New Year's Resolutions (That Don't Involve Losing Weight!)

Christmas Day Makeup Look

2016 Beauty Favorites

Anastasia Master Palette Dupe?

December Ipsy Bag Review

Review: L'Oreal Pro Glow Foundation

As much as I wanted to try L'Oreal's popular Pro Matte foundation, I have dry skin and matte bases plus dry patches equals a big no-go zone for me. So when L'Oreal released a glow-friendly sister foundation, I immediately wanted to test it out!

Holiday Ulta Haul

Last weekend I went downstate to celebrate Christmas with my mom's family. My aunts took all of the older cousins out shopping and made stops at a lot of stores we don't have in the north--Target, Meijer, Ulta, and practical every store in the mall! I was mostly shopping for clothes but I had to splurge in Ulta. I also received some new releases from Maybelline in the mail just before we started the journey south so I've included those as well!

Review: Sephora Vintage Filter Palette

I have been looking for a more colorful, but still neutral palette to broaden my horizons with. While out shopping on Black Friday I popped into my local Sephora, which only caries the in-house brand, and their Colorful filter palettes caught my eye. They all look really pretty and there are a few different options: Vintage, Sunbleached, and Overcast. I was drawn to the Vintage palette immediately and the swatches seemed promising, so I made it mine.

How Much Have I Spent on My Blog?

I have had Beauty From Katie for over a year now and blogging has turned into one of my favorite hobbies. At first, I wasn’t committed to being a serious blogger but as I got more personally invested in my blog, and saw the opportunities that could come from it, I decided that I wanted to step up the quality a little bit. I don’t think there is a blogger out there who is perfectly happy with their blog but I love the direction mine is taking and I want to continue improving! Sometimes that means putting not just more time, but more money into it.

November Empties

And the monthly makeup decluttering continues! For a certified hoarder like myself, that is a major accomplishment and I hope I can continue it into December. Any product that I don't enjoy using or don't use often, I'm tossing or giving away. It isn't recorded here but I gave away a few eyeshadow palettes that I don't like, and I also went through my eyeliners and trashed the ones that are old! Hence all the liners in this post...

November Favorites

Is it just me or has this month seemed to drag on and on? I've had one exam after another! Thankfully winter break is in sight so I will be blogging a lot more, and my next semester should be easier than this one. Somehow I've managed to have only three days of classes a week! I'm really excited, and I'll be posting on my days off. 

Younique Moodstruck Mascara and Lip Gloss Review

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Younique and asked if I wanted to try out their Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes mascara. I had seen a review on The New Old Fashioned Girl's blog that showed very impressive results, and I'd always been curious about fiber mascaras, so I was eager to try it out for myself!

The Under $10 Challenge

It's no secret that I love high-end makeup. There's something so satisfying about saving up for a luxury product you really want and finally being able to go out and purchase it. It's even better if the product is a hyped new release and you're able to snag it!

The Blogger Tag

Confession: I haven't actually been tagged to do this, but I saw it on a blog recently and I thought the questions were really interesting! A lot of tags seem to repeat the same questions but this one has a lot of unique ones, which I enjoy reading and answering!

November Ipsy Bag Review

A Little Makeup Geek Haul

With the recent purchase of a Z palette, I now have the urge to fill it. I have a separate palette for my MAC shades so Makeup Geek is my top pick for single shadows! I placed an order over the summer so I already had a few shades, but they were more stand-alone ones and I couldn't create a good eye look with them. So, with that in mind and after reading many MUG palette posts, I placed a new order!

Collective Autumnal Haul

I was a bit naughty recently and had a little splurge at Sephora, TJ Maxx and the drugstore! Yes, my tiny little town finally got a Sephora. There isn't a ton to choose from as it mostly carries Sephora collection, but it's better than nothing! I've been testing out most of these products for at least a week or so, so I'll be including mini reviews in this haul as well.

Let's Talk About This Election

If you have been anywhere near social media today you will most likely know that Donald Trump has been elected the next President of the United States.

Ten Favorite Products From Ipsy

I've been receiving and reviewing Ipsy bags for more than six months now and I still get so excited when I see that pink foiled package in my mailbox! It's like getting a surprise present every month...from yourself. It's only $10 and each month I feel that the five products and the bag are worth the money. Often I find products that I love and would have never discovered without Ipsy. My bag reviews are usually first impressions so I thought I'd do a more in-depth review of ten products that I've been introduced to by Ipsy!

Christmas Wish List

Yes, I know it's only the third of November. No, I don't care that I'm already posting about Christmas.

Review: theBalm Nude 'Tude Palette

If there's anything I need more of, it's neutral eyeshadow palettes!

October Favorites

October has been a wonderful month for new beauty and pop culture discoveries so it was really difficult to narrow it down to just my favorites! It's also officially too cold for me and I will be bundling up until April. If you live in Michigan, you understand my pain.

Highlighter Collection

Although highlighters are usually very hit or miss for me, they're one of my favorite makeup items to buy. I have dry skin so anything that helps me glow is a must! I've recently purchased some new highlighters, gave away the 'misses' in my collection, and reorganized my stash so I'm ready for a highlighter collection post. Lets talk formulas, shades, pros, cons, and most importantly, glow-factor!

Everyday Makeup: Fall 2015 vs. Fall 2016

I first started my blog around a year ago and I remember being so excited to put together my first everyday makeup post! I was so proud of my makeup routine and some of the new high end products I'd gotten and fallen in love with. I thought it would be fun to look back on all the products I was using a year ago and see if I still love them, or if I've realized the error of my ways.

The Fall Favorites Tag

With the leaves at their color peak and Halloween just around the corner, there's no better time to talk fall favorites!

October Empties

It's not every month I do an empties post...but when I do, I include a crap load of mascaras!

Shopping My Stash #2

Every once in a while I find it helpful to go through my products and dig out ones that I love but I've been neglecting. I often get so caught up in trying new things that I forget about my old favorites! I went through each makeup category I have and I found a lot of products that need a bit of love. 

October Ipsy Bag Review

I was really looking forward to this months Ipsy bag ever since I learned the theme--"Black Magic"! I've been getting into the Halloween spirit a little early this year and I like that the theme fits with one of my favorite holidays.

Makeup by Mario Master Palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills: Review and Swatches!

As soon as I saw the Makeup by Mario palette on Anastasia Beverly Hills' Instagram I needed to have it. It's the perfect semi-neutral palette for me: plenty of wearable shades along with a few pops of color. I've been curious about Anastasia's eyeshadow formula for ages but the Modern Renaissance palette looked too warm for me, so when this one came along I snatched it up!

10 Amazing Eyeshadow Singles, Duos and Trios

I’m a big believer in the phrase “good things come in small packages”. When I’m in a rush or I’m traveling, I often don’t want to mess with an entire palette of eyeshadows. Lately when I’m not testing out a new palette, I’ve been reaching for smaller singles, duos, and trios instead! With less variety, there’s less to fuss over and I’m out the door much faster. Plus, some shadows just look amazing alone and don’t need anything to compliment them.

Glam Autumn Makeup

Regardless of the temperature, everyone is getting into the autumnal vibes and I'm no exception! Berry lips and nude eyes are all the rage, but for special events I've been going for a different look. I'm all about the metallics and autumn seems like the perfect season for a mix of metallic shades!

5 Most Popular Posts and Celebrating 1 Year

Around this time last year, a very special piece of the Internet called 'BeautyFromKatie' was created. I no longer know the exact date as I started on Wordpress and then decided to switch to Blogger a few weeks later, but in October 2015 I got up the nerve to start my own blog!

Blush Collection

I didn’t start wearing blush regularly until about a year ago when I started my blog. My skin, without foundation, is quite pink and I never saw the point in taking the pains to cover up the pink with foundation just to reapply it with a blush. However, I’ve definitely come around and I now use blush every day! My collection is probably mid-range in size (for a beauty blogger anyway!) but I use almost every one that I own and I think I have a nice range of wearable shades.

September Favorites

Since the fall semester began, time has seemed to speed up. My summer actually went by very slowly but the leaves are starting to change, I've had my first exams and every blog I read is full of autumn posts! I've had a look back on the past month and I've picked out several items that I've been loving lately.

September Ipsy Bag Review

This month my Ipsy bag arrived later than usual, so I gave into the temptation and started checking out what others received in their bags! This is always a bad idea as I start putting together my perfect bag in my head and I rarely get to try out those products. I was really eyeing the Tarte Tarteist mascara sample, but overall I'm happy with this month's Glam Bag!

Review: Too Faced Grand Hotel Cafe Holiday Set

That’s right, today I’m bringing you Christmas in September. Prepare to ditch your pumpkin spice lattes and start craving eggnog! The Too Faced Grand Hotel Café holiday set was released just last week, and I knew I had to have it. It includes three scented palettes, a little dollhouse container, and a sample of the infamous Better Than Sex mascara. I’ve been swatching and playing around with these since they arrived and I can’t wait to share my thoughts about this adorable holiday set!

The Ride or Die Makeup Tag

If you’ve been on YouTube lately, chances are you’ve seen the Jaclyn Hill Ride or Die tag doing the rounds with the beauty gurus. The idea of the tag is if you were to lose all of your makeup, which product of each category would you repurchase first? It’s a great way to see someone’s true favorites and I tried my best to narrow down each category, but it’s so hard!

A Colorful Colourpop Haul

Several weeks ago I decided that I wanted to try the Colourpop highlighters and a popular shade of their Lippie Stix, Lumiere. Then I discovered that in the US you only need to spend $30 to get free shipping, so needless to say I took advantage of that offer and picked up a few more items!

Morphe 35OS Palette Review and Swatches

With the leaves finally starting to turn, I want my eyes to match those gorgeous warm brown/red shades on the trees! Perhaps the perfect palettes for this time of the year are from the Morphe 35O collection, including the original 35O, the 35OM, and my most recent purchase, the Morphe 35OS.

While the 35O has certainly received a lot of hype for being an affordable palette that packs a punch, I’ve always been a bigger fan of shimmer shades so when I saw the 35OS palette available on Hautelook I added it to my bag and checked out as quickly as I could!

Drama TV Series Recommendations

Ten Autumn Nudes

Nude lipsticks are my absolute favorite to wear any time of year—they’re versatile, easy, and yet make you feel so much more put together than wearing nothing at all. In Autumn I like to go a little darker and more beige than my natural lip color, compared to the pink and peachy-toned nudes I choose in the warmer months. I had far too many to pick from when I was planning out this post, so here are ten of my favorite nude lippies to wear when the leaves start to fall!

Review: Becca Undereye Brightening Corrector

I’m not gonna lie, color correcting scares me. Putting green, red, or purple anywhere but my eyelids sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, I did want to try out the trend but in a more subtle way. The Becca Undereye Brightening Corrector seemed like the perfect way to try it out with little room to mess up—but how well does it work?

How I Did My Makeup in High School

Lately there has been a YouTube challenge floating around where beauty gurus demonstrate how they applied their makeup in high school. While I haven’t been out of high school for long, I still look back and cringe at how clueless I was when it came to makeup. I’ve learned so much in the past year or so and I’m amazed at how far I’ve come! But to truly judge how much better off I am now, I thought I’d take a flashback into the past and reminisce about my unblended, uncontoured and unmatched face…

The Haircare Post

My haircare routine used to be really simple, but in the past few months I’ve found products that work for me and I thought I’d spread the word! My locks are nowhere near healthy but they’ve come a long way, probably because I’ve been more strict about my haircare regimen and I’ve been putting in more effort to avoid damaging it further.

August Favorites

Unlike most months, August seemed like it lasted forever! Looking at some of my favorites, I barely remember adding them to my notes! As usual I’ve got some pop culture faves and a few new beauty products I’ve fallen in love with.

Detroit Beauty Haul

A few weekends ago I went on a trip to Detroit to see a Tigers game. Fortunately we got rained out so I didn't have to sit through nine innings of baseball (it's four too many if you ask me), but the best part of the vacation was the shopping! There are tons of malls to choose from with dozens of stores each, some high end and some more affordable.

My Summer '16 and What's to Come!

I’m not typically one to do lifestyle posts—for fun I usually just go to the movies and go shopping, nothing blogworthy. However, this summer has been really fun and I’ve actually done a lot of things that have been on my bucket list for ages!

August Ipsy Bag Review

Usually I find myself eagerly awaiting my Ipsy bag—I love being surprised by the products I get, and most of the time I get at least one or two items that I really enjoy and I use regularly. This month I had some debit card drama and had to get a new one. Ipsy couldn’t charge my card at the beginning of the month and by the time I updated my info, I wasn’t guaranteed to get an August Glam Bag. By the time the middle of the month passed I figured I wasn’t going to get it, but it arrived a few days ago!

Forty Beauty Questions Tag

If you know me you'll know that I love beauty tags! Thanks to Kathy from alongcamekathy.blogspot.com for tagging me in this, we have a lot in common so you should check out her answers as well!

Skincare:

How many times do you wash your face per day? 
Only once, usually at night. Any more than that and I find that my skin gets dry.

What skin type do you have?
Combination/dry, but in the summer it can be combination/oily.

What is your current facial wash?
The Biore Charcoal Cleanser.

Do you exfoliate?
Yes, once or twice a week!

What brand do you use?
I like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for a deep scrub or the Alba Botanica Pineapple one for something more gentle.

What moisturizer do you use?
I'm using a sample of the Hey Honey 24Seven moisturizer but it's almost gone and I'm debating whether to purchase the full size or go for something new!

Do you have freckles? 
Yes, but they're hard to see.

Do you use eye cream?
I have one but I forget to use it a lot!

Do you or did you have acne prone skin? 
Thankfully, no.

Did you ever use Pro active?
No, I've never tried any specialized cleansers.


Makeup:

What foundation do you use?
I use a couple of different ones but my favorite is the MAC Studio Sculpt.

How about concealer?
I like the Bareminerals Bareskin for blemishes and the Rimmel Wake Me Up for the undereye area.

Do you know your undertone color?
I think it's warm, but I'm not positive!

What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I've never tried them, I think it's too much maintenance for me!

Did you know you're supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yes, I don't always follow the rule though.

What brand of mascara do you use?
Maybelline makes my favorite mascaras! The Colossal mascara is my holy grail.

Sephora or MAC?
Sephora! I like MAC products but you get more variety and more brands with Sephora.

Do you have a MAC pro card?
No, I've never heard of that haha.

What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
Mostly brushes, I haven't liked the sponges I've tried.

Do you use makeup primer for your eyes?
Only if the shadows I'm using have a lot of fallout.

What about the face?
I recently started using the Nyx Angel Veil and I love it.

What is your favorite eyeshadow? (color or shade)
For single shadows I love NARS Himalia or Loreal's Amber Rush. My favorite palette at the moment is the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons, and I think I like Tarte's formula the best.

Do you use pencil or liquid liner?
Both! For natural days I like to line my upper lash line with a pencil and when I have time I like to try a wing with liquid liner.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Honestly, I don't think I ever have. I only wear eyeliner on the upper lash line. One time I forgot to shut my eye when applying foundation and I poked my eyes with a kabuki brush, if that counts.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadow?
I only have one or two pigment shadows. I prefer palettes.

Do you use mineral makeup?
I don't think so, I have some Bareminerals products but I'm not sure if they're all considered mineral makeup.

What's your favorite lipstick?
MAC's Honey Love is my go-to nude.

How about lipgloss?
I'm obsessed with Maybelline's Stripped Down.

What is your favorite blush to use?
I love Kat von D's Shade and Light blush in Mickey and Mallory!

Do you buy makeup on eBay?
Yes, I've only had one bad experience. I think the biggest issue is with popular items like the Naked palettes, NARS Orgasm blush, etc where there could be a market for fake items.

Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yes! They're a bit more hit and miss than high end products, in my opinion, but they can be amazing and much more affordable.

Do you go to CCO's (Cosmetic Company Outlets)
I've never heard that term before so I'm going to guess that I haven't.

Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?
A little, but not seriously.

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
I don't think so, unless it's on other people or I'm doing winged liner.

Name a makeup crime you hate?
Over-tweezed eyebrows. I never say anything but...yikes, I've seen some unflattering looks.

Do you like colorful shades of makeup or neutral shades?
I like a mixture. If I'm doing a bright lip I keep the eyes neutral and vice versa. I definitely go for more neutral looks!

Which celebrity always has great makeup?
I love Phoebe Tonkin's makeup and Taylor Swift's!

If you could leave the house wearing just ONE makeup item what would it be?
Concealer.

Could you ever leave the house without makeup on?
Yes, if I don't have time to get ready or I'm going somewhere where makeup would get ruined anyway like the beach or the pool.

Do you think you look good even without makeup on?
I guess so! It depends how my skin is behaving and if I'm allowed to do my hair in this hypothetical situation.

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
MAC can be overhyped but I think they have great lipsticks, foundations, highlighters, powders, eyeshadows, etc so overall they do well in every department whereas some other brands only have good face makeup or eyeshadows.

What do you think of makeup?
I love it! I always look forward to applying it every day and I love reading about it, talking about it, watching tutorials, shopping for it...it's like a hobby of mine!

If you want to answer these questions then consider yourself tagged, and let me know in the comment because I like reading them as much as I like writing them!

Xx Katie

Review: Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder

Who doesn't love a strong highlight? Whether you're after than Instagram glow or you want your cheekbones to be seen from space, an intense highlight has been all the rage?

Let me introduce you to a product that I think deserves a lot more hype: the Gerard Cosmetics Star Powders.

Recent Drugstore Purchases + Reviews

As of now, I'm going on a much-needed budget. I'm trying to finish up some products and save some money for the holiday season. Yep, I'm thinking about the C-word already! Not to mention those gorgeous holiday releases I've been seeing all over Instagram...my wallet is crying just thinking about it. But before I decided that I need to stop spending, I made a few drugstore purchases!

Lip Products on Rotation

I've been really enjoying experimenting with lip colors lately, whether they're bright and bold or light and nude. I've noticed myself reaching for these five over any others. Most of them aren't necessarily summer colors, but that means I can (and will) continue to wear them all year round!