2 Year Blogaversary

It's been another year! Which means it's been 2 years since I started BJB, which is...really freaking weird to think about. I feel like this blog has grown and changed with me; this past year has seen a move away from just reviews to things completely unrelated to beauty (depression, sexual assault, crap why is grad school so much work). Other things have started taking up more of my time, but y'all keep reading my sporadic posts, and for that, I thank you. This blog is a place for me to talk about pretty things, and ugly things, and things that interest me, which has certainly shifted over time, so I'm very grateful that you've decided to accompany for the ride, bumpy as it is!

It wouldn't be a BJB blogaversary without a giveaway, now would it? Since I am currently overwhelmed with work, I'm going to make this an electronic gift so I don't have to worry about getting to the post office (but hang tight for the end of the term, when I'll have a giveaway with physical goods!). Namely, a $20 gift certificate to Sonoma Scent Studio, maker of some of my absolute favorite perfumes (Forest Walk, Winter Woods, and Jour Ensoillelé are particularly beloved, but I really like pretty much everything I've tried!). This is open to US and Canada residents, must be of legal age, etc., and will run until May 26 (1 week). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is also the 1 year anniversary of my first date with the boy, so I made him anniversary chocolate-dipped chocolate chip cookies. It's been ages since I've baked anything, and making these reminded me how much I enjoy it! Now I just need more time...

sea of cookies!

The recipe, should you like to recreate the magic for yourself, is:

Becca Beach Tints in Watermelon and Fig Review and Swatches

During Sephora's sale (I'm a little behind the times, shush), I picked up the Beach Tint Duo mini tubes in Watermelon and Fig after reading Liz's review; while she found Fig to be too light to be worthwhile, I figured it might be a nice neutral blush on my pale skin, and Watermelon is just the prettiest, happiest pink. I don't tend to gravitate towards cream blushes because I dislike getting my fingers blushy, and the process of rubbing it into my cheeks turns my skin red and therefore makes it very difficult to see how much I have applied, so I also picked up the Real Techniques Stippling Brush to use with them.

They're adorable, you guys.

Introducing: What's It Worth?

Hi! It's been pretty much forever since I've posted anything (and even longer since I've posted anything beauty-related!). I have tons of stuff I want to share with you, but simply don't have the time to post every day, so you can look forward to seeing new stuff for the next couple months!

I'd like to start my posting blitz with something not-so-beauty-related: a mg scale. I read Brightest Bulb in the Box, written by a science nerd (highest praise!), and you should really read it too. Go. Now. She posts frequently, her reviews are hilarious and expletive-laden, and her sciencey information posts are very enlightening. But anyways. One time she posted about how many swipes are in a lipstick, which she measured by weighing lipsticks before and after application on a mg scale. At the time, I did not have a mg scale, but mentally made a note to pick one up, because I thought it was such a good idea. I love precision! I've been migrating towards natural skincare, including diy vitamin c serum, which benefits from precise measurements, so I decided that was a good enough reason to get one (the fact that it was less than $20 on Amazon helped).

Gemini 20 x 0.001 g scale via Amazon, where I bought mine

Mine only weighs up to 20 g (0.705 oz), so I can't weigh many of my products on it (anything in glass, for example, is too heavy, and most of my high end makeup is very weighty), but I've been playing with things that I can weigh, from which I figure I can extrapolate. That brings me to my newest page feature: What's It Worth? Featuring the number of uses, and cost per use, of some of my products. These should be used as an estimate only, as the amount I use could be different than you, and similar products likely have differing densities, but I think it's fun anyways! Right now, it only includes a few products, all lippies, but I'll be adding to it over time. Head on over and check it out!

Meet Harper

She is my new camera.

via B&H Photo (where I bought mine)

Ain't she pretty? Here's her cousin wearing the lens and flash.

via B&H Photo

I haven't had the chance to take any photos yet (save a few goofy shots of the boy), but I'm going to try and find some time the next few days. I have so many things to show you!

How are you all doing? My week has been rather overwhelming for personal reasons, but it's beautiful and sunny here, so even though I have a mountain and a half of research and work to get through, I can look outside and see the flowers blooming!

Blue Lipstick

I was wearing a blue, black, and white floral dress yesterday, which I matched my eyeshadow to (Inglot 428 on the outer half, theBalm Stubborn on my lid, theBalm Sassy patted on the center, Inglot 352 above crease). The boy suggested I wear blue lipstick as well, which of course inspired us to go looking for blue lipstick looks. Our favorites were all darker, richer blues rather than lighter, brighter ones, in particular:

via allwomenstalk

via lucipussycat

via Jarnsaxa

Not something I would necessarily want to wear, but I have to say I do find them very interesting! Now I kind of wish I had occasion to wear something so unorthodox...

What do you think of blue lipstick?

Sweet Anthem Perfumes Mini-Reviews, Part II

I ordered a new camera, and even sprung for a pretty nice one––it's only money, right? I figured it might be nice having one that can take legitimately good pictures when I'm in Europe this summer. Once it arrives, I will get to swatchin'! For now, have some perfume reviews, which need no photographs.

Sylvia (cedarwood, champagne, mistletoe, osmanthus, tuberose): "Champagne" is a very apt note to include in the list, as Sylvia just tickles the nose. She's floral and aldehydey, but unlike many aldehydes, she's not sharp or forceful––the champagne just adds fizz and happiness to the delicate floral base. It's really fun and pretty, and perfect for spring.

Sleek Original i-Divine Palette Review and Swatches

At some point in the last couple years (which was the last time I'd checked, ha), Sleek Makeup of the UK changed their shipping prices such that they're now insanely affordable for us here in the US, so I decided to order from them after finishing last term's finals. (Does anyone else find that stress –> makeup explosion? The past few weeks have definitely attested to that reality in my life, ha.) I wanted a ton of stuff, but managed to restrain myself to just this one palette, as I was wanting an injection of color into my eyeshadow collection. And color, this provides!

Sweet Anthem Perfumes Mini Reviews

Larie gave me a bunch of perfume samples when I met up with her, and I've slowly been making my way through them. Today, here are my thoughts on a few from Sweet Anthem, a Seattle "micro-perfumery". Many of them are no longer available, but I hope my notes give you an idea of what to expect (spoiler alert: high quality, lovely scents).

Lucille (amber, jasmine, linden blossom, rosewood, sea salt, tonka bean): Though nothing particularly sweet is listed (save tonka bean, and even that isn't sweet so much as vanillic), I swear there's some fruit in this. Fortunately, it's balanced and light and very pretty. The linden blossom comes through nicely, giving it a very springy air, and though I can't smell the amber, it must be there to help anchor the scent because it manages to wear for several hours. Happily, this one is still available! If you're wanting something springy, you should absolutely give it a go.

CoverGirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation in Ivory 805 Review and Swatches

The product in this review was provided by Ladies' Home Journal as part of the Beauty Ambassadors program. I am not being paid to review this, and I am quite sure they do not know I have a blog, but I figured since I got it (and gave them my opinion already), I should review it! I am in no way affiliated with CoverGirl, nor am I being paid to review this (duh). No links herein are affiliate links, blah blah blah. (Okay, FTC, are you happy?)

With that disclaimer out of the way, let me get to the review! I chose to receive this in the lightest shade, Ivory 805, and was frankly expecting it to be a disaster. They claim it is an "all-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step!" and that it "provides a flawless look that lasts all day long". I used a CoverGirl foundation many years ago and it was not the greatest, and this one makes so many claims that I prepared myself to be underwhelmed on all counts. I was wrong! Though it's still not the foundation for me.

30 Days: Day 20

Have you entered the giveaway?! 9 subscriptions, currently only 7 people entered...your chances are good ;) Ends tomorrow!

Only 2 weeks into the term and I am as overwhelmed as during finals. It's gonna be a great quarter, y'all. I'm holding out hope that I'll be able to find wee bits of time for the blog, but I apologize if my posting becomes even more sporadic than usual! For now, though, here's the last of the lippies: the reds! Because I have so many reds. I don't know how that happened. Then again, looking at these swatches, it's coming back to me...

Lipstick Queen Thriller: Very similar in finish and feel to Cosmos (below), but slightly less glossy.
Lipstick Queen Cosmos: Probably my favorite gloss, both because of the color (such a pretty berry-red) and formula (not really very gloss-like at all!). Currently MIA, because I am terrible at keeping track of my things.
L'Oréal Endless Red: Intensely pigmented, shiny, and long-lasting. A true red, very showstopping, and not something I find myself reaching for very often because it's so bold. I love it no less for that!