July Vegan Cuts Beauty Box

I mentioned in my July Petit Vour post that both of Petit Vour's and Beauty Box's July boxes were co-currated by vegan bloggers. For this months Beauty Box, Sunny of Vegan Beauty Review hand-picked all the products. If you aren’t familiar with Vegan Cuts they offer both snack and beauty boxes. For $19.99 a month, a beauty box contains 4-7 vegan, palm-oil free and cruelty-free products ranging from sample to full sized items. 

Lets take a look at my July box!

June Favorites

It's been really great getting back to blogging and I hope you guys have been enjoying my posts. If you ever have any questions, comments or suggestions please let me know!

With that aside, I'm excited to show you guys my favorite products for June.

Summer Trends: Bronze & Glow

This is not a new trend for summer per se. I thought I would add it onto my list of summer trends as a friendly reminder. Summer is about the sun-kissed bronzy skin. But assuming everyone is wearing a good amount of SPF, it's harder to achieve that tan. Thankfully we have bronzers and they'll give you that natural tan look. In addition to the bronze, there is the glow. Highlighters waken up the face and give you just enough dewy, with just enough radiance. 

Blogging Hiatus: Grab a coffee and lets catch up.

Sadly, it's a bit obvious that it's been months since I've last blogged. I had been really focused on progressing in school and work this past semester. It was all a lot more difficult and time consuming then I had originally thought, go figure.

Anyways, I am really excited to get back into blogging. This break has given me the opportunity to think about why I started this blog and if I truely want to continue. I obviously have a love for everything beauty, though my friends would say I’m more obsessed then anything. From the start of my exposer to beauty, I knew I liked it in more ways then just want it could do to my face. As I delved into the industry, I was in awe with all the smoke and mirrors. Honestly, haven’t we all fallen into that trap? As I kept investigating there were things that became clear to me, both on a logical business sense and ethically. I just didn’t like what was behind all the things I originally fell in love with. Being someone who not only had such a strong interest in beauty but also a love for politics and research I began focusing on researching different cruelty-free brands and products. When I decided on switching to strictly cruelty-free brands, I felt like I was doing this confusing transition alone. I wondered if others felt like that too and I wanted to spread my thoughts, ideas, reviews somewhere where others could read it. It all led me to start this blog as an outlet and journal to track my shift into cruelty-free beauty. 

I’m really looking forward to continue sharing and seeing where this takes me. I also started an instagram account for the blog where I’ll be posting beauty and lifestyle photos, @theurbanbeautyjunkie. I’m really glad to have the opportunity to continue this and I really wanted to thank you for reading this. 

Review: Urban Decay Razor Sharp

This winter is definitely dragging and I cannot wait for the spring time, and for someone who loves the cold that says a lot. So I am hoping everyone is staying warm and drinking a ton of tea. Today I am reviewing Urban Decay's Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing Powder. Check it out...

Review: The Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Urban Decay is an American cosmetics company that was founded in 1996 by Sandy Lerner. The idea behind the brand was to fight the status quo of pink, red, and beige. They introduced a rebellion in make-up.

In 2013 they were acquired by L’Oreal and for a brief month (June-July) had decided on selling in China where animal testing is mandatory in order to sell. However after consumer out cry they decided against it and maintain a cruelty-free title. They do offer select vegan products but are not a complete vegan company.

On their site: http://www.urbandecay.com/about-us/about_us.html

Now for the swatches and review!

Review: The Urban Decay Naked Palette (1)

There has been an obvious decrease of posting, unfortunately. I just accepted another job on top of the one I currently have while still going to school full-time. This wasn't as well planned as I originally thought. However, I will not let that bring me down. So though the posting per week won't be as high as I would like it to be I am definitely still here. Now enough with this stuff, lets get to the review. 

Urban Decay is an American cosmetics company that was founded in 1996 by Sandy Lerner. The idea behind the brand was to fight the status quo of pink, red, and beige. They introduced a rebellion in make-up.

In 2013 they were acquired by L’Oreal and for a brief month (June-July) had decided on selling in China where animal testing is mandatory in order to sell. However after consumer out cry they decided against it and maintain a cruelty-free title. They do offer select vegan products but are not a complete vegan company.

On their site: http://www.urbandecay.com/about-us/about_us.html

Now for the swatches and review!

Monthly Favs: August

I know I am a bit late for a monthly favorite but its my blog and I can do what I want ;). August has come to an end and though it saddens me a bit to have to go back to school I am excited to see what September has in store for me.  So lets get down to business and here are my favorite everything for the month.

Music: Washed Out "Paracosm", Artic Monkeys “AM”, Yppah "Eighty One"

Movie/TV: The Devil Wears Prada & Scrubs

Book: Bossypants by Tina Fey

Face: Hourglass Primer, SW Basics Lip Balm, Too Faced Better then Sex Mascara

Body: LUSH King of Skin Body Butter & LUSH Almond and Coconut Shower Smoothie

Hair: LUSH No Drought Dry Shampoo

Blogs:  cupcakesandcashmere.com

theconversation.tv (Okay, it's literally the must amazing webshow on the internet. So inspirational and eye opening. Definitely give it a watch, even if it’s a single episode.)

thechalkboardmag.com

Food: They’re more like a snack but frozen grapes have been my jam this month.

Flowers: I am a huge flower person and what I love about the warmer weather is that my favorite flowers, peonies, are in season. They have such a brief window but I got as many as I could last month.

If there is one thing you could try or watch from my monthly favorite it is theconversation.tv and the SW Basics Lip Balm (Review coming soon.)  So that is that, I hope August treated you well. Here is for an amazing September! 

Beauty Talk: What is Animal Testing?

In my “About Me” I mention that the company I currently work for inspired me to seek cruelty-free beauty products. Though that is true I also did my own research before coming to any conclusion. What I am hoping to do every other week is to bring up different topics and research them, so you can learn a bit more about it and have the ability to make your own opinion. For my first post I decided to write about animal testing since it seems so fitting. I will also be linking the sites I’ve obtained information from. I hope you guys enjoy this and learn something new. If you have any question, comments, or suggestions for future topics let me know!  

Fall Trends: Clean Crisp Lines

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It is the most simple and classic of looks but yet so difficult. The idea of liner is not brain science, take your desired weapon (pencil, gel, marker, or liquid) and draw a line across your lash line and a wing if desired. But once you put it into practice and it's a different story. I’ve worn eyeliner practically everyday for almost 5 years and it’s still a nerve racking task. However, at the end of the day if I don’t have my liner on I feel incredibly naked and less like myself. 

I’ve come to realize that the shape and thickness of my lines shift with the season. The spring and summer bring thinner, wispy lines. But my oh my, once the leaves touch the ground I go to 0 to 180. My lines become so dramatic and winged, my own personal weapon. So considered me thrilled that there is a need for dark thick liner this Fall, which is a nice mix from the usual bare face or day time smokey eye that's been on demand. To achieve this crispy clean line you’re going to need your selected liner formula, a lot of patience, and a ton of cotton swab. My suggestion would be to practice, practice, practice and to start with a thin line and work your way up from there. 

If you’re still new to the idea of eyeliner that’s totally fine. It is definitely scary at first but you’ll get the hang of it with not only practice but also with the range of formulas. From gel liner, pencil, liquid liner, and the quick emerging marker liner. When I first started with liner countless guru’s promised the gel liner would be the best and “easiest” for beginners. After numerous attempts I beg to differ, gels and pencils just don't do it for me. Of course I’m not saying you should never use them but it’s just my personal evolution with liner. It is all about experimenting until you find what works for you.

Fall Trends: Nails

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It is common knowledge that I have a problem when it comes to cosmetics, but nail polish is a whole different ball game. I am what you would call a hoarder when it comes to nail lacquers. I hit rock bottom when I successfully collected enough nail polish for two years if I changed colors once a week. After going cruelty-free I’ve used up my favorite colors and given most of them again so now I am starting from scratch and it couldn’t come at a better time. I personally prefer a nude beige based color or dark purples and reds. Anything else just doesn't feel like me. However, I definitely will be giving the fall colors a try in order to get out of my comfort zone because at the end of the day what’s life if you don't mix it up a bit?

Over the years you begin to see a pattern within trends and beauty is no exception. There are definitely trends that have become more like staples then anything else. I introduced the idea in my post about berry lips and I’m bringing it up again for this one. Oxblood, olive, and cobalt are making a come back and it’s not surprising but it’s also not disappointing. Again, these are all colors that flatter every skin tone when using the right shade of color. Though these colors aren’t shocking or revolutionary don’t settle for just a plain double coat of color on your nails this season, make it your own. Add gems to it, do a fresh french tip, do an ombre. Don’t be afraid of trying new things.

Fall Trends: Bold Eyebrows

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Bottom: 1

My best friend and I like to joke that our lives are split in two parts. The first called “Before I filled in my brows” and the current part is “After I filled in my brows.” Yes I know what you’re thinking, can something so simple be so monumental? Oh darling, yes it really can be. You see the brows frame the face so if they look put together so do you and if they’re sloppy so do you, you get the idea. It's no surprise to see that bold, well-groomed brows have been seen all across the runways. I mean look at Cara Delevingne not only is she the new “IT” model but her eyebrows are banging. Or Lily Collins, who’s starring in one of the biggest pictures this year (and her eyebrows have their own twitter account.) It isn’t hard to find your eyebrow role model and though it’s scary and intimidating at first it’s definitely worth a try.

One of my all time favorite brands for all things eyebrows is Anastasia. Not only does the brand have a ton of different colors and formulas but they have the most amazing clear brow gel. I personally use and love the Perfect Brow Pencil. It has the pencil on one end and an eyebrow brush on the other. The pencil is pigmented and ever so soft which mean it glides nicely on the brows versus tugging at them. The brush on the other end is also such a perk. You can groom your brows and use the brush to soften the color of the pencil and create a more natural look. It also makes it so convenient to throw into your purse and touch up if needed.

I recommend trying eyebrow pencils, powder, or gels in person. Places like Sephora or Ulta are great for this because you can test them and if you don’t really know what to look for you can always ask an associate. It’s also more flattering to choose a color that resembles your own eyebrow color. If you go to dark it will look very exaggerated and borderline tacky. Go too light and you either lighten your brows to the point where they look fake and wash you out or it’ll look awkward on you. It’s so easy to want to do this on your own when it’s your first time but trust me you want to go to a professional so they can pick what’s best for you. After you get the hang of it feel more then welcome to decide on your own what will work best for your face. I say this because many tend to be too heavy handed when filling in their eyebrows which leads them to create a new pair of brows on their face. Make-up is meant to enhance your natural features so using a light, gentle hand and applying slowly while following your natural brow shape. The end result will be a fresh and flattering look. It’s all a learning experience.

Fall Trends: Berry Lips

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The chiller weather means a cooler, darker palette. Lip colors are probably the easiest to play with and change according to the season. Berry lips come back every year so its no surprise you’re seeing it again, it's a classic. So my darlings, put down those pinks and oranges and put on a rich berry color. It can seem very intimidating at first but please don’t be afraid to give it a try. It’s universally flattering on all skin tones and with so many different formulas you are bound to find your match.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of wearing such a deep shade or if you’re minimalist, a stain would be a great option for you. Stains are great way to test out colors and are easier to applier then a lipstick. You can either buy a sheer berry color stain or DIY. Apply a clear balm on to the lips, then gently tap a berry colored lipstick until you reached the desired shade. To matte it out use your ring finger and press onto lips.

If you’re ready to go head first and rock this trend then a opaque berry lipstick is what you need. Make sure that when wearing this look you keep the rest of your make-up simple. You don't want your make-up competing with one another or it will begin to look very animated. Applying such a dramatic color straight from the tube can be very tricky and get messy very quickly. I suggest starting with a clear lip liner to insure your color won’t bleed or disappear. Next, use a synthetic brush to apply the color while bloating in between coats. When you’re happy with the color use a cotton swab to clean around the mouth. Remember, you wear the color the color doesn't wear you. 

Good luck!