March Favorites

Where did the time go this March?!?!? It's already time for another Catoura's Monthly Favorites. This past month, I've been obsessing over seven items ranging from makeup to my favorite book. I truly love March, mainly for the fact that it's Persian New Year's and my college spring break! I had plenty of time to relax and enjoy myself, and you can bet I took full advantage. What were your favorites from March? 

1. Statement Necklace:

I have been wearing this beauty with basically all my outfits this month, and I still can't believe how much it cost me... Only $5! Yes, believe it! I was running some errands at Wal-Mart, and I happened to check out their jewelry section. As I was looking around my eye was caught by a wall of statement necklaces. Who'd have know Wal-Mart was necklace heaven? The price of all the beauties neatly arranged on that wall ranged from $5 to $10. This particular necklace happened to be one of the $5 pieces. I was amazed by the quality of it, and it shows that Wal-Mart has definietly stepped up in their jewelry department. 

2. L'Oreal Eye Makeup Remover:

For the longest time I've been on a hunt to find the best eye makeup remover available. I finally ended up purchasing one from Sephora (for $20... No beuno). I personally don't like oily eye makeup removers, but this one from L'Oreal happens to be the best match for me. It even removes my waterproof mascara and eyeliner without leaving an oily residue behind. 

3. NYX Extreme Shine Butter Lipgloss:

This buttery goodness is definitely a lip gloss fanatic's must-have! I adore it, and I will most likely repurchase once it's run out. The color I wore throughout this month was called "Dolly Girl," and it's the perfect shade of glossy, hot pink. It really makes your lips stand out without feeling sticky, leaving just the right amount of gloss. 

4. Laura Mercier Foundation;

The smooth finish foundation by Laura Mercier really does give your skin that flawless finish. I love this foundation, even if it's a tad on the pricier side. I love how it gives me a smooth, flawless look with out causing my make up to appear caked on. With the weather getting warmer, I really don't want my skin looking cakey at all. 

5. OPI Nail Polish: 

If you're a girly girl who loves the color pink, like me, then you would love this polish by OPI. This gorgeous nail polish even has the word pink in its name: "I Think In Pink." I have been wearing this polish nonstop this month, and I may even continue wearing it in the month of April. The nail polish is a light shade, with just a hint of nude tones. This is a perfect polish for a job interview, just to give an example. 

6. Batiste Dry Shampoo

I'm by no means a dry shampoo kind of girl, but there are times when my hair just needs a break from real shampoo (mainly because it drys my hair out). I usually use dry shampoo on days that I don't wash my hair (which is basically every other day). This product not only smells good, but helps get rid of the excess natural oils in my hair. 

7. "The Last Letter from your Lover" by JoJo Moyes 

Earlier this month I was drinking my coffee at Barnes& Nobles Cafe, when decided to walk around and look at some books. I came across this book by JoJo Moyes, and started reading it right there in the store. I ended up reading through five entire chapters before actually purchasing the book. That's how much I loved this romantic story-line. If you're a fan of romance, then you will love her books! 

Benefit Foundation & Urban Decay Brush Review

      It's that time of year again! The time when I like to change up my foundation. I've been getting a little sun-kissed lately, causing my skin tone to change slightly. Looks like I'm putting that pale, winter face aside and jumping onto the summer band wagon. It was  about time to change up my makeup too. This past weekend, I headed to Sephora in search of the perfect shade of foundation. I ended up purchasing an item from the "Hello Flawless" collection by Benefit. 

 

Mani Monday: Bachelorette Bash

Wedding season is in full bloom! This past weekend, I saw multiple weddings occurring during my mini-trips around town. I might have even photo-bombed a few... Eeek! Also, did I mention that I'm going to be a bridesmaid at my bestie's wedding? I... Can't... Wait!!! Without further adieu, this week's Mani Monday just has to be wedding-based. A pop of hot pink is a must for any bachelorette party; this polish is the perfect fit for just such an occasion. It's called "Bachelorette Bash" by Essie. I personally think this would be a terrific item to include in any bridesmaid goody bags. What's on your Mani this week? I hope y'all are having a wonderful day, even though it's Monday!

 

Manicure Monday: Sweet Hook

Purple, pastel nail polish has been my current obsession for the past two weeks now. One particular polish I've adored recently is called Sweet Hook by China Glaze. Last year my favorite spring polishes were pale pinks, but this years it's all about purple. The only major con about this specific polish is the matte finish. There is hope, though, since for a glossy finish you just apply two coats of your topcoat of choice. Hope y'all are having a wonderful Monday!   

 

Revamping My Skincare Routine

      I usually don't follow through with my resolutions, but this year I'm determined to stick to them... REALLY! One of the things on my list was to find a skincare routine which I could easily follow. I've noticed that I have way too many skincare products in my beauty cabinet. I hardly use all of them! So, I decided to do a complete product detox. I got rid of over 20 different types of products, keeping only a select few around. It's officially been five days since New Years, and I've already noticed an enormous difference in my skin. No more pimples on this girl's face! I also started to cut back on my sugar intake while drinking more water. Healthy skin is happy skin, and that's definitely what I am aiming for this year! Many of the products in my beauty cabinet are drugstore-brand with the exception of a couple. The majority of these products are a pretty affordable, helping even the frugal fashionista keep her skin radiant. Here's to a New Year and a new face!

Step 1: Remove all makeup from your face.

For a very long time now I've been using Neutrogena Makeup Removing Towelettes. The towelettes leave my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated every time. $4.99

 Step 2: Use an exfoliator twice a week.

This scrub is a classic! I even used it back in my tween years. The St. Ives Apricot Scrub is the perfect product to get rid of any dead skin leaving you looking glowing and smooth. $3.99










Step 3: Use a cleanser to wash face twice a day.

I've tried the top-notch cleansers and the bargain basement cleansers; to be honest I couldn't notice a difference. So instead I went straight to the drug store and purchased the Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser... And yes, this does leave my skin feeling astoundingly fresh. $5.99

Step 4: Seal the cleanse by using a toner.

I adore Mario Badescu's skincare line. The Cucumber Cleansing Lotion toner is definitely one of my favorite must-haves for any skin routine. The toner helps lessen your breakouts, which in my case are large cratered-looking pimples. $15.00

 Step 5: Moisturize, Moisturize, and Moisturize.

With the crazy cold, harsh weather a girl has to be careful. This weather can really damage your skin, leaving it feeling dry and cracked. I tend to use my Danielle Laroche Active Day Cream moisturizer in the morning and at night. $34.99

Beauty Tip Tuesday: Tea Tree Oil Is Great For Treating...

One of the key elements of tea tree oil, that wonderful miracle substance that's great for acne treatment, is called terpinen-4-ol. This component is believed to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial benefits. Tea tree oil has long shown an ability to kill the bacteria  responsible for acne, Propionibacterium acnes. Acne likes to creep up when we least expect it, but at least we have tea tree oil to fend off that pesky bacterial menace!

Manicure Monday: Red Lights Ahead... Where??? by OPI

Oh yes, the classic red seems to stick around no matter what season it is. This week's favorite shade of red is "Red Lights Ahead... Where???" by OPI. It's one of my favorite reds from my nail polish collection, and is the perfect shade of polish for summer. It adds a nice pop of color on your nails, and looks great with all skin tones. You absolutely must try it out for yourself to see why I love it so much!

Product Review: Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub

Ahhh, I still remember the first time I used Clean and Clear back in my tween days... Back then they didn't have the fancy scrubs with micro beads in them, (kids have it so good now). I bought this product two days ago, and I'm already obsessed! I use it daily in the shower to exfoliate my face, under some nice warm water. A tip for y'all: exfoliating treatments and face scrubs work wonders in a warm shower as your pores tend to open up leading to better, more noticeable results. The scrub leaves a tingling effect once you dry your face, and believe me when I say it feels so refreshing. It's also very affordable too; you can find it at your local drugstore for under $6.00. This product, especially at that great price, is a must have!

 

Start the Summer With a Fresh Face!

Yes, the HOT weather is back yet again! Why not pamper yourself on these hot days with a refreshing facial mask? I love using Freeman Beauty Masks as my brand of choice. I am left breathless after a treatment by just how refreshed and rejuvenated my skin looks and feels. I present you with three of my favorite masks that I will be using all throughout this summer season. I picked three because each one represents a different skin type, letting me switch things up depending on how my skin feels on a particular day.Enjoy!!!

Value is $3.99 each

Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask

Unwind from the grid by treating your skin to a much needed respite with this nutrient rich mask. Dead Sea Minerals and sea salts replenish and balance moisture while purging clogged pores. Lavender and Bergamot help achieve an aroma-therapeutic bliss to rinse away stress for smooth and radiant skin. Perfect for all skin types.

 

Feeling Beautiful Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask

This lemony cool clay mask delivers relief from inflammation caused by breakouts. Clays absorb oils to minimize shine and large pores. Mint and Lemon cool and refresh. Perfect for breakout prone and oily skin.

 

Pomegranate Facial Revealing Peel-Off Mask

Immerse skin with super nutrients found only in nature! This Pomegranate-infused mask gently purges dirt and excess oils from skin for a cleaner, refined surface. An 8-antioxidant blend of Acai, Goji, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni, and Blueberry guard against free radicals and environmental stress. Get gorgeous as you reveal fresher skin. Perfect for all skin types.

Descriptions courtesy of Freeman Beauty Mask

Beauty Tip Tuesday: How to Fix Dried-Out Gel Eyeliner

Have a crummy looking pot of gel eyeliner? Don't throw it away, just fix it! Your probably wondering, how could you possibly fix that dried out, old product? Well, here's a simple trick that I like to use to give my old liners new life. All you need to do is pop it in the microwave for around 10 to 15 seconds; the heat will melt the gel eyeliner, and leave it looking as new as the day you bought it. After having used this trick multiple times, I haven't wasted another pot of liner in forever! My favorite gel eyeliner is by Maybelline, and it is definitely not a product I want to see go to waste. I hope this trick helps some of you ladies out there really get your money's worth out of any gel eyeliner you buy from now on! . 

Manicure Monday: The Gray-t Escape

As spring arrived, I found myself stuck on a particularly beautiful shade of gray nail polish; I know folks, totally not a spring color. "The Gray-T Escape" by Sally Hansen, and trust me when I say that it is definitely another perfect spring another. After wearing it a couple times, I found myself always getting tons of compliments on the beautiful color. It has just a hint of purple to it that helps lighten it up for a more spring-y feel. I absolutely ADORE the bigger-than-usual brush it uses, as it definitely makes for easier application. It's not too expensive compared to other typical polishes, with a retail price of around $4.00. This polish looks fabulous with any complexion, so give it a shot while you make your own "Gray-T Escape" through life (or at least spring).

MAC Maniac

    
The only place you catch me on a Friday night is, yes, the mall! My plan was to go in just to get a couple of items off my shopping list for my closet. A few minutes into my shopping trip, I saw a store I just could not pass up!!!. As I walked out of Bloomingdale's, I saw one of my favorite places ever... The MAC store. As I saw my reflection upon the outer glass, I knew I belonged inside immediately. I know, I know, this girl is obsessed with MAC, but I'd buy the whole store if I could afford it. Ever since I bought my very first MAC lipstick, "Love Lorn," I fell madly in love with all the other lipsticks they carried. 

So, I devised a plan to build my collection by purchasing one lipstick per month. It was about that time, and I wanted to pick a shade of lipstick that was suitable for the hot summer season coming up. After a little help from the amazing make up artist on duty (Sahyd), I found what I was looking for: "Viva Glam" by Nicki. 

When I first sampled this lipstick, I fell in love with the hot-pink tones, with just a hint of coral. This shade instantly made my eyes pop along with my cheeks due to the contrast. I can't wait to get my summer tan to try on and see how this wonderful lipstick stands out against a darker complexion!