e.l.f. Face Primer Review!! Don't miss this.

WOW. That is a good word for today. No really, that sums it up!

WOW - because The Bee's Knees has hit it's '100' Facebook Fan milestone! That is so exciting- and I love you all. Thank you for your continued support on this journey of blogging.

'and'

WOW because I am about to review for you a $6.00 face primer that actually works as well as luxury! Oh yeah baby... This busy bee has been hunting down the best deals out there and this one is DEFINITELY a keeper.

Let's get down to business!


e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

Ok, I have to admit- when I saw it sitting there on the shelf I was a little bit skeptical, however, this primer is not only 'review-worthy' but 'face-worthy'!

My e.l.f. primed face + foundation. Smooth!

Recently I sampled a small amount of Smashbox's original face primer at Sephora (which is typical of me- I sample EVERYTHING). It is clear in color and goes on almost with a jelly consistency. As you smooth it over your face it begins to feel like liquid satin- it's wonderful. When I purchased the $6.00 e.l.f. primer I was skeptical and thought that surely it wouldn't hold up to the standards of the $38.00 Smashbox primer. I was wrong. Not only was I wrong, I was pleasantly surprised!!

This beautiful little bargain goes on like a satin dream and fills in all the cracks & pores on your face to leave it gorgeous and foundation ready! The benefits of using this face primer:

• You only need a small amount to cover a lot of ground. ;)
• Your foundation will 'glide' on with a foundation brush and alleviates the 'pulling' and unnecessary 'tugging' of normal application without primer. Trust me, you'll notice a difference. It's best not to pull on your skin if possible. It helps to keep the wrinkles away. 
• Controls excess face oil. 
• Protects your skin. 
• Controls flaky & dry skin - or in other words- locks in moisture. 

At this point I'm sure some of you are thinking- "Wait a minute, didn't we 'just' review the Smashbox BB Cream Primer a few weeks ago? Which one is better to use?"

Finished product today

Here's the deal: The Smashbox BB Cream is not only tinted but also offers SPF and boasts the power to minimize wrinkles in 4 weeks. The e.l.f. primer will not give you all of that. HOWEVER, if you use a good moisturizer with SPF and an anti-aging eye/face cream- then this e.l.f. primer is all you need. The Smashbox BB Cream might be a better option for someone who is searching for the 'all-in-one' product.

My opinion- for $6 bucks just pick up a bottle and try it. Really, what have you got to lose? I believe that Target and Meijer both carry e.l.f. Cosmetics so you should be able to get everything you need at one of those two places.

I hope that this was helpful information for you. I was blown away by how much I like the product! Definitely a keeper in my book. Thank you so much for reading and sharing The Bee's Knees- you guys make it great. Stay tuned for another exciting blog in the works- you will love it. ;) Have an amazing weekend friends.

A fun & dramatic green smokey eye. Try the look!

A Walk on the Wild Side + Blue Suede Shoes

Hello Friends!

Are you ready to review an exciting outfit together? I have a 'wild side' inspired look to share with all of you. I absolutely love the little bursts of color that are everywhere this Spring. You can add a splash of 'bright' to almost any outfit to make it bold & daring. That's what we're going to do today.  

I was inspired by this 'Fashion Bulletin' in the latest issue of Allure:

Today I've taken a black & tan wild inspired dress and paired it with some electric blue faux suede shoes. The result was surprisingly refreshing!

Dress $22 - Dots

And the shoes....

Shoes - Target

Speaking of shoes- don't you just love canvas flats?! As summer is fast approaching I can feel the 'canvas itch' starting to nag at me every time I waltz into a shoe store. WELL- before you go out and spend more than you want to on a pair of Keds or some other brand, try Forever 21. I found these darling little beige charmers for only $6.00! They are in stores now (in a variety of colors) so get them while they're hot. :) You can thank me later. 

Thank you so much for reading & following the Bee's Knees! I love & appreciate each of you. I leave you tonight with a picture of my sister and I last summer @ Lake Michigan. I stumbled upon this today and it gave me a glimpse into the beauty of Michigan summers once again. Longing for this... 

Giveaway Winner + Revlon Color Stay Eyeshadow Review

Greetings from Alabama! 

It feels like I've been traveling for months on end now. Whew... It's good to be in Alabama, a state with loads of sunshine and an abundance of sweet tea and southern accents. I've already downed two sweet teas and I plan on indulging in a few more. Absolutely yummy. 

And now the moment you've all been waiting for...

Could you please join me in congratulating the winner of The Bee's Knees Spring Forward Giveaway: 

Shante is a beautiful woman and one of my close friends. I love her and she is more than deserving- Congratulations Shante! Happy shopping! 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Spring Forward Giveaway. There will be plenty more giveaways to come in the future so make sure you stay tuned! You never know what exciting things are going to happen here. :) 

In other news: I have recently had my eye on the new Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadows. They come in several beautiful shades but the one that intrigued me most is called 'Inspired'. These gorgeous colors receive The Bee's Knees stamp of approval! You can't beat the price at only about $6.00 for four colors. Here are a few images of the end result. Keep in mind that I used more of the blues than the green color. The green is on the inner corner of my eye but it's a little hard to tell in this lighting. 

  

Here is the picture of the eye shadow quad:

Thank you so much for reading. I look forward to filling you in on more adventures in Alabama soon. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend! Love you all...

My niece Abby & I getting a pedicure today. :) Love her. 

She looks so grown up reading Women's Day. Lol....

March Madness - Skincare Edition!

Ok girls, you asked and I am listening!.. While everyone (including myself) is going nuts over March Madness basketball, let's go mad for good skincare!

I have had several requests lately to go over the basics of skincare and how to achieve a 'polished-pretty' face. Today we're tackling the issue! 

'Skincare' is just that - Taking care of our skin. The essential elements to achieving a flawless face begin way before the foundation is ever applied. I will tell you up front that one of the single most awful things you can do to your skin is to go to sleep with your makeup on. That will only put you on a fast track to developing early wrinkles and we don't want that. 

While I promote several different brands and products here at The Bee's Knees, I have to tell you that when it comes to my face and skincare- I trust it to Mary Kay. Everyone has their own style and 'fit' but for me it's MK. I have used the products for years now and I personally feel that they have left my face feeling smooth, hydrated, and protected- hence the reason I use them. HOWEVER, these same principles can be applied no matter 'what' brand or products you choose to use. :) 

Let's review a few of the basics when it comes to skincare: 

• Moisturize 

It is crucial, especially in the winter months, to give your face all the moisture it requires. You can do this several ways. One, drink loads of water. This is a good practice year round- make sure you're getting enough H20. Two, moisturize your face twice daily- morning and night. And three, make sure you apply your moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower! You will be getting the maximum moisture impact while your pores are still open from the steam of the shower. Capitalize on that opportunity. Never skip moisturizing. 

• Eye Cream

The area around the eye tends to be sensitive and wrinkle-prone for most women. To combat wrinkles, use an eye cream! Think of it as 'double duty' around the eye area. ;) I personally LOVE this age fighting eye cream from MK. I only use about a half of a pea-sized amount for both eyes. It lasts forever! A note about applying eye cream- always use your ring finger and 'pat' the eye cream in. Your ring finger will give you the lightest touch to the face and keeps you from tugging and pulling on the eye area.

• Microdermabrasion (A big word that simply means- buff & polish your skin) 

Microdermabrasion is something I do about once or twice a week. The goal is to scrub your face with an abrasive facial cream in order to remove excess dirt & build up that cause wrinkles and pimples. Afterward you want to make sure you really moisturize your face so that you are putting moisture back in the skin after the abrasive scrubbing. Make sure you don't scrub too hard! You can use your hands, a wash cloth, or a battery powered scrubber which we will go over next. I like this set by MK. It comes with the microderm scrub 'and' a bonus moisture cream to apply immediately after the treatment.

• Battery Powered Facial Scrubber 

This is an example of a facial scrubber. What I love about this tool is that it works the microderm into the skin without applying too much or too little pressure. You simply apply the scrub to the face and then massage the scrubber tool all over the face for a few minutes. Wash off the scrub, moisturize your face, and you're done! Hello new & exuberant skin!

• Moisturizer on a budget! 

This wonderful Olay Complete Moisturizer has won several Allure Best of Beauty Awards and it's not hard to see why! If you are on a budget- this baby is the way to go. It is very rich & silky and boasts 15 SPF too! It goes on nicely and wears well under any foundation. Once in a while I will switch up my moisturizing routine with this lovely product. 

• Face Primer 

Once you have finished moisturizing for the day, you will want to complete your routine with a face primer. There are several to choose from but I personally like this 'all-in-one' BB Cream by Smashbox. I just did a review on this product a while back and if you would like to read more about the benefits please click here.
Face primer causes your foundation to go on flawlessly and beautifully. It sort of 'fills in the cracks' and leaves the face looking camera ready. ;)

• Foundation 

Now that all of the face prep is complete, you are ready for foundation! I prefer this Medium-coverage liquid foundation by MK. It's just the most wonderful product. My face never feels greasy or too dry, but always just right. I have tried 'numerous' foundations and most of them leave me wanting more. I even tried Chanel's new foundation and I felt it was just plain 'runny' and watery. When you apply your foundation with a brush like this one by Eco Tools, the product will last forever! The brush really helps stretch the foundation. You might be amazed if you give it a try.




I know that was a lot of information but I hope that you found it beneficial! You are never too young to start taking good care of your skin. Tomorrow I will be announcing the winner of the Bee's Knees Spring Forward Giveaway!! Exciting. Stay tuned for all of the details on that. Thank you so much for reading. I love you all and hope you have a great day!  

P.s.- Check out this adorable shoes I scored at JcPenny for only $5 dollars!! You might want to check out the clearance racks right now- they're loaded with good deals. :)

March Birchbox + Melissa Learns to Crochet!

Greetings on this gorgeous Saturday & Happy Saint Patricks Day Bees! I hope it is beautiful where you are too.

Yesterday was HIGHLY productive for me. I learned how to crochet (thanks to my 'amazing' friend Diane) and managed to dominate the production of an entire scarf in an hour and a half sitting!! Do I hear applause? I can't wait to show you what I came up with, but first let's talk Birchbox! This month was deliciously surprising as my little box was loaded with beauty goodies and even some 'inner beauty' goodies... I'll explain. 

March Birchbox:  

Let's review the contents together as usual shall we? 

Juice Beauty - Blemish Clearing Cleanser - Full Size $22

I absolutely LOVED the Juice Beauty mask I received in last month's Birchbox so I am sure I will love this cleanser as well. 

Color Club - Nail Laquer in Age of Aquarius - Full Size $8

Love, love, love this awesome spring color! It dries fast & goes on nicely. 

And again...

Green nails just in time for Saint Patty's! No pinching here. ;)

Stila - Smokey Eye Card - 3 Shadows Full Size $45

Can't wait to play with these beautiful neutrals. 

Harvey Prince - Yogini - Full Size $26-55

Delicious smelling perfume with hints of sandalwood, egyptian myrrh, and grapefruit. PERFECT for Springtime! 

Lulu Organics - Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder - Full Size $30 

I absolutely 'cannot' wash my hair everyday. Personally I don't believe it's healthy to be washing our hair as much as we do anyway. But for me personally, my hair would dry right out if I didn't give it a day or two to rest. That's why I am so looking forward to trying this new powder hair shampoo. 

Tea Forte - Skin-smart Teas - 16 Tea Bags $6

I am sipping on the Cherry Marzipan flavor as I type this and let me tell you- it's delish! 

A tea that is good for the skin? Awesome.

I hope that you are enjoying these reviews each month. If you have never heard of Birchbox, it works the same as if you were to receive a monthly magazine- except you score sweet deluxe beauty samples. It's $10 a month and it's just lovely. If you want to stay on top of what's 'new', this is the way to go. That's why I share it with you- to keep all of my readers up to speed with the newest 'what's - what'. ;) 

Click here to learn more or to sign up to receive Birchbox. 

Are you ready to see my crochet creation!? This was a blast to make. I wasn't sure I would have the patience but it ended up turning out perfectly. Check it out: 

Twirly & Swirly Infinity Scarf: 

Here is what I started with:

And here is the end product!:

FUN isn't it!? It's the perfect thing to dress up a boring shirt. I am rocking it with a plain black shirt and a skirt. I plan on having a tutorial sometime soon on how to create this look- it's beyond easy. I'm thinking a 'video' tutorial possibly? :) 

Thank you so much for reading. Love you all. I'll see you back here on Monday with some 

March Madness- 'Beauty Edition'. 

By the way- Go Spartans! *I bleed green.

Add a burst of color!

This Spring is ALL about bright and fun colors! I go into shoe stores and just drool over the playful selections lately. Today we're going to look at a cute spring outfit and talk about some ways to 'spice it up' in our wardrobes. :)

Color Burst

Bright purple shirt ($6.99) & turquoise blue bangle ($5.00) Both found at Forever 21

Slouchy shirts are 'it' this season. Find something that hangs loose and have fun with it. Try layering another bright shirt underneath- also very cute! You will notice that everything pictured here was scored at a major bargain price! That's how I 'roll'. ;) Scan those sale racks ladies! 

Darling multi-colored locket necklace. $2.80 Forever 21

Don't forget to play up those eyes! Clothing's not the only thing colorful this Spring. 

Lips: Add some playful pink to complete the look!

It is the most beautiful day out today (supposed to be in the 70's again). I can hardly believe how early Spring has arrived in Michigan- it's a wonderful thing. God knew I needed some sunshine. Sorry I wasn't able to get this up last night. Normally I try to post every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday but lately our schedule has been insanely busy!! 

Just a reminder- there are only 5 days left to register for the Spring Forward Giveaway!! A $50 Sephora Gift Card is up for grabs- and that is a BIG deal. :) Don't miss out. Click here to register. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and follow The Bee's Knees each week! I love you all. I'll be back here on Friday with more blog excitement. 

Bold Eyes + French Dress Inspiration

Hello friends! 

I have a very special blog for you today as I will be showcasing one of Springs hottest looks: BOLD eyes. I love this look! It is especially stunning with undressed lips in a 'nude' sort of color. I plan on having an entire blog about nude lips soon- they are also very big this season. 

To create today's look you will need a few things: 

1. A black creamy-crayon eyeliner that is 'smudgeable' for under the eye 
2. Black liquid liner - for the top of the eye 
3. Black sparkly eyeshadow 
4. Light gold shimmery eyeshadow 
5. Black mascara 

Most of us have at least some of these items at home already. If you need to find a certain item on the list, try Walgreens. Some crayon eyeliners even come with a smudging sponge on the opposite end! Those are great for creating a smokey eye. If nothing else, just pick up some small cosmetic sponges and 'smudge' away! 

Here's how to create this intense eye look:

(We'll take it step by step!)

1. Prime & cover eye with base color- gold: Prime your entire eye area and then go over the entire eyelid top to bottom with the gold shimmery eyeshadow. 
2. Add the black shadow: Next you will add your black shadow over the entire lid & crease only. Don't add black far above the crease. Because black can be scary to work with due to the intense pigment, you might try 'patting' the color onto your eye. Sometimes this helps me. 
3. Add bottom liner: Add some creamy eyeliner under the eye and smudge it so that the line is not perfect, but 'smokey'. Just play with it until you're happy with how it looks. Once you have finished lining and smudging under both eyes, line your water line with the black crayon as well. 
4. Add top liner: Take your liquid liner and go over the top of both eyes with a heavy black line. Wing it out at the ends for a little extra pizzazz! 
5. Mascara & Highlighting: After I've added all of the black shadow sometimes I like to go back over the top part of the brow bone (just under the brow) with more light gold color. This really makes the black stand out and it helps to soften the line where the black & gold meet. Add two coats of your black mascara and you're done! 

It's really not that difficult to create a beautiful bold eye! I hope that you will give it a try today. :) 

Ok, now on to a fashion inspiration for the day: 

A French Dress  

I received this dress a Christmas present from my mother who saw me drooling over this cute little thing at the mall back in November of last year. I wanted to share the look with all of my blog community in hopes that it might 'inspire' you too! One thing that I am specifically noticing this spring is that collars are everywhere! Many girls are even creating their own collars to layer over their favorite shirts! The idea is so much fun. It's like a glorified necklace if you think about it. AND- it just so happens that I ran into a very cute 'bedazzled' 1950's collar at an antique store in my home town two months ago. Girls back then knew how to dress! Let's follow in their footsteps today:

Button down front with gold buttons, gold belt, and big ivory collar! 

More of the collar & gold accessories!

 Last but not least, the adorable gold belt that makes it all come together. :) 

Well, that about does it for me tonight! I hope that you've been inspired to try something new today. Thank you so much for reading and for ALL of your support. I feel majorly blessed to be surrounded by such great women. Just so you all are aware: there are only a few days left to sign up for the Spring Forward Giveaway! Don't miss out on that. Click here for details on how to register. 

Have a great evening everyone and I'll see you back here on Wednesday! 

On the road again....

Greetings from somewhere in Indiana!

We're on our way back home from business in Indy. I don't know whether or not you can believe this but I am blogging from the car. CRAZY. I love technology. I am using my laptop which is plugged in to a power converter for the car. In addition, I am picking up an internet signal from a wireless card that Ben brought for the trip from his work. It is SOO much easier than blogging from a phone. UGH, I don't have the patience for that.

I just had to stop in and say hello to everyone as it's been a while. I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend. If you are reading this consider it your reminder- don't forget to set your clocks an hour ahead as tonight is daylight savings. It's time to Spring ahead people!! And while I realize this means an hour less sleep for me, it is a sacrifice I am actually excited to make as I look forward to the promised season of Spring and sunshine!

It has been an eventful weekend for me. I discovered after inhaling nearly 6-7 pieces by myself, that I love sushi! I haven't, generally speaking, been the biggest fan of sushi due to my first encounter with it being just 'mediocre'. However, after watching a very short Asian man create my food right in front of me at a sushi bar last night- I changed my mind. Not only was the sushi sublime but it just looked so incredibly artistic. See?

I have an exciting blog to share with all of you on Monday. I will be showcasing a new spring look that is both dazzling and 'bold'. I'm sure you will love it. In case you haven't heard- the Bee's Knees Spring Forward Giveaway is in full swing and the registrations keep coming in! Sign up today by clicking here. There are only 10 more days to register, don't miss out. :)

Thank you for reading, it means the world to me. Great things are coming up here at the Bee's Knees so don't miss a moment of it. Love you all- see you Monday.

PS- I just purchased this new Baby Lips balm from Maybelline on Friday because I needed a good lip balm and I liked that some of these were tinted pretty. I bought this exact color and I have to tell you- I love it! It's a nude shade and it even has SPF 20! Nifty. You should try some. :)

Smashbox Camera Ready 'BB Cream' Review!

I am in love. Here's the story- I have been wanting to invest in a face primer for a while now but I just wasn't sure what I really wanted. I just knew I wanted to have something 'legit' to share with my beauty blog community. I tried Smashbox's original face primer and loved it but I was still unsure what I really desired to buy. I always sample EVERYTHING at Sephora so I know what I'm getting before I buy it.

Well, I recently fell in love with a 'brand new' product just released from Smashbox called 'Camera Ready BB Cream'. I was so glad I waited a little longer to make a purchase because this stuff was worth the wait, let me tell you.

Not only is the BB Cream a primer, it also boasts the following:

• SPF 35!! Are you kidding me?? Most SPF's leave your face feeling gross. Not this product! 
• It's tinted in color. Actually, it's available in '4' colors! 
• Controls face oils 
• AND- it diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles in just 4 weeks 

Incredible isn't it? I'm glad I waited. Here is a short video I found that will really give you a good overview of the power of BB cream, check it out:

I would personally recommend applying the cream with a foundation brush. Because it's tinted in color, it's best to make sure you are putting it on evenly and avoiding the appearance of 'foundation lines'. Those aren't fun. Also, when you use a foundation brush (like the one pictured below from Walgreens) your product goes a LONG way. If you really think about it, it makes sense that using your fingers to apply product is not a good idea. You will lose a lot of the product in the cracks and lines of your fingers which equals = waste.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful week. It is certainly a beautiful day here in Michigan at 60 degrees and still warming! I could get used to this. I will continue to remind everyone to MAKE SURE you don't miss out on the opportunity to register for the Spring Forward Giveaway by clicking here. A $50 Sephora Gift Card is up for grabs so sign up today! :) Love you all. Thanks for reading and I'll see all of you back here on Friday!

Photo-finished product. ;)

A cute little picture of my sister & I. Just stopping in to say Hi!

Adele-Inspired 'Old World' Glam

It's no secret that I love Adele. Her knock out voice and old world glam style are just beautiful. Her recent appearance at the Grammy's was quite the sight to behold. Not only did she perform for a live audience for the first time since her surgery but she managed to take home a whopping '6' Grammys in one evening! Unbelievable.

Her outfit, hair, and makeup screamed of old world glam and I was so inspired by the look that I just had to recreate it for all of you.

This is a very special blog as my sister is home from college and has agreed to ever-so-beautifully model for me today. :) In fact, I think she models the look marvelously!!

With a few 'basic' colors & tools you can rock Adele's gorgeous look too! Check it out:

Rolling in the Deep

To create this look here's what you'll need: Red lipstick, Revlon Custom Eyes Mascara in blackest black, Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in blackest black, Revlon Color Stay liquid eyeliner in black, a light cream colored eyeshadow and a darker brownish-mauve eyeshadow. 

1. Start by applying primer all over the eyelid from lash to brow 
2. Cover the eyelid completely with the light cream eyeshadow color 
3. Line the crease of the eye with the darker brownish-mauve eyeshadow color 
4. Line away! Get out your liquid eyeliner and begin to line the top of the eye. You will want to really 'wing out' the ends of the line to give it an eye popping effect. TIP: If you have never worked with liquid liner try 'patting' the liner into the lash line- it really helps. You can build on that line and go over it as much as you need. ANOTHER TIP: You can always 'draw' the design of the line you want first by outlining it with a dark colored eyeshadow and a liner brush. Then just go over all of it with the liquid. 
5. Mascara time! Get out your Lash Blast mascara and give your lashes one good coat (top & bottom)
6. Next you will add one coat of the Revlon Custom Eye mascara over the Lash Blast and BOOM! You will not believe how much volume and drama you can create with these two beauty weapons.
7. Finish the look with red lipstick! Line the lips first and then fill them in completely with the red color. 
8. I didn't go over the foundation details, but I applied foundation first then followed with a little powder and some blush on the apples of the cheeks to perfect Candice's look. 

Gorgeous isn't she?

I hope that you've been inspired (as I was) by this easy to create look. I hope that YOU will experiment and try your hand at it. 

Just in CASE you didn't already hear- the Bee's Knees Spring Forward Giveaway is in full swing and the registrations are rolling in! Make 'sure' you get in on this incredible opportunity as the Bee's Knees is giving away a $50 Sephora gift card to one lucky reader! Registration is simple. Click HERE to enroll today! 

Love you all. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for an exciting week ahead. I've got some good things on the radar.