Top 5 Favorite Lush Bath Products

lushbath

Happy Thursday! As a blogger, it’s only natural to check your analytics. Over the past nine months of blogging here on mackenziekendall, I have noticed my most popular post ever is ‘The Lush Lowdown- part 1“. It makes me so happy to know I am not the Lush addict around here! Because so many of y’all are interested in hearing reviews about Lush products, I decided to share my top five favorite Lush products for the bath, which has been highly requested.

If you’ve used Lush products before, you know that they truly make your bath an ‘experience‘. Taking a bath or shower without any Lush products is just not the same; I am totally addicted. I’ve tried so many Lush products over the years, and these have been my all time favorites:

Read More

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Her

vdaypost 1. Pom-pom keychain | 2. Phone case | 3. Daisy perfume | 4. XO bracelet | 5. Essie ‘Fiji | 6. Heart sunglasses | 7. Statement earrings | 8. Candle | 9. MAC lipstick ‘Silly | 10. Fringe purse

Happy almost Valentine’s Day, friends! Even though I have been single every single v-day of my twenty years of life, I still get excited for it every year. It’s such a fun holiday to give gifts whether it’s for your bestie, mom, sister, significant other, or yourself! I wanted to share some fun & festive gift ideas with y’all (p.s. – I included a few more at the bottom).

I hope that you all are having a great week!

xoxo

shop-1024x164

My Current Makeup Routine

Hello, hello! If you know anything about me, you know that I absolutely love makeup. I’ve been obsessed since I was in about 6th or 7th grade, and I find playing with makeup just so fun! I get asked all the time about my makeup in my snapchats, so I thought I would share with y’all in detail my current makeup routine. It’s really hard for me to make a set ‘everyday day makeup routine‘ because honestly, I don’t always do the same identical makeup look every single day. It really just depends what I am feeling and how much time I have. For class, I usually just fill in my brows, swipe on a little shimmer brick and concealer, and go. If I go out with friends on the weekend, I will do a heavier eye makeup look with falsies or I’ll opt for a darker, bolder lip. If I have an interview, I usually swap out my favorite bold, pink lipgloss for something a little more subdued and neutral. However, this is my typical daily makeup routine when I am at home in Texas or when I just want to look more polished.

So without further ado, here are the makeup products I gravitate towards on a daily basis. You can click on each item in the picture to take you straight to the product!

1. Primer | 2. Foundation | 3. Concealer | 4. Cream highlighter | 5. Powder highlighter | 6. Blush | 7. Shimmer brick | 8. Matte bronzer | 9. Brow pencil | 10. Eyeshadow base | 11. Eyeshadow | 12. Eyeliner | 13. Mascara | 14. Lipgloss | 15. Powder

I have listed a step by step tutorial below of how I use & apply each of these products:


Read More

So 70’s

IMG_7836

vday7

vday3

vday2

vday1

vday5

IMG_7822

vday9

vday8

Jumpsuit (linked similar) |Fur Shawl (linked similar) | Platforms (c/o) | Necklace

When I think of wide legged jumpsuits and chunky platforms, I totally think 70’s glam. The 70’s is definitely my favorite decade when it comes to fashion and beauty. I thought this look would be perfect for Valentine’s Day date night or even a gal’s night. I love how this jumpsuit shows just the right amount of skin, and the faux fur shawl and bold heels really dress it up. I’ve linked some similar jumpsuits below! Also,  these chunky platform heels are actually now on sale – which is so groovy.

I hope you all are having a fabulous week!

xoxo

Photography: Dallastyle

shop-1024x164

Keepin it Casual

8 copy55

88

5 copy

3 copy 2

2 copy

collage2

IMG_2212 copy

IMG_2213 copy

Tee  | Sweatshirt |  Leggings  |  Converse | Backpack

Happy Thursday! Winter break is almost over for me, and college classes begin again this Monday. One thing I love about going back to school is having a valid excuse to break out all my comfy clothes again. For class, you can always find me in an oversized shirt and leggings. It’s quick and easy, which is what I am all about during the semester. When it comes to tshirts, I absolutely love the Free People tees. I have several of them now, and I wear them all year long. They are very versatile because you can wear them with leggings and tennis shoes or you can pair them with cute shorts and sandals. The one I am wearing here is in the color ‘Army‘ and is a size small.

Sometimes the library or the classroom can be freezing, so I always take a sweatshirt with me. I love Wildfox sweatshirts because they can easily fit in my backpack or be worn around the waist. They are also incredibly soft, and I love the sassy phrases that they all have on the front. I’ve linked some more Wildfox sweatshirts below; they are definitely so much more special than your average sweatshirt!

Let me know what your go-to casual and comfy look is!
xoxo

shop-1024x164

 

Brow Definer vs. Brow Wiz

brow1 copy

IMG_2030

IMG_2042

brows2

IMG_2048

Brow Definer | Brow Wiz

Perfect brows were all the rage this past year, and I couldn’t resist jumping on the band wagon in 2015. I have very naturally sparse brows, so I’m always trying out new brow products to fake fuller brows. Over the past year, I’ve been obsessed with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil (my sister, mom, and bestie love it as well). I’m not exaggerating at all when I say that I’ve purchased over five of them. The second I hear that clicking noise – letting me know the pencil has run out- I always run to the closest Ulta or Sephora ASAP. The Brow Wiz pencils are so incredible, have a great color selection, and do a fabulous job of filling in the brows. I heard that Anastasia Beverly Hills recently released a new, similar product, and I knew that I had to check it out to see if it was truly better than my holy grail brow product. I watched a few youtube reviews on the Brow Definer, which ended up not being too helpful given all the mixed opinions. So I headed to my local Ulta to try it out for myself. After swatching it, I was sold. I decided to pick up the color ‘Soft Brown’, which I have swatched above. The Brow Definer is described on the Ulta website as:

“This retractable mechanical pencil has a thick, triangular tip that outlines brows and fills sparse areas in one fluid motion. The smooth, creamy formula glides effortlessly to cover and define, while the soft-bristled end blends edges for a natural finish.”

The initial thing I noticed about the Brow Definer was the size. It is a lot larger than the original Brow Wiz. In addition to that detail, you also get more product, thus getting a better bang for your buck. The Brow Wiz is priced is $21 and .003 oz, and the Brow Definer is $23 and .007 oz. I go through the Brow Wiz pencils pretty quickly because I fill in my brows daily, and I have a lot of sparse sections to fill in. I figured it was worth the money to get the Brow Definer because it does have more than double the product amount and will definitely last me longer.

Not only is there a difference in the size, packaging, and price, there is also a huge difference in the actual product shape. The Brow Definer has a very slanted end that is much larger in size than the tiny, precise Brow Wiz tip. I find the Brow Definer very easy to use, and it does a great job of allowing me to fill in my sparse brows when I am in a rush. The Brow Wiz is definitely more time consuming, and it takes me a while to fill in my brows because of how small the tip is. However, the Brow Definer definitely takes half the time due to the shape and size of the tip. The slanted tip also makes it really easy to create a very natural arch to the brows and fill in the sparse areas with ease. I find the look of the Brow Definer to be a little more natural on me in comparison to the look that the Brow Wiz provides.

Brow Definer pros:

  • more product for your money
  • quicker to apply
  • slanted tip makes it easy to create a nice arch
  • great for sparse brow areas
  • comes in more shades than the Brow Wiz

Brow Definer cons:

  • slightly more expensive than the Brow Wiz
  • I prefer the small spoolie on the Brow Wiz
  • may be a little too large for those with very thin brows
  • may be too overwhelming and unnecessary for those with naturally thick and full brows

In summary, I definitely prefer the Brow Definer. Though I have been a huge fan of the Brow Wiz over the past year, the Brow Definer has won me over. Because I have lots of sparse areas in my brows, it can be very time consuming to fill them in- especially when I am in a hurry to get to class. The Brow Definer fills in my brows quickly and helps me easily create a nice, natural arch. The Brow Wiz may be a better fit for those that already have fuller brows and just want to just touch up a few spots. The Brow Wiz also might be better for those with thin brows. Anastasia Beverly Hills makes the best brow products on the market, in my opinion, so you definitely can’t go wrong with either! If I were to repurchase one of these two pencils though, I would definitely go for the Brow Definer for me personally. It’s fantastic, and I am so glad I picked it up.

Let me know what your favorite brow products are!

xoxo,

Mackenzie

P.S. Do y’all like my new camera lens? I found it in the back of my closet yesterday, so I thought I would switch it up!

Drybar Blow Dryer Review

drybar copy 2

IMG_1376

IMG_1381

IMG_1391

Drybar Buttercup Blow Dryer

 Gone are the days of holding my heavy blow dryer above my head for an hour, only to end up with frizzy, dry hair. Every year for Christmas, my sister and I get ‘one big gift’. When I told my parents that I wanted a blow dryer for my ‘one big gift’, they were beyond confused. I have very long, course, wavy hair that I have a love/hate relationship with. Though I do actually like my hair, the one thing that I completely despise about it is how long it takes to dry after washing it. One morning this semester at college, I washed my hair, got dressed, and headed to the library to spend my Sunday cramming for finals. When I came back home that evening, my roommates were like ‘Your hair is wet.. didn’t you wash it this morning?! Like 8 hours ago’. Yes. Yes, I did. On average, my hair takes over 3 hours to air dry. Ain’t nobody got time for that. I’ve purchased drugstore blow dryers in the past, but that still took an hour to dry my hair with, leaving my arms aching. I was always so unsatisfied with the end result.

For about a year now, I’ve thought about investing in a ‘high end’ blow dryer. So Christmas was the perfect time to finally get a nice blow dryer that would hopefully make my life a little easier. I debated back and forth between blow dryers, but I ended up deciding on the Drybar Buttercup after reading a ton of reviews. I got the little value set that was available at Nordstrom this past holiday season, and I got to try out the Drybar round brush, shine mist, and tons of other goodies. This blow dryer has completely changed my life. Wow, that sounded completely dramatic, I know. However, it really has changed the game for me. Meet the Drybar Buttercup- on Sephora, it is described as:

“A precision blow drying tool designed for use by stylists at Drybar shops across the US to deliver perfect blowouts to thousands of clients every day—now available to Sephora customers to create their own professional blowouts at home. The Buttercup Blow Dryer features an ultra-powerful motor to get the job done fast and efficiently. Buttercup was designed for use by stylists at Drybar shops across the US to deliver perfect, long-lasting blow-outs to thousands of clients every day. NanoIonic™ Technology helps to break up water quickly for reduced dry-time. Nano beads within the dryer emit powerful negative ions that seal and smooth the hair cuticle, helping to reduce frizz, increase shine, and trap moisture inside for more healthy-looking, hydrated hair.”

I definitely think the Drybar Buttercup lives up to these claims. No doubt.

About two weeks ago, I posted a snapchat selfie on my public account (mackenzieken) of me with wet hair. Then 7 minutes later, I posted another selfie of me with completely dry hair, and tons of y’all asked questions about this magic. I have to give all the credit to this hair dryer. Now, drying my hair is a piece of cake. It takes about 10 minutes on average to completely dry my hair with the Drybar buttercup, and that’s incredible. It also leaves my hair so soft, smooth, and shiny. In the past, blow drying my hair always made my hair feel dryer and frizzier than it was to begin with. However, this blow dryer actually makes my hair feel and look better than it did in the past. I love this blow drier because I also don’t have to use direct heat on my hair (via flat iron, curling iron, etc.) after because it does such an incredible job on its own of making my hair look great. I like to use the blow dryer with the nozzle (that it comes with) and the round brush. I always started by blotting my wet hair with a tshirt before using the blow dryer. Then I apply a little product. I’m always completely blown away – no pun intended – with the results after each use.  Even some of my friends noticed a difference in my hair, and several of them accused me of wearing hair extensions like I did back in high school. The only change I’ve made is using the Drybar Buttercup, but the difference is definitely noticeable.

If you are considering buying a high end hair dryer and you struggle with coarse, frizzy hair that never dries, definitely, definitely look into the Drybar Buttercup. I would highly recommend it, and it has completely changed the amount of time I have to spend on my hair. The only complaint I would have is that sometimes it randomly blows out cold air (like can you not plz). It’s always a little random and strange, but it’s not too big of a deal. When I was reading reviews of this product on Sephora, I saw a few other customers mention the same little weird issue. It doesn’t bother me at all. The only other con would be the price, of course. I always do a ton of research on products before splurging, and I read tons of reviews before choosing the Drybar Buttercup. I would highly recommend reading other reviews for yourself.

Here are my pros/cons to the Drybar Buttercup.

Pros: 

  • dries hair in under 10 minutes
  • leaves hair feeling very soft, shiny, and healthy
  • hair feels more hydrated
  • hair does not feel frizzy or dry whatsoever after
  • cord length
  • less damaging for your hair
  • cute packaging
  • quieter than most blow dryers
  • lightweight compared to most blow dryers

Cons:

  • price
  • sometimes randomly blows cold air out

So in summary, I am so happy about the Drybar blow dryer. It has made my life so much easier, and I would highly recommend it if you are looking to splurge on a high end blow dryer. This blow dryer has really, really worked for my personally, and I’m a big fan. It’s so fantastic, and now every day can be a good hair day.

xoxo

Weekend at Wake Forest

bidday2 copy

bidday

IMG_9745

IMG_9582

IMG_9587

IMG_9642IMG_9650

bidday3

IMG_9743

IMG_9703

Hello, hello! I recently got back from Winston-Salem, and I just had to share some pictures from my trip with y’all. My mom and I flew to North Carolina for my sister’s bid day! It was such an exciting day for Alexandra, and I am so glad that I got to go down to finally visit her at her university. Winston-Salem is such a gorgeous place, and I fell in love with the Wake Forest campus. At Wake Forest University, they have a deferred recruitment. My sister received a bid from Kappa Kappa Gamma, and she was beyond excited! My mom was also excited as well because she was a Kappa when she was in college. It was such an awesome moment for them, and I am so glad I got to snap a few pictures as they became sorority sisters! I am so proud of my little sister, Alexandra, and everything that she has accomplished so far in college.

I hope y’all are having an awesome week so far!

xoxo

Little Leather Skirt

leather8

leather1

leather2

leather7

leather5

Turtleneck | Leather Skirt | Tights | Booties (linked similar)

Hey lovely people! The little leather skirt is my winter time obsession- especially for night! I purchased this sassy, burgundy one last fall, and I’ve been obsessed with it for over a year now. Every time I wear this skirt, I tend to be an outfit repeater. I constantly pair it with a black turtleneck, black tights, and black booties. It’s my go-to look for any night out. However, I think it would also look great for daytime with a long sleeve, black/white striped top and black riding boot.

Let’s talk about these gorgeous photos. Thank you so much to Taylor Nicole for all of these stunning photos. I had so much working with you for these past few outfit posts. [Check out her website here & her Facebook page here!]

I hope y’all are having a fabulous, fabulous weekend so far,

xoxo