Eye cream is something that you may not know you need but it's the #1 product you should be using in your skincare. This is a great article from Self Magazine summing up why you need eye cream and I agree with every word.

Eye cream has been in my routine for a few years now and I've tried many of them. I suffer with delicate under eyes and super dark circles so if I don't apply my eye cream, I can tell. I feel like my under eyes are dying of thirst and my dark circles look more prominent. I never leave my house without it.

I've tried some great ones and tried some not so great ones. I definitely have my favorites and they're mostly high end. The best eye creams are ones that I have found in Sephora-- drugstore eye creams just don't do it for me. If anyone has any good drugstore eye cream recommendations, let a sista know!

Most of the eye creams I've tried are to brighten and moisturize, so if you have dry skin and suffer from dark circles, these are going to be some eye creams you want to try.

• Tarte Maracuja C Brighter Eye Treatment: This is my #1 bae. I got a sample of it last year and couldn't wait to buy a full size. I notice a huge difference in when I use this and when I don't. It leaves my under eyes smooth and moisturized but the best benefit of using this eye cream? I notice my eyes look brighter and less dark right after I use it. It's also been a gradual process of lightening up my under eye area. The C Brighter is a lifesaver. I'm almost done with my first full size and I will be repurchasing it after I finish this up. 

• Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Eye Concentrate: I first received this as a deluxe sample from Sephora and I'm still making my way through it, but I'm obsessed. Fresh has amazing skincare and I was dying to try out their eye creams. This has a thicker consistency than the Tarte cream but it's even a little more moisturizing. It claims to visibly firm and prevent the signs of aging under the eyes, and it also has a hefty price tag. I probably won't buy the full size because it's too expensive for me, but if I could, I would. It feels cooling on the under eye area and it feels wonderful.

• Murad Renewing Eye Cream: If I never discovered the Tarte eye cream, this would be my favorite. I bought it last year on Murad's website after discovering I was allergic to fragrance and needed something stronger to soothe my under eyes. This also has a nice, hefty price tag but I got it 20% off, cash back on Ebates, and free shipping so I made it work. It also lasted me FOREVER! I just finished it a few months ago after buying it in April. It made my eyes feel soft, hydrated, and smooth. I noticed a huge difference the day after applying this and it was well worth the price tag.

• Benefit It's Potent: I had a mini sample of this a few years ago and it was the first eye cream I ever used. I always meant to go back to it but I love trying new things so I rarely repurchase but I received a sample size a few months ago and ugh, I forgot how much I loved it. This leaves me with a similar feel that the Tarte C Brighter does. Initially it feels thicker than most eye creams but once you blend it out, it becomes incredibly light weight and feels super weightless on the skin. The price tag feels right on this one and I will be repurchasing, most likely after I finish the Tarte one. 

Being the beauty junkie I am, I know the importance of skincare. The most expensive foundation will look horrible if your skin isn't properly prepped.

I've always been content just washing my face... and even when I started to get into beauty, I was very lazy with my skincare routine. I only stuck to moisturizer, and I would forget to apply it almost everyday.

When I got home from school last year, that's when my beauty love expanded, and I started realizing the world of skincare. Since then, I've been trying lots of skincare products and trying to figure out what works for me -- both from the drugstore & high end.

People always say that you need to pay a lot for skincare, and I do believe that you should invest in skincare, if it works for you. If your holy grail product is from the drugstore, you do you.

I've learned a lot about my skin in the past year, and I've figured out what helps my skin, and what irritates it. Ever since realizing I'm allergic to fragrance, I've had to pay closer attention to what I'm putting on my face, and I know immediately if something is going to irritate my skin.

These are my go-to holy grail items that I've repurchased, or will repurchase. They work for me, and have transformed my skin.



 1. Clarisonic: I've mentioned this lovely little item before but I figured I'd start off with it because it's very important. I will love this baby forever-- it completely changed my skin, and has helped make my complexion better. I was having so many skin issues last year and after a few weeks of using the Clarisonic, I noticed a significant shift. My breakouts were at bay, my skin was smoother, and the little bumps along my cheeks were gone. It's amazing and it's definitely an investment, starting at $99. There are so many different brush heads that you can choose from, depending on what you need or what your skin type is, and you can use any cleanser you please. (My favorite is the Fresh Soy Cleanser which came with it when my mom ordered it from HSN for Christmas) If your skin is having trouble and you don't know where to start, start with this.

2. Murad Renewing Eye Cream: Oh eye creams -- I have the biggest love/hate relationship with them. I have an obsession with under-eye products because of my dark circles and bags, and eye cream is a product I just felt like I needed. I couldn't find one I loved, and I was switching back and forth between a lot, before I had those major under eye issues last year. After that, I only found one eye cream that worked, and it was this one. I got a deluxe sample from Sephora, and I knew Murad wasn't cheap. I didn't think I'd fall in love with it because I've never adored an eye cream before. Boy was I wrong, and when I ran out of the sample I was crushed-- especially because this has a $70 price tag. Well, Murad was having a 20% off, Free Shipping, and 16% cash back on Ebates a few months ago and I took the plunge, ordering the full size. It's very nourishing, moisturizing, and gives a brightening effect. I've seen my under eye circles & bags decrease over the past few months and this eye cream is to what I owe it too!

3. Tarte Eye Brightener: Here we are with another eye cream. I've been wanting to try this FOREVER and then I saw it was included in a little set with the Tarte Maracuja Oil, on sale at Sephora a few months ago. I used this at night until it ran out (and since it was so small, I went through it pretty fast) and this will be my next eye cream purchase after the Murad runs out. This brightened my eyes like no other -- other people eve noticed! My mom looked at me one day and was like "Wow, your face looks different!" I knew then that it was the brightening effect. This didn't irritate my eyes or make them dry, and it was a smooth, silky consistency. Oh I miss it just thinking about it ...

4. LUSH Lip Scrub in Bubblegum: I loved my ELF Lip Exfoliate but when that was finished, I knew I needed a new scrub. I walked into LUSH for the first time, and I got sucked into buying this holy grail item at the register. I knew people on Youtube love & adore this item so I didn't think twice about buying it. I LOVE IT. It's handmade and you can tell it is when you use it. I just take a little bit after brushing my teeth, rub it on my lips, and wipe clean with a towel or washcloth. The bubblegum scent & flavor is a little overpowering so when I repurchase, I'd probably buy a different one, but I will buy this product again. It leaves my lips smooth, soft, and ready for any lipstick!

5. Mario Badescu Rose Water Spray: I've been lusting after this spray for a solid year and finally got my hands on it when I took my random work trip to Chicago back in April! My bottle is more than halfway gone and I'm already planning a trip to Ulta to pick up another one. It's a rose scented mist that has many different purposes; I use it to set my makeup, as a toner after I cleanse my face, and just whenever I feel like my face needs some moisture. It smells amazing but isn't too overpowering, and doesn't cause any irritation. It's perfect -- and only costs $7.

6. Blemish Control Pads by FAB: I talked about these in my July Favorites but they transformed my skin so I needed to mention them again. In May, I started to see little bumps along my cheeks, which I've had before, so I just started using my Clarisonic more regularly. It didn't work. Acne toners, cleansers, and treatments didn't work. Finally, I thought to just browse Sephora's skincare section on the website and I saw this product. First Aid Beauty is one of my favorite brands and after reading these 5 star reviews, I was sold. I ordered them, started using them, and my skin was clear within a few days. I'll never be without these again!

7. Simple Makeup Wipes: I turned to the Simple brand a few months back and it's been a lovely little love affair. Their cleansing make-up wipes are the only ones I will use. They're soft, soothing, and don't irritate my skin. One wipe takes off almost all my make-up and there is no scent. They're perfect & I'll probably never use anything else!

Here are some honorable mentions that I also can't live without: Simple Micellar Water, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer 

Shop all my picks below!

It's no secret that I'm a huge subscription box junkie. I love the idea of subscription boxes; little gifts delivered to your door every month. Whether it's jewelry, food, or beauty, I think they're all awesome!

Beauty subscriptions are the OG of subscription boxes and I feel like everyone is coming out with one now. I've seen over the past year or so, that Target started a seasonal beauty box. I've always been intrigued because uh, Target is BAE and it's not a subscription box you can sign up for.

Target releases a box of goodness for $7 filled with full size, sample size, and foil packet items from their beauty section. That means skincare, make-up, nail polish, and tools. It's actually pretty awesome because the value of the box always, for sure, exceeds $7.

The hard thing is, is that since you don't subscribe, you have to pay attention and keep an eye out for when the box is released on Target's website. It sells out pretty fast, and you have to actually go through an order process of placing the box in your cart, filling out the info, etc.

One day I was online, looking through the many beauty Facebook groups I'm part of and saw that someone posted about the Target Beauty Box. I immediately clicked the link and bought the box for $7. It didn't take too long to ship and before I knew it, this box of heaven was on my doorstep.

It's a really nice box, sturdy and feels a little luxurious. It comes with a card that tells you the name and description of everything in the box, along with nice, red tissue paper.




I knew what was coming in the box before it arrived because you can see it on the Target website, I was wonderfully surprised to open this box and see what was inside. (I got this box over a month ago, but haven't had a moment to blog about it until now) I remember being so giddy and squealing when I saw everything inside.

Here's everything that was inside this incredible box:


//Revlon HD Lipstick: I didn't really have a desire to try this product, hence why I didn't buy it myself, but it was a very nice surprise. It's a smooth, creamy consistency and applies really nicely. I haven't had a chance to wear it because it's a fire engine red color and while I love it, I don't wear that kind of color everyday.



//Olay Regenerist Luminous HydraSwirl Eye Cream: I was most excited for this product because I'm a sucker for an eye cream, especially one that gears toward tired eyes and dark circles. It has a luminous swirl which helps with brightening the undereye area. I think this product does actually work because whenever I use it, my eyes do look brighter the next morning. I have very sensitive under-eyes and this does slightly irritate it but nothing that I can't handle. I have continued to use this, switching off with another eye cream that I'll talk about in another post, and I do like it. It was definitely a nice addition to the box, which increased the value by a lot.



//Sinful Colors Nail Polish: I already did a Manicure Monday on this color called Thimbleberry but I was really excited for it. I painted my nails the moment I took it out of the box. This color is the perfect summer coral/pink/reddish color and the formula is pretty good. Sinful Colors is pretty inexpensive and it's hard to find a good formula when something is that cheap but this was a nice surprise. 



//Fekkai Professional HairCare: The thing I liked about the Target box was that even though you knew what was coming, there were multiple types of boxes and people got different products, different colors, etc. The Fekkai product I got was a deluxe sample size of the Pre-Solei Hair Radiance and Protection Mist. I just got a Keratin treatment so I feel like I don't need to use extra haircare products but after using this a few times, I know I have too. It helps tame the frizz, makes your hair shiny, and smells fantastic. It's an actual spray bottle, not an aerosal can which I prefer. This sample will last a long time and I'm a sucker for hair products so bring it on, Target! 



//Cutex Advanced Nail Remover Pads: This little packette came with three remover wipes and I'm confused as to why I didn't go out and buy a full size yet. These pads took my nail polish off like a dream. It didn't leave a residue, took the color off completely and was super fast and easy. I've never loved a nail polish remover so much.

I will for sure be buying this box when it hits shelves, I'm assuming soon, for the Fall season. Follow me on Twitter and I'll let everyone know when it's available again! 

Have you ever subscribed to the Target BeautyBox? What's your favorite subscription service?

When I heard that Birchbox was releasing Mad Men curated boxes for the big premiere of the next seven episodes, I knew I needed it.

I have developed a deep love for Mad Men when I watched the entire series for the first two weeks after graduation, back in May 2014. I love Don Draper, Betty is a bad bitch, and Joan is incredible. Being such a media junkie, I love the feel of the advertising agency and the 1960s add the perfect touch.

It's just an amazing series; if you haven't it yet, I suggest you do before the series ends in a few weeks.

With that, I knew I wanted to have the Mad Men April Birchbox, and then when I saw what was inside, I knew for sure I needed it. Birchbox featured two Mad Men boxes, one for New York and one for California, since towards the end of the series, some of it takes place in Cali.

I stalked my email for sample choice and clicked Mad Men New York box since that had, in my opinion, the best products.

I literally couldn't wait to open this box and dive into all the products. I think this is the first Birchbox in a while that I was excited for every single product. I've already incorporated every product into my routine and it's so exciting.



//Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel: I got this product in an Ipsy bag a few years ago, before I got more into blogging and Youtube vloggers, and I was in love. Ever since I went through my first tube, I wanted another one but I can't justify the price. I was so excited and then a little disappointed because I don't remember this brow gel being as tacky and crispy as it was this time around. It definitely held my brows in place all day but it felt like hairspray on my eyebrows and I didn't like it. I'll probably keep using it because I have it.

Sample size: 4/5
Full size: $22


//Beauty Protector Protect & Oil: This is a hair oil that protects against UV rays and heat. I've been wanting to try a heat protector forever since I am constantly putting heat on my hair. I haven't tried this yet but I am planning on using it tonight when I wash my hair. I love Beauty Protector as a brand so I know I won't be disappointed.

Sample size: 3/4
Full size: $25.95



//Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos: I once got a Cargo blush in a Birchbox but it came broken and they couldn't replace it. I was so disappointed but I knew I'd get a chance to try it eventually. I've been on a huge blush kick and I was super excited to try out this brand. I've heard great things about Cargo and this blush and it definitely lives up to the hype. It's such a soft texture, not too powdery, and it's the most beautiful peach color with gold sparkles. I wore it the other night and it just looked beautiful; I think it'll look even better with a tan!

Sample size: 5/5
Full size: $26

//Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion: I think I was most excited for this product and when I saw the size of the sample, I was even more excited. I'm all about eye creams and lotion and I was running out of mine so I needed a new one. This one is very liquidy and I usually use it in the morning; I pour it on a cotton pad and rub it around my eyes and on my eyelid. It claims to de-puff and refresh tired eyes and I honestly think it does work. I'm obsessed!

Sample size: 5/5
Full size: $25

//Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry: I've had a Whish Shaving Cream before and I got a body butter a few months back and I love it. I love the brand and the products and I will never say no to a shaving cream. I haven't used it yet but I know I love it!

Sample size: 3/5
Full size: $20



All in all, I was clearly happy with this Birchbox. I already can't wait for May!

What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Did you choose the curated box? What was your favorite product? Tell me in the comments!