chronic style

my dream behind chronic style

Where i came up with Chronic Style

Chronic Style has slowly developed over the last few years but in 2018, it will become a major piece of A New Kind of Normal. I wanted to have a catchy name for any posts that referenced anything style, beauty, or fashion related (which didn’t happen very often). There was a phase in blogging history a few years ago where link-ups were everything and memes were a close second and they always had these great, catchy names. If was easy, if you weren’t careful, to be participating in a different link-up/meme every day and not post any real content but it was out of participating and creating these posts that I decided that I needed to come up with a name.

The first major style related link-up that I can remember participating in that really impacted both my blogging and me personally was What I Wore Wednesday over at The Pleated Poppy. This was Lindsey (the creators) mission behind created What I Wore Wednesday aka WIWW:

welcome to “what i wore” at the pleated poppy!  share with me your fashion posts and we can inspire each other!  i started this originally as motivation to get out of my daily uniform of jammies or sweats, but now i am encouraged and held accountable to put a few extra minutes aside for myself and try new things.  i’d love for you to join me!

I was still working at the time and at the office I felt like I was wearing the same thing all the time but specifically outside of work, I felt like I lived in the same uniform (which oddly enough I didn’t have to wear at work but created for myself in my personal life). I lived in jeans and Old Navy t-shirts. I remember writing this post way back in 2010 where I was searching for my own sense of style. Shortly after I discovered What I Wore Wednesday and began to think, what if I am not the only one struggling with this? What if I am not the only spoonie trying to figure out how to balance being comfortable and maintaining a personal style?

The dream of Chronic Style was born. It has developed slowly, especially the first several years as I just added in posts here and there but if you have noticed, the posts have become more frequent over the last year or two as I have begun to figure out for myself what my personal style is and how to start to create some kind of balance.

As I stated in my 2018 goals, Chronic Style will become a staple feature here at A New Kind of Normal. It even has its own logo for future content:

Chronic Style Post Header

I love the tagline “reclaiming the confidence we were born to rock” as that is the main mission behind the series. To quote what I said on my welcome back post:

A main goal focuses on reclaiming our confidence. Makeup doesn’t make me feel beautiful, it makes me feel confident. It gives me an avenue through which I can express my creativity. I can feel feminine. I can feel edgy. I can feel both. I want for each of one of us to find an avenue through which we can all reclaim this confidence. I want us to feel good about our bodies and feel spunky, sassy, sexy, fierce, creative, bold, audacious, unique, and on and on. I want that for all of us. Each and every one of us deserve to feel like the most rockin’ chick on the planet.

Do you get as pumped up reading that as I do? I sure hope so!

Some possible post options for the Chronic Style series include:

  • Monthly Makeup Baskets
  • Makeup/Style Hauls
  • What I Wore Wednesday or Outfits of the Day/Week
  • Style Lookbooks
  • Makeup Tutorials
  • Makeup/product Reviews
  • Fashion/Style Wishlists

These are just some basic options.

What I would LOVE to hear is what kind of things you guys would like to see and read from this series! Please share your thoughts in the comments!

chronic style

Loved & Loathed Beauty & Style Products: April 2016

Loved & Loathed Beauty & Style Products - April 2016

 

It is that time to talk about some monthly beauty and style favorites (and not so favorites) I have discovered and/or loved during the month of April! A lot of these are new products but there are one or two old faithfuls that I just have to mention because they are just that good and you need them in your life!

Without further ado, here are my loved and loathed products of April:

Loved & Loathed Beauty & Style Products: April 2016

LOVED

1- Andrea Eye Q’s Eye Makeup CorrectorsI absolutely dig a wing liner but I am the first to admit that I am not always the best at it. I often use the tape method to try to get a straight wing but sometimes that doesn’t always do the trick so I am so glad that I stumbled across these at Rite Aid. They are basically pointed cotton swabs presoaked in eye makeup remover that make cleaning up makeup mistakes a breeze and your winged liner look effortless. I happened to catch them on clearance so you can bet that I grabbed every jar I saw (and maybe checked out another store or two (or three) to make sure there weren’t anymore to be stockpiled.

2- Bumble & Bumble BB Repair*: I love rocking my purple hair but in the process of achieving and maintaining purple hair, it can be rather harsh on my locks so this has been a life saver. It helps repair and protect my hair from heat styling and leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the product so I picked up the trial size but I will definitely be investing in the full size when I run out. A little goes a long way and it is definitely worth the investment.

3- Hard Candy Hydrating Primer Mist: I have really sensitive, dry, and often irritable skin. When my butterfly rash is in full effect, this primer mist is a perfect first step for helping add in some hydration and vitamins before putting on my makeup. I still use another primer with it but it does help my skin feel more refreshed and help my makeup go on much smoother. At only $8 a bottle, it is definitely a steal.

4- Oil Essentials Revitalize, Natural Beauty Oils: This beauty oil does it all. This one specifically is Evening Primrose Oil but the line has many different types. This one helps revitalize the skin by improving your complexion and restores moisture balance as well as delivering much needed nutrients to your hands, nails, and even your hair. This oil is packed with powerful Omega 3, 6 & 9 and Vitamins A and E. What I do is apply the oil to my hands at night and rub into my skin after washing my face and then whatever is left over on my hands, I run through the ends of my hair. It smells great and leaves my skin and hair feeling (and smelling) lush and healthy. Its one of those do it all products.

5- Sephora Collection Disney Minnie Beauty: Minnie’s World In Color Eyeshadow Palette: I am a drugstore girl all the way but every one in a while a product catches my eye that is worth saving up for. Because my heart is made of pixie dust, I knew I had to have this collection from Sephora as soon as they announced it. Lucky for me, Ebates has started a new incentive when it comes time to collect your Big Fat Payment. Instead of being mailed a check or having funds sent to your paypal account, you can apply your funds to an e-gift card to a wide variety of stores and they will add an addition 10-15% on top of your payment. Lucky for me, Sephora happened to be one of those stores so I was able to treat myself to a couple of the items from the new Sephora Collection Disney Minnie Beauty Collection. I will be honest that I was a little hesitant about the quality of the shadows when I first received it. The packaging is to die for but so many times with special collection palettes, the eyeshadow quality can be pretty pitiful but I was very pleasantly surprised and have been able to create a variety of beautiful looks using this palette. A perk of the packaging is that when you are done with the shadows, the mirror and palette pop out and you can use it as a case or clutch. Isn’t that just adorable?

6- Sephora Collection Disney Minnie Beauty: Minnie’s Inner Glow Luminizing Blush: This was another item included in the limited edition Sephora Collection Disney Minnie collection but unfortunately it is no longer listed on the website (sad trombone). This is a beautiful peach luminizing powder and looks beautiful on pale princesses like myself. On darker skin tones, it would make a beautiful blush topper. It isn’t the smoothest highlighter out there but it is really pretty and again the packaging is swoon worthy and if you can tell in the bottom picture, there is a Minnie head in the powder itself.

7- Sephora Collection Disney Minnie Beauty: Perfect Red Lipstick*: Just as the title says, this is the perfect red lipstick. It is that perfect blue-red shade that makes your teeth look whiter and it is super creamy and oh-so-comfortable to wear. Matte lipsticks and liquid lipsticks are all the rage these days (don’t get me wrong, I love them too) but this is a refreshing shift and it is more of a creamy, satin finish. Originally, there was a little Minnie head on the top of the lipstick itself but I’ve been loving wearing it so it has started to wear away (sad face). Again, can we just say how cute the packaging is? I have since picked up two of the remaining items of the collection which is the eyeliner set and cream lip stain set so hopefully they will be as amazing as the rest of the collection and you may be seeing them in next month’s post! I know what makeup I’ll be packing for our trip to Disney in September!

8- Betsy Johnson Wing Tote Bag (similar): Betsy Johnson has always, always been one of my favorite designers. Some of her designs are pretty out there but my favorite are those classic styles with a twist. She’ll throw in a unique accent color or funky design element to give it something extra and give it some edge. I’ve recently lost a lot of weight and have been selling a lot of clothes, shoes, and accessories on Poshmark. I have been wanting a new handbag but I wanted to invest a little more into a bag that was well made and that I knew I could wear for a long time. Poshmark is a great place to shop for second hand clothes and accessories but you can also find items that are brand new and usually at a discount from what you would find in a retail store. When I spotted this purse, I knew it was the one. I saved my earnings and took the plunge and am in love. It is the perfect size. It holds everything I need without being ginormous. The colors of course are my signature colors and since the vast majority of my wardrobe is black, white, and gray, it goes with everything.

9- Viorica Studded Sandals by JustFab*: I am absolutely in love with these sandals. They are a perfect summer staple yet the studs give them that something extra. These sandals can take the most basic outfit and add that bit of edge that I am always looking for. If it has studs or spikes, I am all over it. I am that proud YPW that loves purple hair, tattoos, and spikes. And you know what, Jesus loves me anyway 🙂

10- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk*: Spring and summer is the time to break out bright eye colors and if you really want to make them pop, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk should be a staple in your collection. It is so unbelievably affordable especially when you count in sales and coupons. It makes a perfect eyeshadow base and since it is in pencil form, it is quick and easy to use. These eye pencils come in a variety of colors which would all work well as bases or quick all over color on their own. Of course, they can be used as liners as well. If you need your eyes to look more awake (come on, we’re spoonies – of course we need to look more awake), you can line your bottom waterline for an instant boost.

11- Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum, Ultra Black*: This is one of those oldies but goodies I mentioned at the beginning of the post. I am sure that I have mentioned it before but this is seriously the best eyeliner out there. If you struggle doing winged eyeliner, you need to try this. I can’t speak for the whole “lash boosting” properties, but the tip of this eyeliner makes it so easy to create a thin or thick wing and the formula is amazing. The important thing is to make sure you get the Ultra Black. The regular black is terrible. The Ultra Black is where its at. I have tried other eyeliners and always come back to this one. You can almost always find it on sale and can also stack coupons. I always, always keep a back up on hand.

12 – NYX Tinted Eyebrow Mascara*: Your girl here has some wild eyebrows and this tinted eyebrow gel from NYX has been a life saver. It works great after I’ve taken the time to fill in my eyebrows using a pencil or powder but because it is tinted, I can also use it in a pinch if I am in a hurry and need to get out of the door quickly. I may not wear a full face of makeup every time I leave the house but I almost always at least throw on a quick coat of mascara, tame the brows, and add a quick swipe of lip balm. This is super affordable and comes in a variety of colors to suit every hair color. Maybe not purple but the deep brown gets the job done 🙂

13 – L’Oreal Paris Stylist Definer Brow Liner*: This is my newly found brow pencil love. I have some wild eyebrows but of course they aren’t even and sparse in some places and this pencil makes it super easy to fill them in and look natural. No sharpie brows for me please. Many eyebrow pencils I have tried are either really dry or pull really warm/red which is definitely not a look I am going for. The pencil itself is small, creamy, and retractable (yay for no sharpening!) and I love that there is a spoolie on the end. Many have compared it to the Anastasia Brow Wiz which I have not tried because I just cannot make myself pay $22 for an eyebrow pencil. Maybe if it had Minnie Mouse on it (LOL) but I will stick with this one. I give it two thumbs up!

14- Maybelline NY Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, BrightenerRaise your hand if you live in a constant state of not enough sleep and circles under your eyes dark enough that it looks like you’ve been punched? *Both hands raised If you have checked out any beauty stores lately or watch any beauty youtube channels, you have already learned that the makeup industry has gone color correcting crazy. Every color of the rainbow does something different and I’m game for playing paint by number on my face if it means that I don’t look as sick as I feel. This concealer is another oldie but goodie and had the whole color correction game won for quite some time. This concealer is a light pink-peach and is perfect for correcting dark under-eye circles. I add a little of this concealer to the inner portion of my under eye and then add a fair concealer in a small triangle under my eyes and between the two, magic happens. This is another product that I always keep a back up on hand.

15- BH Cosmetics Smooth Canvas Long Wear Eye Shadow Primer: These little pots contain magic. I compare them to mixing a concealer with a traditional eyeshadow primer. They completely cover any redness or veins on the eyelids creating a perfect canvas for your eyeshadow. They remind me a lot of the MAC paint pots I have heard so much about (but have not tried). I like using my NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk if I am doing a really colorful look but prefer to use this when I am doing a more neutral look. They help the eyeshadows apply smoothly without creasing. I will even grab one to cover my eyelids if I’m in a hurry just to cancel out any redness and appear a little more put together. They come in four different colors but my favorite is Malt. It seems to work the best with my complexion. The only bummer is that they have to be ordered online but they are almost always on sale and BH Cosmetics usually has a high cash back percentage through Ebates. Every penny counts!

 

LOATHED

I actually have a few unfavorites this month! One is a true loath, one is more of a “meh,” and the other is more of a frustration.

16- Rimmel Super Curler Mascara: I hate this mascara. Hate it. It is super thick, wet, and clumpy. It makes your lashes stick together so it looks like you have 4 thick, gooey lashes so between your two eyes, you look like a spider. Not a cute look. I have no idea why they call it Super Curler because it did nothing to curl my lashes. I even tried wiping off the wand and then trying to apply. It was a no go. Off to the trash can it goes. I don’t think I have every found a Rimmel mascara that I have actually liked. I think I’ll stick with the ones I know that work.

17- Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette: I am going to preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of the Makeup Revolution brand. Their blushes are beautiful and their highlighters, oh their highlighters, are absolutely stunning. This palette, however, left much to be desired. It wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t up to par in my opinion. The pigmentation wasn’t that great and the contour colors were too warm for my complexion. This is coming from a cool toned, ultra pale princess so for those that aren’t Casper and are warm toned, you may actually like this palette. It just wasn’t for me which is why it fell into the “meh” category.

18- Bumble & Bumble BB Does It All Styling Spray: This is another Bumble & Bumble product I picked up in the trial size to try it out as I’m looking for new styling products for my hair since it is now the longest it has been in years. Like over ten years. I’ve been rocking short hair for a long time. That being said, I’m glad I picked up the trial size. Its not a bad product. It does a good job at styling my hair and keeping it in place without having that crunchy feeling that makes me want to shudder. The problem is the smell. Holy moly. It smells SO bad. Thankfully the smell fades but it gives me a headache just spraying it over my head for 10 seconds. I’m trying to decide whether to pass it along or just hold onto it for travel. Even though its just the trial size, its still definitely too much money to pitch in the trash. Why couldn’t they make it smell better?! Ugh. First world problems at its best.

 

If you are still with me, congratulations, you have made it through this edition of Loved & Loathed! You deserve a cookie and a ribbon for making it through! Next month, I’ll try to keep it down! I missed March so there were more products than usual.

Now, that I’ve showed you mine, now you need to show me yours! What beauty and style products have you been loving or loathing lately?

 

Disclosure: All links marked with an * indicate affiliate links

chronic style

Loved & Loathed Beauty Products: March 2016

Loved & Loathed Beauty Products: What I've Been Loving (& Loathing) in March 2016

It is so hard to believe that the month of March is already over which means its beauty favorites time! This month seemed to have flown by! Of course, when you’re bed-bound 80% of the time as I have been the last several months, its easy to lose track of time. Lately, doctors appointments are what have helped me keep track of days. So, so sad. Hopefully that is changing soon. Fingers crossed. Power of positive thinking. Game on!

That being said, I don’t have a HUGE amount of products to share with you this month and there are ZERO loathes but I just hauled a bunch of new products so the April installment may be completely different! I did want to share with you a few amazing beauty favorites that have totally rocked my socks off this month.

Loved & Loathed Beauty Products: What I've been loving (& loathing) in March 2016

1. Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer

I have heard tons about this product on YouTube and finally bit the bullet and gave it a try. I was a little leery as I’m not too great with cream bronzer/contour products but this one was so easy to use! I got it in the shade Rich Bronze which is the darker of the two shades which may seem surprising considering I’m an uber pale princess but the Rick Bronze shade was more cool toned so it made for a more natural contour and went along better with my skin tone. I picked it up at Target for $10.99 and supposedly it is a dupe for the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup with a whopping $50 price tag. I think I’ll stick with Sonia Kashuk!

2. L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Extending Setting Spray

When  you deal with hot flashes, makeup setting spray is a must. Not only are setting sprays supposed to help keep your makeup in place, they often help bring a nice, finished look to the face by mattifying the skin or giving it a dewy or radiant finish. I have tried many different setting sprays and this is most definitely one of my favorites. It is $16.99 which seems pricey for the drugstore but you can catch it on sale (especially at Ulta where they often run BOGO 50% Off sales plus a store coupon for $3.50 off a $10 purchase and if you shop online, you can also earn cash back through Ebates*). Definitely recommend checking it out as warm weather starts to move in (yay!)

3. NYX Color Correcting Liquid Primer (Blue)

I have tried a lot of primers (A LOT) of all varieties and this one definitely tops my list. This line of primers has different shades to do different color correcting tasks. The blue shade helps to add radiance to fair/light skin. Because I have been so sick and lost so much weight, my skin has been looking extra pasty and dull and this primer helps to even out my skin tone and give a beautiful, healthy glow to my skin. It makes my skin feel so smooth and helps my foundation go on like a dream. Definitely worth the $13.99 but again, be sure to shop the sales!

4. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick (115)

This is the only non-drugstore item (plus the matching powder) that you will find on this list. I am a drugstore girl through and through but I had heard so many amazing things about this foundation that I saved up and gave it a whirl. They were not lying. It is the best foundation I have ever tried. It goes on so easy and evens out my skin like a dream. The coverage is perfect and it feels like you are wearing nothing. I apply this with my oval face brush (#11) and I can have my face done in less than a minute. Plus it is actually light enough and pink enough to match my skin tone perfectly which is so easy feat. At $43, it is definitely an investment but worth it in my opinion. My best advice is to shop Sephora through Ebates* so you can earn cash back (and its even better when its a double cash back day!)

5. Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder (110 Pink Porclain)

This is my perfect finishing powder. It sets my foundation and adds a touch of coverage without becoming too cakey or powdery. I also love that it is so cool toned and pink. I have a problem with a lot of foundations and powders oxidizing on my skin so I end up orange looking by the end of the day but this powder is perfect and the perfect match to the MUFE Cover Stick. Definitely a match made in heaven!

6. Z Palettes (Large)

I have absolutely fallen in love with Z Palettes. They make storing your makeup so much easier! You de-pot your product from its original packaging and using magnets, store your products in a palette. You can use these for eyeshadows, blushes, bronzers, highlights, etc. It makes everything much more streamline. You can store like items in each palette or you can create a custom palette for when you travel of specific blushes, shadows, etc that you want to take. I happened to pick up two of the limited edition lipstick prints before they went out of stock but they have a lot of different color and size options. If you hate having to dig to find specific products, you may want to check these out!

7. Wet N Wild Color Icon Ombre Blushes

When it comes to looking for affordable (and quality) makeup, Wet N Wild is a great place to start. You would think because of the prices that the products would be terrible but while I’ll be honest, there are a few duds here and there, there are tons of hidden gems. These blushes are gems. They are beautifully pigmented, especially if you are fair skinned. If you have a deep skin tone, these may or may not show up well on your skin. They bring a radiance to your skin without being glittery. I have all three shades – top row: In A Purple Haze, Mai Tai Buy You A Drink; bottom row: The Princess Daiquiris. These blushes are well worth $4.99!

8. Makeup Revolution Beyond Radiance Palette

Makeup Revolution is a UK brand that has recently made its way into the US at Ulta and they have some amazing face products. Their highlights are to die for so when I found out that they had them in palette form, I jumped on it quick. These three highlight shades are gorgeous, the packaging is nice and sturdy, and it comes with a large mirror which is perfect for travel. This is definitely a prized piece in my makeup collection! The palette is $15 but like the rest of the drugstore beauty brands, sales at Ulta are frequent and you can always use the coupon!

9. ELF Total Face Palette

This is such a handy (and beautiful!) palette to have in your collection, especially for travel. It contains two blushes, a bronzer, and a highlight shade in a beautiful, silver compact. For only $8, its a no brainer. If you see it, grab it!

10. BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Beauty Sponge

I love using makeup sponges to apply foundation and concealer. Up to now, I have been faithful to my Real Techniques Miracle Sponge (which is still absolutely amazing) but I recently discovered the BH Cosmetics Sponge and oh my goodness, it is amazing. It works flawlessly to blend in concealer underneath my eyes with no creasing or getting cakey. It becomes so super soft when damp that it can make the heaviness foundation buff in like a dream. I still have my RT sponge but I’m not sure I’ll be going back. Shhhh! Don’t tell!

11. Oval Face Foundation Brush

If you watch any YouTube beauty videos, you may have seen a new brush start to make an appearance. Its a large oval face brush and the original brush is by the brand Artis and comes with a $65 price tag. OUCH. I feel faint just thinking about paying that much for ONE brush. I will admit that I was intrigued by the look of the brush but a certain hot place would have to freeze over before I would ever, EVER consider spending that kind of money on a makeup brush so when I came across a similar style brush on Aliexpress for $10, I jumped on it and I am so glad I did. It makes blending in foundation easy and quick. This brush + my MUFE Cover Stick = my foundation dream team.

Those are all of my favorite beauty products for the month! Like I mentioned earlier, I have recently hauled a lot of new products from some brands I’m just discovering so hopefully I will have a lot more products to share in April! Some may be loves and some may not turn out so well! I also hope that along with April showers, comes a more consistent posting schedule and a lot more fun! As far as the Chronic Style series goes, I will start sharing more product review, highlight affordable makeup brands that you may not know about, and hopefully add in some tutorials as well! I am beyond ready to get myself put back together and regain some sense of structure so I am excited for a new month which means lots of new opportunities! Yay!

What are some of your beauty favorites or style favorites lately? What should I be checking out?

 

Disclaimer: All of these products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% my own. Links marked with an * indicate a referral link