very real. Fall time is the peak for cranberry colored eye shadows and dark smoky eyes or the natural brown eye look with a bold lip. I have a large collection of fall themed palettes that can be used all year, but use mostly in this specific season. So here are my top 4 makeup palettes (of no specific price range) for fall.

Ps- these photos are taken of my current palettes so yes, they are dirty and covered in fall out but that just shows my love for them<3

# 1 Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Ring the Alarm Palette from the Vault Collection

Photo belongs to simplyhayleyk

This palette offers the cranberry, orange, and brown shades that people use for their go too fall inspired looks. This retails for $15.00 and can be found at Morphe locations, morphe.com, and at Ulta. Not only is this palette a great price but the formula of the shadows are amazing. The shimmers feel like butter and apply beautifully with your finger or a wet brush. The matte shadows blend great and overall the palette have a very nice color theme as do all the palettes from the vault collection. You have a great transition shade, a few good options for your crease shades, some gorgeous shimmers for the lid, and those deeper brown and burgundy shades to deepen the outer corner. This palette would create a beautiful look if you plan on heading out to a pumpkin patch.

#2 Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Armed and Gorgeous Palette from the Vault Collection

Photo belongs to simplyhayleyk

This palette is from the same collection as the Ring the Alarm palette I had mentioned up above. It also retails for $15.00 and can be found at Morphe stores, morphe.com, and at Ulta. The shades in this palette have just as amazing of a formula as the previous palette but something that constantly makes me reach for this palette during the fall is the bright yellow gold shade on the top row. This gold is absolutely stunning and is one of the most high-shine shadows I have every used. It catches light and brings attention to the look. The forest green color is also a beautiful shade and the pure white shimmer is perfect for your inner corner. This palette is perfect for a Thanksgiving makeup look or to pair with a cute burgundy top, black pants, and some brown boots.

#3 BH cosmetics x Sylvia Gani Palette

Photo belongs to simplyhayleyk

I have mentioned this gorgeous $24.00 palette in a previous blog post I did and it definitely is one of my favorites. This palette offers a wide variety of shades that can be used for the fall time and shades that can be paired with others from different palettes. You can truly do so much with this palette and you get two very blinding highlight shades as well. The shades may not be fall specific but it has several different color themes so everybody can create their own fall inspired look.

#4 Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette

Photo belongs to simplyhayleyk

This is an iconic palette from ABH cosmetics and is perfect for the fall time. It retails for $42.00 but it is a highly loved palette across the world. It has those very popular cranberry/ burgundy red shades along with the browns. The shadows have a very, very easy to blend formula and all ABH palettes come with a duel ended brush. One end is a packer brush and the other is a fluffy crease brush. The brush inside the palette is actually very nice. Besides the brush, I truly believe this palette should be in everyone’s collection. Those pigmented red colors may be intimidating at first but they can be as wearable or dramatic as you choose to make them and will eventually become a staple in your next fall look.

Top 5 Drugstore Beauty Products for Back to School

by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup
Credit: GotCredit via Flickr

Going into a new school year can be anything but exciting or it can make you feel the same type of happiness Christmas does. The best part of back to school is of course the shopping. You get to pick out some new clothes, school supplies, and eventually makeup. If its your first year wearing makeup or your sixth, here are my top 8 must have products for back to school.

#1 Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

This powder is the key to your makeup lasting all day. It is roughly $5.00 and can be found at every and all drug stores near you. Not only is it affordable but it also isn’t translucent so it provides a very tiny amount of coverage whether its on top of foundation or by itself. This is an essential in any makeup bag whether it is for beginners or professionals. Be aware, this powder does break easily once you start to hit pan, so if you keep this in your backpack or book bag make sure it is in a makeup bag in case it breaks.

#2 NYX Lip Lingerie Gloss

This lip gloss is perfect for any look. Not only does it come in a wide variety of shades, it also retails for $7.50. I feel as if anybody could wear this gloss because of the wide range of colors. This is a thick, pigmented lip gloss but it isn’t sticky like some thick glosses can be. The applicator makes it so easy to apply and this product is also amazing to layer over other lip products. You can find this at any place that sells NYX products but some stores such as target only carry select shades. Ulta carries the full range of shades as well as nyxcosmetics.com.

#3 Any Beauty Sponge

A key item in my back to school makeup bag is a blending sponge for touch ups. I love the Morphe sponge because it is $8.00 and I always carry one in any makeup bag I take with me or use at home. People also like the original beauty blender which retails for $20 at Sephora. This has been a classic since it came out, but there are much cheaper alternatives out there like the Real Techniques sponge, the morphe sponge, the Eco Tools sponge, and basic wedge sponges from the Dollar Tree that work just as amazing. You can find all these items at Ulta or at their designated websites. You can also find cheaper ones at Target and Walmart but trust me when I say that a sponge makes touch ups during passing period so much easier.

#4 Lip Balm

A lip balm is actually more of an essential then what was listed above. Some people don’t like a matte lipstick or the stickiness of a gloss so lip balm is definitely key. A lip balm will always keep your lips moisturized and can obviously be used with a face covered with makeup or on a clean makeup free face. You can always get a tinted lip balm to add a pop of color. I have personal favorites as I am obsessed with lip balm so I highly recommend Vaseline lip balm that comes in a circular pan, EOS lip balm, or just your basic Chapstick. You can find any lip balm at all stores including the Dollar Tree, a grocery store, Ulta, and everywhere in between.

#5 Hair Ties

Although this isn’t makeup related I feel like this is beauty. Hair ties are key for every girl out there. Some days can be hot or you could be having a bad hair day and need to get it up out of your face. Always having a few extra hair ties in your backpack can be reassuring especially if your current one breaks or you forget one at home. You can always buy scrunchies to spice up your hair no matter if its messy or put together. Urban Outfitters has some of the best velvet scrunchies and even amazon has a wide selection. Who knows, you may be helping out someone if you have hair tie to spare.

Top 4 Mascaras From the Drugstore

by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup

#1 The False Lashes Mascara Extreme Volume & Curl

This mascara is perfect if you’re looking for an affordable mascara that is truly black. It retails at $4.99 and is sold at Ulta or on essencemakeup.com. This mascara truly does at length to your lashes and is pure black so it is also great to help blend your real lashes into falsies if you are wearing some. Not to mention, this mascara doesn’t dry out quickly in the tube so a single tube will last you awhile. It is easy to take apply due to the brush being the perfect size for any eye shape. The applicator has soft bristles so nothing will be poking your eye or causing any irritation.

One con of this product is that it is 100% NOT water resistant so if you have eyes that water this mascara may not be the best match.

#2 L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

This mascara was a world wide must have for every makeup collection when it was first launched. It retails at $8.24 and is an amazing dupe for the Better Then Sex mascara by Too Faced cosmetics. This mascara comes in black and brown along with a waterproof version and a non- waterproof version. In my opinion, the waterproof one sticks to the lashes better and of course lasts all day. With that being said, the removal of this product isn’t the easiest but it is not the hardest mascara on the market to remove. This mascara makes it look like you have very natural false eyelashes due to the volume it adds and it makes your lashes look fuller.

You can find this at Ulta, any drugstore you have, or on lorealparisusa.com

#3 Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

This mascara is one that all influencers were using a few years back before Maybelline expanded their mascara line. With its iconic green and pink packaging, this product retails at $6.99. This mascara is very pigmented ensuring your lashes will pop but the formula is also buildable. The more layers you apply the more dramatic your lashes will look. People have often complained of the consistency of the formula saying that its watery so I recommend you let the mascara dry down before you blink or touch your eyes.

This product can be found at ulta, any drugstore, or at maybelline.com

#4 Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

This mascara was rated by Allure in best of beauty 2018. It retails at $8.99 and has been a fan favorite for many since its been put on shelves. People comment on how the formula doesn’t cause smudging and once on the eyes, the product won’t flake off. It also comes in a waterproof version just in case you prefer waterproof. Despite all its great qualities, if you’re looking for a mascara to make your lashes look dramatic this isn’t the one for you. It maintains a natural look but it also adds a little extra something if you like a clean and simple look.

You can find this mascara at Ulta, any drugstore, or at covergirl.com.

Best 3 Makeup Palettes under $30.00

by simplyhayleyk, posted in makeup

#1 Sylvia Gani x BH Cosmetics

This palette is one of my all time favorites. It retails at $24.00 with two highlight shades, one being for lighter skin and the other for darker or you can mix the two for a nice light golden color. There are 20 shades including matte browns, pinks and purples, one blue, one green, and a few shimmers that tie in those color groups. Its a versatile palette allowing for many creative looks to be made whether it is glam or an all natural look. The shimmers are very pigmented and go on beautifully with your finger or a wet brush. The mattes blend out very well with each other and other shadows from different palettes.

This palette is available online at bhcosmetics.com, ulta.com, and in store at Ulta.

#2 Morphe 3502 Second Nature Artistry Palette

This palette retails for $24.00 and has 35 shades. This palette just like the other Morphe palettes has very pigmented matte and shimmer shadows. The bright red matte shadow is the star of the palette and will surely bring a pop of fire to any look you choose to create using it. The shimmers are apply great with using your finger or a wet brush. I recommend the M124 brush by Morphe to apply any shimmer shadow with as it is the perfect packing brush.

You can purchase this palette online at morphe.com or you can check the availability for this palette at your nearest Ulta.

#3 Anything Colourpop

Although this isn’t one specific palette, Colourpop is one of those brands known for their quality and affordable prices. Their eyeshadow palettes are $12-$20.00 or you can buy single shadows and make your very own customized palette. These palettes cover every color range out there and some also have a color theme they follow. They also have frequent launches so I can assure you, there is a palette suitable for your taste. Colurpop also offers cream shadows which was one of their most known products until the pressed shadows stole the show.

Colourpop can be found at Ulta stores and at colourpop.com

Top 6 places for the Best Halloween/Fall Decor

by simplyhayleyk, posted in lifestyle
Photo Credit: Kevin Dooley via Flckr

Despite it being August, fall is right around the corner meaning that stores will begin to take out summer decor and bring in all things autumn. There is no need to pay a large sum of money for decorations that will only be put up for a few months then be stored away for until the following year, so here is a list of the top six places to find the best decorations for the upcoming season.

#1 Target

Target has become one of my all time favorites for everything holiday related. I hate to admit it but the excitement the runs through my body when I see the Halloween signs and the dollar section being filled with orange, black, and purple is a feeling like no other. Before you make your way to the specific holiday section of the store, stop by the dollar section as they have some hidden gems that would make a great addition in your home without breaking the bank.

The non dollar section of the store is also filled with amazing decorations. There are always some items under $20.00 that bring festivity to whatever room you are decorating. You may also find some Halloween specific makeup that brands come out with in light of the holiday and two of those brands are Elf cosmetics and Wet n Wild.

#2 Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is probably one of the most underrated stores to buy decorations at. Not only is everything a dollar (obviously), the decorations they come out with specifically for autumn are extremely cute. You can get some artificial flowers that they come out with for Halloween and display those or get things to place around the house.

#3 Home Goods

Home Goods always has great decorations for all price ranges. With it being a home decor store, they get a wide variety of decorations for all areas of the house. You can get everything from fall looking bath towels, kitchen decorations, or just something for a bedroom/living room. Home goods is also always getting inventory so you will always be able to find something that fits your taste.

Sister stores to Home Goods such as TjMaxx and Marshalls always have some great decorations depending on the location of the store.

#4 Walmart

Walmart is known for its prices and large variety of products but they also have a pretty decent selection of holiday decorations. You can find costumes, costume makeup, and decorations all within a few aisles. Walmart always has a great clearance section once the season is over so you can always shop for the following year. Walmart not only has the decorations, but they also have the candy and fun Halloween themed snacks for a good price.

Walmart and Target carry similar items but in my opinion, Target has more Halloween themed decor outside of their dollar section and Walmart has a nice mixture of Halloween and basic autumn decor. But both stores have the same price ranges.

#5 Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is known for their decorations. They carry a wide variety and also offer fun arts and crafts to make the decorations a bit more personal. The minute you walk into the store you are immersed into the decorations no matter the season or upcoming holiday. For the fall time, you are surrounded by orange and red leaves, all things pumpkin, and signs with cheesy sayings that so many people (including me) love.

Hobby Lobby is also known for putting out their holiday inventory so make sure to get there before the winter decorations take place of the autumn which may be sooner then we think.

#6 Your Local Thrift Store/ Consignment Store

One of the most underrated places to find affordable fall decorations is a thrift store. If you want a vintage vibe and don’t mind the items have been previously owned then a local thrift store is great. The prices are unbeatable and you never know what things you may find especially since most things in a thrift store or consignment store aren’t currently in stores everywhere else.

About me

by simplyhayleyk, posted in Uncategorized

Hello, my name is Hayley and welcome to my blog! Over the course of the past six years, I have formed a love for makeup, fashion, skincare, and everything in between. I started a YouTube channel in 2014 where I was able to share my love for makeup on a public platform but slowly lost motivation. Now I am back with more knowledge then my 13 year old self had and am ready to provide content that covers tips and tricks for all things beauty, the best products out there for different skin types, anything fashion, and so much more.