The Weekly Question: Would you rather give up your Skincare Routine or Makeup for 2 months? (hint: my picks for favorite bar soaps!)

 Affiliate Link Press Sample 

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers answers a beauty-related question just for fun! 

This week's question is...

If you had to either give up ALL makeup for two months or give up your skincare routine for a week and just simply wash your face with soap and water.. which would you pick?

Give Up Makeup or Give Up Skincare Routine???

What would I do? I would give up my skincare routine! If I was forced to choose (thank God we don't have to *really* choose to do this!), I would rather wash my face with soap and water than give up makeup. Mostly, I don't want to give up on using concealer for my dark under eye circles! I don't want to walk around for 2 months looking like I have black eyes. 

Plus, I have a secret...I love bar soap! Really, I do! Typically, I do use liquid cleansers for my face. However, I love bar soap for the shower for my body and I do love a few bar soaps for the face! 

My Picks for Facial Bar Soap:

• Sibu's Sea Buckthorn Cleansing Bar: Oooooh! Ya'll know that I love Sibu. :) Their Sea Buckthorn Cleansing Bar really is amazing. While I do slightly prefer their liquid soap version, I would be totally happy cleansing my face with this wonderful bar for 2 months! If you missed my full review, please check it out here. :) 

 image source

• Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap: I will fully admit that I have not used this soap in years. However, this soap was previously one of my standard facial cleansers when I was on Retin-A treatment. It was what my Dermatologist recommended that I use...and I am a rule-follower, so I used it! :) I like the sensitive, unscented version of this soap. :) 

 image source

• Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bars: Here is another old favorite bar soap: Neutrogena's classic glycerin soap!!! I used this for years and would be happy to venture back to it! It is super gentle and leaves you clean without over drying. You really can't go wrong with this bar soap! :)

So, what would you do if you were forced to choose between your Skincare Routine or your Makeup??? What would you give up? 

Also, if you are a bar soap lover, I would really like to hear what your choices are for bar soaps! :) 

As always, thanks for reading! Please be sure to visit the links below to my fellow Atlana area beauty blogger's posts! :) xoxo

  

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog

Brittney from BellBelleBella

Christine from Simply Stine

Cleo from Pretty Little Syko

Dawn from Ritual Beauty

Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes

Harri from TrailerHood Chic

Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty

Mandy from MandysSecrets

Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty

Quinn from Mama Fashionista

The Weekly Question: What are your Favorite Scents for Fall?

Affiliate Link I Bought It/Press Sample 

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! This week's question is...

What are your go-to fall fragrances?
As some of you know, I am a bit obsessed with Fragrance! I rotate my scents seasonally and always get excited about my Fall/Winter fragrance lineup! I won't list all of my favorites today...just my top 2! :)

I love rich and sexy intoxicating scents for Fall and Winter. Now is the time to break out the heavy and rich scents. While I adore these types of scents, they just seem much to heavy for me when the weather is hot. In the colder months, they are perfect!!! Layers of vanilla and chocolate notes over musky scents seem to be what draws me this time of year.

image source: Nordstrom's

My #1 Favorite Perfume: Angel by Thierry Mugler:
This is the sexiest scent to me! I absolutely adore it and it has been my favorite for almost 10 years! I wear the Eau de Parfum in the refillable crystal container. I have tried a few versions of the Angel scent but always come back to the original as my favorite! I actually just ran out of my refillable and need to get it refilled (I have a really pretty deluxe size that I am using in the meantime). I think this scent is so irresistible!

My Other Fall/Winter Favorite: Shiseido's Zen Secret Bloom:
I reviewed this awhile back and I am still totally in love with it as a colder weather scent! Instead of going into details here, check out my full review: Shiseido Zen Secret Bloom. I am not sure if it is still available as it was a limited edition scent. However, you can always check out Shiseido's other versions of this scent!

Shop the Post: Here are my Go-To Scents for Fall and Winter: Angel and Shiseido Zen (Secret Bloom):

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!
Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog

Brittney from BellBelleBella
Christine from Simply Stine
Dawn from Ritual Beauty
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Question with the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers: Do you love Color or are you a Neutrals Girl?

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Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! This week's question is...

On a daily basis, do you favor bright colors or neutrals?

I am totally a neutrals girl! Even when I go more bold with my makeup, I still tend to stick to neutral colors (and vary the intensity or add color as an accent only). The one big exception is that I do tend to wear shades of purple and lavender frequently. However, I usually use them as an accent within an overall neutral eye look. 

What about you? What do you prefer? Do you like to experiment with color or stick with neutrals? There is no question that my neutral shadows get much more wear! 

Looking for a great neutral palette? Here are my favorite neutral palettes:

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog

Brittney from BellBelleBella

Christine from Simply Stine

Dawn from Ritual Beauty

Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes

Emma from Manicurity

Harri from TrailerHood Chic

Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty

Mandy from MandysSecrets

Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty

Quinn from Mama Fashionista

 

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Question: What Makeup Item do you like to Splurge on? My Current Splurge Favorites!!!

 Affiliate Link I Bought It & Press Samples

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! 

This week's question is...

What makeup items are you more likely to splurge on?

This is an easy question for me! There is a clear frontrunner for the "most likely to splurge" question. While I typically love both high end and drugstore items alike, there is one makeup category in which almost every single product I own is high end. 

So, my answer...foundation!!! I am including both powder foundation and liquid within this foundation category as I tend to go high-end on both liquids and powders. I think that great makeup starts with flawless looking skin. Foundation that matches well and is good for your skin type is the key here! Not only do I love many high end foundation formulas, but also I love being able to try them on in the store and get the assistance of a makeup artist or salesperson to help with shade selection. When I find a foundation that works, I tend to repurchase it over and over again. So, I really just don't even end up exploring drugstore foundation often since I already have so many high end formulas that I love and adore. Also, my skin is extremely fair. Many drugstore (and high end) foundations are too dark for my light skin tone. I have better luck with makeup brands with a very wide shade selection.

So, what are my current foundation favorites? Here they are (most of these have been favorites for years!):

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Brittney from BellBelleBella
Christine from Simply Stine
Dawn from Ritual Beauty
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 

If you would like to see previous bi-weekly questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

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Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers: Fall 2013 Meet Up!

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On August 25th, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers got together in Roswell for a meetup! It was so much fun getting together with this lovely group of ladies! We had a fantastic afternoon catching up, chatting 'blog talk' in person, and swapping makeup goodies! It is so nice to connect in person with other bloggers to "talk shop". Plus, I love how supportive and encouraging everyone is. Can't wait to see all of these lovely ladies again!

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs:

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Brittney from BellBelleBella
Christine from Simply Stine
Dawn from Ritual Beauty
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you would like to see previous bi-weekly questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Question: Looking Back: What Beauty Advice would you give your Teenage Self?

Nothing to Disclose

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun!

This week's question is...
Knowing what you know now, what beauty advice would you give your teenage self?

My Beauty Advice for my Teenage Self: Be Confident!!! Looking back, I was so shy and quiet as a teenager. To this day, I am still on the quiet side. However, I have really gained my confidence over the years. When I do look back, I see myself as a quiet, yet sweet and fun teenager. I just needed to assert myself more! I would love to tell my former self to just rock whatever look I was going for and totally own it with confidence!!!

What about ya'll? What advice would you give your teenage self?

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Question: You Only Have Time to do your Makeup OR Hair! What do you choose???

Each Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun!

This week's question is...
You're running late and you only have time to either do your makeup or hair.. which one do you choose?

OMG! What a great question!!! Funny enough, this seems to be my situation a lot lately, lol!

This is actually pretty easy for me to answer. There is *no question* that I would choose doing my makeup! Why? Well, first of all I only wash my hair every 2-3 days. In addition, I always carry a hair brush with me and a wear an elastic band around my wrist. My hair is super long. So, I almost always toss it into a ponytail at some point in the day. Ponytails just suit my stay-at-home Mommy lifestyle right now. So, if I do not have time to do my hair, no problem! I can rock the bed-head look until I have time to brush it out with my travel hairbrush or throw it up into a ponytail or bun.

I am lucky that my hair is pretty easy to control. It is just straight and long. Sometimes I do laugh at myself when I realize that it is noon and I haven't brushed my hair yet. Just to clarify: I am no slacker. My hair just honestly looks pretty decent without me having to do a thing to it. So, what do I do to my hair when I do have more time? I like to round brush it with a huge brushlab brush to give it a lot of volume and shine. Sometimes I curl it a bit, too (either with a curling wand or overnight with a no-heat wet set of some sort). I find long hair to be so easy to work with! My hair is much more high maintenance when I have a bob.
 
What about ya'll? Which do you choose? Makeup or Hair???

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

Bloggy Times in Atlanta! Make Up For Ever Makeup Bag Remix and MABB Meet up!

Hello lovelies! Last weekend was quite a bloggy weekend! :) I had two fun blog-related events and I just wanted to share some photos and thoughts with ya'll!

On Saturday, my Bestie and I headed out to Atlantic Station for Make Up For Ever's Make Up Bag Remix tour. Make Up For Ever's HUGE Mobile tour bus was set up with make up artist stations inside. We each had about a 20 minute consultation and mini-makeover. The event was packed and we had a great time! Both of us new Mommies really needed a girls afternoon out sans babies! :)

The general premise of the Make Up Bag Remix event is that you bring your own makeup bag stuffed with products you either don't use or don't know how to use well and the MUFE artists will show you how to use your items better. I arrived armed with tons of products including a smokey eye kit and bright lippies. As much as I love bright lip color and smokey looks, I don't reach for those items often.

My Bestie Jamie and I had very different experiences. Jamie's artist showed her how to use eyeliner and used many of the products in her make up bag. My artist showed me how to create a natural smokey look with neutral shadows and how to use bright pink lipstick with neutral lip liner. While my makeup artist looked through my bag and talked to me about my products, she didn't actually use any of the products that I brought. So, I was a little dissapointed in that. However, the look she did turned out pretty cute. It certainly was a different look for me! Also, I am extremely impressed with the performance of MUFE's concealers! I am quite certain that my next concealer purchase will be MUFE's HD concealer.

We both got our pictures taken and left with a cute Make Up For Ever makeup bag containing a few MUFE products. What a fun afternoon!

If the Make Up For Ever Remix tour hits your city, I highly recommend it for a fun afternoon outing! :) The Makeup Artist that worked on me was very sweet and talented. She does freelance work in Atlanta. I have her contact info if anyone is looking for a makeup artist!

Photo Credit: Mandy's Secrets: Pictured left to right: Me, Mandy from Mandy's Secrets, Ashley from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog, and Harri from Trailer Hood Chic. 

The Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers Meet Up! 
The following day, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers (MABB) had their first offical meet-up! Four of us were able to attend. We met at a Mexican resturant, discussed MABB business, and had a live makeup swap. While we are active and chatty on our MABB Facebook page, it was our first time meeting in person! I have met other MABB members at a previous event; however, it was my first time meeting the particular 3 other girls that met up on Sunday. Please continue to follow my MABB bi-weekly Questions!

I have another beauty event coming soon! So, look for another Bloggy Times post in the near future! :)

Thanks for reading!
XOXO!

Everyone at MUFE event
got a sample bag

LiveBeautifully Pretty City Event at Atlanta's Tounge and Groove! Join me Wed Sept 19th!

 photo credit Pretty City

Atlanta's Tongue & Groove is hosting an event held by LiveBeautifully and Atlanta Pretty City sponsored by Shape Magazine! This LiveBeautifully event is a girls-night-out with samples, wine, and beauty pampering. Sounds like just what I need!

You can enjoy free beauty services while having a complimentary glass of wine and treats! Tickets are free; but, you can upgrade to a VIP ticket (includes a swag goody bag) for $29.00.

• Click here for a free ticket: Free Ticket
• Click here to purchase a VIP ticket: VIP Ticket

 Photo Credit Pretty City

The event is Wednesday September 19th 6:30-9:00 at Tongue & Groove Atlanta! I will be there with a couple girlfriends and fellow Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers Sisi Sparkles, Mama Fashionista, and Mandy's Secrets!

Here is a sneak peek at the VIP Goody Bag! 

Hope to see you there!!! I am really excited about the event! :)
XOXO!

The "Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers" Weekly Question: What is Your Favorite Nail Polish Brand?

Each Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! This week's question is...

What are your favorite big name nail polish brands? (OPI, China Glaze, Zoya, etc)
I think this is so hard to answer! In true Pammy fashion, I will give you a long and complicated answer to a short and simple question. Maybe it is the Speech-Language Pathologist in me (we tend to be a wordy lot); but, I just can't seem to be brief in my posts. Pontificating on nail color is a pure pleasure for me! If you want to cut to the chase, skip to the bottom of this post for my short answer. Or, if you want to join me for a nail-polish loving tangent, put your (polished) feet up, grab a cup of coffee, and read on!

I seem to like about a million brands of nail polish!!! How can I choose when there are so many amazing polishes out there. There are gorgeous colors everywhere I turn. It seems to me that I have favorite polish shades from just about every major nail polish brand (both drugstore and mid-high end brands). What really gets me? Unique colors. Sure, I love basics. But oh how I swoon for a unique shade of polish!!!

I am pretty obsessed with nail color actually. As much as I *heart* neutrals for face makeup, you can almost always find color on my tips and toes. Nail Color is such a form of artistic everyday self-expression. Some days I honestly just look down at my nail color and sign and give a little smile. Color has the power to impact your mood. I tend to choose colors that I love and just make me happy!

image source

So, what brands do I love? It might be easier to just tell you what I am loving at the moment. I have polishes from a huge range of brands in a whole rainbow array of colors to suit my mood and the season. What do I like? What brands? What colors? For example, right now I am wearing Nicole by OPI's Mer-Maid For Each Other (new for Fall and exclusive to Target! gorgeous metallic green/yellow duo chrome).

Usually I have my next nail polish waiting in the wings...What is up next? Two new polishes for Fall from butter London: Gobsmacked and Trustafarian. OMG, these are gorgeous (review coming soon!).

On my toes? An old favorite and my annual go-to polish for my toes...it is the most beautiful Barbie pink...what is it? Orly's 30 year Anniversary polish in Sterling Silver Rose. Seriously, this polish is like at least 5 years old. That is the beauty of nail polish in the world of makeup collecting, it never seems to go bad!

Besides the polishes that I mentioned, what is hot for Fall? Blues! Here are some of my faves in a variety of finishes: essies' stroke of brilliance glitter topcoat, Pure Ice's French Kiss, Sinful Colors's Rain Storm, and Sinful Colors Lavender. 

What are my favorite polish brands? I will name a few: OPI, Nicole by OPI, Butter London, Julep, Milani, Sinful Colors, Pure Ice, Revlon, essie, MAC, China Glaze, Rimmel, Zoya, and Wet n' Wild. I know there are more. These are just those popping into the front of my mind right now.

Thanks for joining me for this weekly question! If you are a fellow nail lover, be sure to check out the rest of the posts linked below from the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers!

Some polishes mentioned in this post I bought myself
and others I got as samples.


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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers!
Bridget from Polish, and Make-Up, and Cars! Oh My!
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Missy from Gnarly Gnails
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
SiSi from SiSi Sparkles
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.
If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Beauty Question

Each Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! This week's question is...

How old were you when you got into makeup?
I started wearing makeup when I was about 13 (or 7th grade). I was immediately in love...but, likely lacked application skill. Too bad YouTube wasn't around back in those days!

My major makeup interest (read: obsession) started after college. I got an amazing makeup lesson/makeover at an Aveda salon. I learned how to really apply makeup and saw how trans formative it could be. After that, I always researched my makeup purchases online by reading product reviews. I eventually stumbled upon Makeup Alley and still love that site to this day! I don't actively post on there anymore; but, I have learned so much over the years from the message boards on that site! I found that being active in a makeup loving "community" really cemented my love for beauty products and fueled my quest for the best products out there.

What about you readers? When did you get into makeup? Was it "love at first sight" or gradual?

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers!
Bridget from Polish, and Make-Up, and Cars! Oh My!
Emma Thea from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Missy from Gnarly Gnails
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
SiSi from SiSi Sparkles
 
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

The Weekly Beauty Question!

Each Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun!

This week's question is...
What was your worst makeup "don't" that you thought looked amazing at the time?

Ooooh! This is a fun question to answer! One of my biggest makeup "don'ts" (that I flippin loved at the time and thought looked cool and modern) was wearing white makeup. Actually, I was a bit obsessed with white eyeliner, white/frosted lipstick or gloss, and white eyeshadow. This was my late 90's look when going clubbing. Now, as you can imagine, when worn all together, this can make you look quite washed out, lol! I still have a lot of love for white eyeliner used in the inner corner or in the lower waterline. Also, I still like white eyeshadow (used sparingly) in the inner eye corner as well. However, I have given up the white lipstick!

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers!
Bridget from Polish, and Make-Up, and Cars! Oh My!
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Missy from Gnarly Gnails
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
SiSi from SiSi Sparkles
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.
If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!