My New Favorite DRUGSTORE Mascara!

Do y'all love a new mascara as much as I do? I have a hard time spending a good chunk of change on a fresh tube because the rule of thumb is, most mascaras go bad after about 3 months. I don't see much sense in spending a ton when you have to toss it in a few months! I will say, being subscribed to monthly subscriptions like Birchbox and Ipsy are helpful because there is always a chance you could receive a new tube of a high end mascara. 

(Here is a link to sign up for Ipsy)

(My naked lashes)

As you can see above, my lashes are pretty lifeless. I have pretty long lashes but I never feel that they look voluminous enough. This mascara seems to have cured that. It's a good size tube that is double-ended, one end for the upper lashes, and one for the lower lashes. I like the formula, it's quite thin and wet which isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's my favorite kind of formula because I feel that it coats all of my lashes individually, which helps them look more voluminous. I used to be an avid user of Clinique's Lower Lash Mascara but it can be a pain to make a special trip to a Clinique counter or Sephora. I have a terrible problem with my lower lashes smudging and I end up looking like a raccoon by the end of the day! Maybelline's formula for the lower lashes hasn't smudged on me once, so I'm knocking on wood because so far I haven't found any other Drugstore lower lash mascara!

As you can see above, the eye on the left has the mascara. The lashes looks much longer and much more curved. I love how the lower lash mascara isn't too dramatic, it just separates the lashes and defines them. 

After a little research I found the prices at some popular drugstores:

Ulta, Target, Wal-Mart, and CVS

Please let me know if you gals try this mascara and what your thoughts are on it! xoxo

Little Leprechaun

I have always been a gal who LOVES themes. I have always loved holidays and celebrating even the smallest ones. Give me the opportunity to throw a themed party, and I go all out! But, is it just me or does St. Patrick’s Day always seem to fall on a weekday? Maybe that’s why I can’t seem to remember really doing much for this holiday. I did go to a few parades as a pre-teen but the most I’ve ever done is wear green to avoid being pinched!

(Eyes)Too Faced- Lashgasm Mascara; Too Faced Shadow Insurance; Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 hour Eyeshadow- 200 Ready, Set , Green; Too Faced Eyeshadow- Lucky Charms; (Brows)MAC Eyebrows Crayon- Brunette; Sonia Kashuk Tinted Brow Gel; (Face)Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad- Canyon Classics; NYX Phot Ready Concealer- CW01 Porcelain; Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer- Ultra Light; Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation- 010 Light Porcelain; City ColorBe Matte Blush- Fresh Melon; Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- 001 Creamy Natural; L’Oreal True Match Powder- C7 Nut Brown; Make Up For Ever HD Powder; Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser; Stilla Eyeshadow- Kitten; (Lips)Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick- 109

For these looks I wanted to do more of a wearable look and then one that is a little more dramatic. I’m not usually one to wear color as I find a neutral eye suits me best, but I really do love coordinating looks around holidays. For both of these looks I used the same green shadow, and in the second look I amped it up with glitter, thick liner and false lashes. 

(Eyes)

Too Faced- Lashgasm Mascara; L’Oreal Infallible Slim Eyeliner Pen- Black; Stilla Eyeshadow- Kitten; LA Splash Splash Proof Eyeshadow Sealer/Base; Milani Liquif’eye Eyeliner; NYX Glitter on the Go- GOG 20A Sour Apple; Too Faced Shadow Insurance; DUO Lash Adhesive- Dark tone; Andrea False Lashes- #53; (Brows)MAC Eyebrows Crayon- Brunette; Sonia Kashuk Tinted Brow Gel; (Face)Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad- Canyon Classics; NYX Phot Ready Concealer- CW01 Porcelain; Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer- Ultra Light; Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage Foundation- Fair; Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- 001 Creamy Natural; L’Oreal True Match Powder- C7 Nut Brown; Milani Baked Powder Blush- 5 Luminoso; Make Up For Ever HD Powder; (Lips) Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick- 109

I tried to use a combination of drugstore products and a few high end. As someone with a chronic illness (y’all, those medical bills are NO joke), it’s important to try and find beauty products that work well but that are also affordable. I know that most months it’s more important to pay that bill rather than go to Sephora. Don’t get me wrong, as a Spoonie it’s also important to treat yourself every once in a while. Unfortunately with Gastroparesis I don’t get to treat myself with yummy food, so I choose to treat myself with makeup goodies! 

Let Me Introduce Myself....

Hi Y'all, I'm Elisa Anne

I'm at 20-something year old Floridian that currently resides in the Tampa Bay area. 

I say "y'all", and "reckon", and can cook any Southern delicacy you can imagine.

My boyfriend Ian and I (you'll meet him later on) lived in New Orleans for a year but then moved back to the Sunshine state since I'm a huge baby and I was incredibly homesick. Hey, I'm Southern which means I'm VERY close with my Momma.

It was actually a blessing in disguise moving back, because just a few months after moving back and starting my first big-girl job I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis.

The day we decided to move to New Orleans.

 Gastroparesis is a Chronic Illness that directly affects how quickly your stomach digests your food. In my case in takes my stomach over 8 hours to digest what the normal person's stomach can digest in 45 minutes. It can cause extreme nausea, dizziness, malnutrition and a whole long list of problems.

I have been a makeup enthusiast for many years but I've been doing freelance work since 2011.  My boyfriend will vouch that in the last couple of years my enthusiasm has grown, or even out-grown!
Since being diagnosed with a chronic illness I've had to change my beauty routine as my symptoms change. With this blog I hope to share how I adapt to the change. I plan to share beauty and fashion looks that will work for my Spoonie sisters (Google the Spoon Theory if you're not familiar) and all my healthy sistas out there too.

I am VERY involved with my Pinterest. We have a very close relationship, I am on my app at least once a day....or all day.  I am constantly testing GP friendly recipes that my boyfriend will also enjoy and I am always crafting or piddling around with DIYs. I'll be sure to bring you along on those adventures.

Please make sure you stay tuned because there will soon be makeup tutorials filmed by yours truly. Have you ever tried talking to a camera? You feel like a nut job, so please be patient. xoxo