Maskcara IIID Foundation Review

Just to let you guys know, I've been looking forward to writing about Maskcara's (Cara Brook's) IID foundation makeup since I got it in the mail on Thursday night! If you haven't heard of Cara Brook before, you should definitely check out her blog here: http://www.maskcara.com. Her makeup tutorials are all over Pinterest, so you've more than likely seen her around before.

I've been following her blog for a couple of years, and have always been amazed at her tutorials. She always makes everyone look amazing- I would LOVE for her to do my makeup one day! In her tutorials, she uses the technique called HAC-ing, which stands for highlighting and contouring. I'm not sure if she's the one who originated the idea, but it's become a popular makeup technique. To sum it up, HAC-ing is playing around with shadows and light when putting on makeup that really complements your features. Before she came up with her own line, she used products she already owned, but never got them to do what she envisioned. To fix this problem, she finally ended up releasing her own line of makeup called IIID foundation (pronounced 3d- it took me forever to realize that!). I had always wanted to try it, and last week I finally decided to buy it on a whim. Here's what the compact looks like:

 I love the look of this compact!

The colors I got were: Dahlia blush, Pearl illuminator, Sunlit highlight, and Walnut contour

I'll be honest, I've never used a creme foundation before, so it was a little intimidating at first! However, Cara makes it so simple to figure out how to HAC using her makeup because she includes a diagram with every compact. She's also created a helpful video tutorial with step by step instructions. After one application, I already felt more at ease. 

Of course, a makeup review isn't complete without a before and after!

Before

I took this right after I got back from being at the pool for a few hours... so yeah, I'm a little burnt!

After

All the redness is gone! I like that you can put this makeup on light or heavy, depending on the occasion. I also like how my skin still looks like skin! I hate how some makeup completely covers skin and makes you look fake. You definitely won't have that problem with this foundation! This foundation truly makes sure that there's perfect lighting on your face at all times. So far I've used this twice, but it's going to be the ONLY foundation I use from now on. As soon as I showed my mom how it looked, she ended up immediately ordering her own compact! 

Have you ever tried the IIID foundation, and if you have, do you love it just as much as I do?

-Mariana

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette Review

I don't know about you, but doing my eyeshadow is my favorite part of putting on makeup. I love experimenting with all the different colors and color combos that are possible, which is why I love palettes. Palettes make is super easy and convenient to play around with different colors  My all time favorite palette is Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette. I've had this one for about two years, and use it almost every day (as you can probably tell from the picture!). So I was really excited to find out that Maybelline has created a version that looks extremely similar to Urban Decay's, at a MUCH cheaper price. The Naked 3 palette sells for around $54, while The Blushed Nudes costs only $10! And if you buy it from Ulta, you can use their $3.50 off $10 coupon, which makes this palette a grand total of $6.50! It's too good of a deal to pass up. Here's what The Blushed Nudes palette looks like:

Look how pretty it is! The compact is almost the same shade as the Naked 3 palette. It even has the same amount of colors!

It also comes with two applicators, which is nice; however, I prefer to use an eyeshadow brush. 

Here are The Blushed Nudes and the Naked 3 palettes side by side. As you can tell, the shadows in both palettes are strikingly similar. You could recreate the same look by using either palette! I like that The Blushed Nudes has shadows that are both shimmery and matte. What I really love about The Blushed Nudes is that on the back of the palette, there is a diagram showing how to use all the different colors. It separates the palette into doubles, trios, and quads. This makes it really simple for people who don't want to come up with color combos on their own. You can still be creative and use whichever colors you choose, or you can use one of the suggested combos on the back. I love the versatility with this palette! I still love my Naked 3 palette, but The Blushed Nudes will definitely be my go-to for the next few days. If you have always coveted the Naked palettes but don't want to drop $50 on it, then The Blushed Nudes is the palette for you! Or, if you're like me and have both, you can use The Blushed Nudes on some days to make your Naked 3 palette last longer!

Let me know what your favorite eyeshadow palette is in the comments below!

-Mariana

Student Loans: A College Graduate's Best Friend

Graduation is a funny thing, isn't it? One day you're a college student living in a dorm, without a job, eating for free in the cafeteria, and having hardly any expenses. Unfortunately, that doesn't last forever.

Once graduation day arrives, you get to move out of your dorm, find a real job, make your own meals, and start paying bills. And, like most college graduates, you finally get to start paying on that massive pile of student loans you've been looking forward to for the past four years.

Fortunately, college graduates get a 6 month grace period before their first payment is due on student loans. So, technically, I don't have to make my first payment until November of this year. But that doesn't mean the interest freezes! My interest continues to go up each month, regardless if I make a payment or not. In case you were wondering, this is the super fun part of being an adult (please note the sarcasm)! I really hate being in debt, so my goal is to pay off my student loans within four years. Now, the part you're probably wondering about: How am I going to do this? Today's your lucky day, because I made a summary of my action plan in list form!

1. Start Making Payments NOW

I was fortunate enough to start my first adult job literally two days after I graduated college. One of the first things I did that week was make my first payment on my student loans. I had some money in my savings, and now that I had my first job locked down, I decided to make a payment. It's never too early to start, right? The sooner I start paying off my loans, the sooner I'll be out of debt (I can't wait to celebrate when I make my final payment!). If you want to quickly pay off your student loans, then you better start making payments now. Don't wait six months!

2. Save Money

This step sounds so simple, but it's not that easy. If you have a habit of spending money on things you don't need, then this part will be extremely challenging. I use to spend way more money shopping than I do now. As I've gotten older, I've learned that there are a ton of expenses in life. In my mind, why spend $100 on clothes I'll hardly wear when I can save it and put it towards debt? This isn't an exciting way to think; in fact, I just became aware of how much I sound like a boring adult when I typed that out. But it's definitely a smart way to think. When you cut down on costs and save more, you will definitely thank yourself in the long run! (And you won't regret not buying that shirt)

3. Make a Comprehensive Budget

I'll end up dedicating an entire post to budgeting, so I'll make this brief. Budgeting is simply  making a plan for your money and where it will go. I've found that using Excel is much easier for me than using a budgeting app. I'm able to personalize it more and make as many columns as I want. When making a budget, follow Dave Ramsey's advice: "Give every dollar a name". If you have a category in your budget for every single expense, then you will be less likely to overspend. 

4. Live With Your Parents (If Possible) 

This option isn't for everyone, but if it's possible, definitely move back in with your parents. By living with my parents, I'm saving an incredible amount of money. If there's no way for you to live with your parents, then try to at least find a roommate to cut down on costs. A decent apartment around Louisville can easily be $700 and more a month. By living at home, I'm able to put the money that I'm saving on rent towards my loans, which will help me pay them off even faster.

5. Learn Perseverance 

Saving money and putting yourself on a strict budget is hard. There will be times you'll want to give in and spend your money the way you want to. When it gets hard, just remind yourself why you're doing this and why you're trying to pay your loans off quickly. Think about how amazing it will feel to finally have all of your loans paid off.

I hope these tips are able to help you! By doing these things, I've already been able to put several thousand towards my student loans. I'll still be paying them off for a few years, but at least I have a set plan on how to pay them off! 

What's your best tip for paying off student loans or any kind of debt? Leave a comment below!

-Mariana

Changing it up a Bit!

When I started this blog four years ago, it was meant as a way to chronicle my time at Campbellsville University (hence the name, "Life in Campbellsville"). But now, that title is no longer fitting since I graduated from Campbellsville in May, then immediately moved back home to Louisville, Kentucky. However, I still wanted to keep blogging, but I didn't know what I would write about.

Since then, I decided that I actually have a lot I could write about. My college student phase is over, but I've recently started a new phase of life: adulthood. While I've technically been an adult for a few years, I never really felt like one until now. Now, I've traded sleeping in for waking up before 7 every morning. I've traded wearing yoga pants to class to wearing professional clothing to work. I've traded endless amounts of free time for 40 hours spent in an office every week. And, I've traded a life of no expenses to a life of having student loan payments. My life has changed a bit in the past few months, but I'm excited that I get to share what I've been learning with you all.

I decided to name this blog "Making it as a Millennial" because it perfectly describes what this blog will be about. A large part of my generation, the millennials, has recently graduated college and are just now entering the "real world". I know I'm learning a lot about becoming a real adult with a real job, and can't wait to share everything. Expect to see a lot of posts about money and budgets, Pinterest recipes I've tried (including the failed ones!), DIY projects, reviews on products I love, and more. Feel free to leave a comment on topics you'd like me to write about!

-Mariana