Hello to all of my beautiful nerds traveling the vast universe! Welcome back for another post on here and this time it’s my favorites for July and August! Damn, this year is going by fast and I can’t believe Halloween is right around the corner.

Also, if this is in a weird format, I am testing a different word processor known as Jarte since I am going to be teaching tech why not test it out? Anyway’s, let’s get move on!

July and Augusts Favorites 2018:

Favorite Moments from NFB Convention:

Favorite Moment: Interviewing Apl DeAp from the Black Eyed Peas! First I’m starting with the NFB National Convention! I know it’s different from my attending anime conventions in Orlando and as a blind person I do self advocate by attending the anime conventions since I do enjoy it despite having a blind condition. Even the Chapter President at the NFB for Orlando did ask me how am I able to watch anime and my answer is always watching the English version because it is true. I have to rely on the dubbed version even though I can use Seeing A. I. to watch the subtitled version. I want to test it at some point and will get back to you about it but in the meantime I do like to support the actors I’ve interviewed. Speaking of interviews, Gondras and I did get to interview Apl DeAp from the Black Eyed Peas who was performing at the National Convention this year. This was a great opportunity since we do have music lovers reading this blog and from different genres and when I heard that Apl did have an eye condition it was a great opportunity to learn more about it. So, I did put in the request and was fit into the interview line up since two podcasts were also interviewing him. It was great to learn more about him and what he does, if you haven’t seen our interview, you can find the post talking about it here or you can go straight to our YouTube! Also, we are now following the Black Eyed Peas, Furgy, and Apl on Twitter to keep up with them and you should as well.

Favorite Purchase: My Braille Watch! Like most conventions I attend there are vendors at these things and oh man it was huge at the National Convention because you have companies showing their new tech like Google and Microsoft, even new app’s like N Reach which I’m affiliated with, but also products to help with independence and well I did get and that’s my Braille watch. I used to have talking watches and they died over time, even my last one where the talking part just died on me for good. I went a few years without one and when I got my First Time Scholarship I bought a new watch for myself and went with a Braille one because being at loud events like a concert or even in a mall it’s hard to hear the talking parts of the watch while a Braille watch you feel the face and the hands. I have to get used to the hand points though. If you grow your nails like I do, get a men’s watch because it’s easier when reading them.

Favorite Speech: A Kid Who Had Blind Parents! I am not a parent myself but an interesting fact is that the NFB help blind parents and parents of blind children with services and even trying to keep them safe because there are times where blind parents are seen as irresponsible when it comes to them. They do get trained in how to raise them and even the National and State Conventions do have workshops in helping parents who are sighted and blind to raise kids. When this speaker talked about her parents it was an eye opening experience besides the President of course because it shows that parents can get over their struggles in raising a child, even the part how she did the swap of family experiences where someone from a different home gets to live in the home for a week somewhere else and get to see the person’s family and how they lived, the person who lived with her was surprised that she didn’t know her parents were blind and had a great time with them. If you want to be a parent and you’re blind or end up with a kid going blind then the NFB will help you guys out with that.

Ipsy Round Up: Now it’s onto the Ipsy review where I talk about my products and how they went!

July: July is my return to the Ipsy service and it feels good to be back after two years of not having one. Trust me it was sad for me to see many people having videos on it. I was even in tears sometimes. Now that I have it back, I was glad to get it back because I love makeup and I don’t hurt anyone if I love it so much. Let’s see what I enjoyed!

BKR Water Balm: I finished this sample last night and it’s the Water Balm from BKR. I loved the scent of this which is very clean and you hardly smell the rose scent. I had a bit of a dry patch on my lips from scrubbing my lips and it did help with that. Will I buy it though? Even though it costs up in the $20 range I might get it since it is a very nice lip balm for what it is. I can see why they are pretty good as a brand but I do still have my LipSmackers and might purchase this in the future.
Smash box Always On Liquid Lipstick: I was glad to finally try this product since Ipsy was really the place where I got into Smash box. I do like how smooth this liquid lipstick goes on and it is not as drying as most formulas. I do like how wide this wand is and it did go on smoothly on top of my water balm and my lip primer. I may have to purchase this shade or another shade since this definitely got a thumbs up from me!
Sugar Cosmetics Heavy Duty Eye Kohl in Purple Rain: This eyeliner is super creamy! I do love my eyeliner pencils and the funny thing was that when I first subscribed to Ipsy and got my first bag I did get a black one from Lord & Berry and that one lasted me FOREVER and now that I have a full size pencil and it’s a purple one I was glad since I was looking for a new purple eyeliner. This goes on so smooth that there is no tugging like it claims on the product profile. I think this is a popular product since it sold out on Sugar Cosmetics’ USA web site and hoping they restock since I would like to see about the green one since that was another color you could get. I hope to get more products by these guys because they seem really good and this pencil shows it!
Ittse Shadow Single in Switching to Flats: This shadow did go on my eyes very well even though it’s hard to swatch. There are times when that happens with shadows where you get one that doesn’t want to swatch on you and when it swatches better on your eyes. I do like how this is a pan for your Z Pallet or any other company that does magnetic pallets and it’s pretty good for the amount you get. It’s also not expensive either for the shadows for it being an indie brand. They are $7 each for a pan which is not bad at all. I may have to look around because I do have empty slots open for shadow pans.
IB Beauty Eye Shadow Flat Brush: The last item is a brush and I loved this brush! This did apply my shadows very well and I can see why this is a good brand since other people have gotten their products in the past. I hope to get more shadow brushes or other brushes by them since they are very fluffy and soft. I may buy from the brand or if Ipsy has a brush offer for a set. That is why Ipsy has awesome brush offers!

August 2018: My bag this time for August was really great because having such a huge jump from 2015 to 2018 since I never had a bag in 2016 and 2017 due to unsubscribing in 2016 which upsetted me a lot and now I’m back, they did do something different from just back to school related themes like I remembered.
Pixie by Petra Blush Duo in Beach Honey: I used this more as shimmery blush than a highlight and blush. I remembered getting the Rose Gold one a while back and glad to get another one this one but in a peachy tone and it was really great and not only that the same formulation like I remembered. I basically swirl my brush around to give it a good coat and apply it to my cheek bone areas to give it a nice blush.
Riveta by Star Lux Ink Pen and Star: I have used this twice and I am not sure if the star end is working at all when using it. I know the pen tip is working because it does flow very well from it. I am not sure about buying this since the star is not working or it is. Sorry Star Lux!
Bang Beauty Eye Quad in Smoky: This one is a great one! It’s pretty pigmented for me when someone said it wasn’t. I did say with the Ittse single that sometimes shadows don’t swatch on the hand as well as on the eyes. I did like how pigmented it is but the packaging is so small! At least the pans were big enough for a brush. I will be using this when I start working since this is a work appropriate makeup for it being so matte.
Formula 1006 Three Tines the Sublime: Oh man this product is amazing! It helped reduce marks I had from my last time of the month and it does tingle but in a good kind of way. I need to try more expoliants since my skin can be clogged from using makeup and mowing my skin will go through that when I start working. Will I get this one though? Not sure as of yet since a lot of skin care can be pricey and I know I have to work with a budget.
Huda Liquid Matte in Bombshell: ::sigh:: I love this! I love this! I know about how controversial this brand was due to copying Beauty Bakerie with the setting powder which is not okay. I am not sure if I can find a dupe but this was a really good formula and not only that it is very light and comfortable. Why Huda? Why do you have to make a great product?

So far my return to Ipsy has been great! I enjoyed both bags but the least favorite item is the Star Lux liner, the pen part is amazing while the stamp is not working out for me. I can’t wait to see what September brings!

Beauty Favorites:

Fave Bronzer: L’Oreal True Match Lumi Bronze It in Light! I was happy to try out a new bronzer from L’Oreal and it’s their True Match Lumi Bronze It in Light. This bronzer is very pigmented and was glad to try it out. I can’t seem to not use it since it’s not so overbearing and you just need a light hand. According to Gondras, he noticed I went a little heavy when I wore my “Burn In” look during Traverser’s concert and need to go in lightly. It does cost around $12 but it is L’Oreal after all.

New Highlight: Fire Highlight Bar from Wet N Wild! Wet N Wild released their Zodiac collection this month and I only got the Fire Highlight since I was only interested in the highlighting bars after enjoying the one that came with the Midnight Mermaid Collection last year. This one is a bronzy shift highlight and oh man it brings an amazing glow to any warm toned looks! I have used it in my “Burn In” look and my Naked Heat Look and I think I tried it out with something but couldn’t put my finger on it but still this is a great highlight to any collection! Wet N Wild, release more highlighting bars because they are amazing!

Fave Eye Shadow: Fireball from NYX Prismatic Collection! I’ve missed using the NYX Prismatic shadows and when I was doing my “Ignite” look I was looking for an eye shadow to give off the firey red look and found this one while browsing the NYX web site when they had a site wide sale during Fourth of July. This is a beautiful orange shade with a red glitter shift and it does look like a fireball on your eyes. I did use this with my “Burn In” look for the defining shade to give it a burn look. I wish they didn’t break so easily though.

Fave Pallet: Naked 2 and 3 from Urban Decay! I have to give it to those two shadow pallets because I finally got my paws on them! I got them for my birthday this year and glad to complete the collection finally. I wasn’t big into collecting them at first but decided to do it since I did like the shadow pallets from Urban Decay and they are a big staple for a lot of people and I can see why. I also can see why they are important for a lot of us makeup lovers. Not everyone likes these pallets but they have been a big part of so many beginners and lovers for so long. Now they’re discontinuing the Original and someone theorized it might be due to packaging purposes since it is in a velvet package when the others were so sleek and artistic while the Original was bland. hoping that is true because it is the original. I didn’t buy another due to not making dents in mine so I don’t have to really worry. But back to these, these two have colors I normally do wear and I wish there was a Basics pallet for Naked 3 since you can do so much with purple and berry tones in the matte department. Plus, you can make so many looks with these two and even mix them with the other pallets. I also love their pallet casing since they did step up in the packaging.

Project Pan Update: I have finished some stuff and added some things! First with what I finished! I have finished two of my Ipsy products and I stink it was a shadow pigment and the other was the Pearl Fizz eye shadow from Tini Beauty. I got this as a way of promoting the Tini Beauty pallet from a makeup artist which I forgot his name but I do have the pallet in my collection but it was amazing for what it was. I used the Pearl Fizz shadow as a setting shadow for my eye primer to finish it off. Another product I did finish were my two only liquid lipsticks from Kat Von D. These felt like they didn’t have much product left as I wore them and they used to be comfortable but not anymore. This is why I prefer Ofra, NYX, Wet N Wild, Black Moon, and now Huda Beauty’s liquid lipsticks because they’re so comfortable to wear even after they dry down. I heard Jeffree Star’s formula is also comfortable which…I will announce now…I am going to take a try! I know I hear cheering because I gave Jeffree another chance due to how he has changed over time. Anyway’s, sorry Kat but your liquid lipsticks need to be comfortable and they aren’t. I did test them with the BKR Water Balm and that didn’t help either! And I did say I will not be buying anymore KVD stuff due to what’s going on with her. Now onto adding items! I am adding my Vivid Baked Bronzer in Ready To Go from Makeup Revolution because the packaging broke, as in the top fell off. I don’t know how it happened but it did and I tried having my dad remove the pan but it was breaking the product so best to pan it which will take forever but I am patient.

Top Fave Songs: Now it’s time for my top favorite songs of July and August in no particular order!

1. “God Is a Woman” by Ariana Grande: First is Ariana Grande with her song “God is a Woman!” This song surprised me because it was something new when it came to Ariana. The first time I heard it was James Charles singing it and he didn’t sound that bad that most people were saying and then when I heard it always got stuck in my head! Which is now!
2. “Distortion” by BabyMetal: A new song from BabyMetal and man it knows how to be metal! At first I thought it was a Sevendust song since the first riffs remind me of one but when I checked my phone it was BabyMetal! Apparently they released new music and this was from three months ago! Way to go girls!
3. “Hate” by. High & Mighty Color: Now I got the name! The song I have been trying to get on here is “Hate” by High & Mighty Color! We know this band all thanks to one of their songs used for the anime BLEACH and some of their other songs are really good. I’m glad that I Heart Radio plays Japanese artists in their World music genre!
4. “Starfaux Eight Arms” by. Traverser: I have to give it to my boys on this list because they have released a new and awesome song from their new album, Jupiter Doesn’t Care About You. This song shows their Red Shift sound since it has that science fiction theme to it. It even sounds amazing live! Oh yeah, they performed it live this last show! If this was put into an AMV, I thought about the game War Frame because it kind of makes me think about that game especially with the “I am the only one” lyrics. If you haven’t played that game, I highly recommend! Also, check out our interview with Traverser on our YouTube and here!
5. “Hurts Like Hell” by Mr. Bella: My last song for this list is by another Florida band and that is Mr. Bella. I Heart Radio always plays their song, “Herts Like Hell” everytime I play my Favorites Station. Can’t wait when they bring new music, well more new music since they did perform a new one at the last show I went to!

Favorite TV Season: Voltron Legendary Defender Season 7! I have to give it to the creators of Voltron Legendary Defender because with every season that has been made so far it has been very awesome! This season brought on things that you weren’t expecting even a cliff hanger at the end. I am hoping there is a Season 8 because of what had happened at the end of this season and I love this series a lot even slightly more than the original. Not only they changed up the story to make it more of a space opera which makes sense for something like this but it did give the characters more personality and made them more useful. Plus we get to see Alura being more stronger in this one and they did change her character. Maybe I should do a post of Old Vs. New between this and the original because I feel like it needs one since I have known the original series and I should see this one from the very beginning and take some notes since I know it will be one huge post! What do you think? Still, hoping for another season!

Well guys, that’s it for this post! I know it was a long one but hey I had a lot of favorites to talk about! Now I will be adding my Ipsy Round Up and how well the products worked for me or not worked out. Let’s see what holds for me in September and October since I may be moving so I will keep you guys updated on Twitter! Until next time! Stay beautiful while traveling the vast universe!