“Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.” -- Aristotle

Although I have - in my short, short blogging history - only addressed the forms of beauty that come in a pot or a pencil, there's something I'd like to talk about, even if it goes a bit outside of the range I had originally set up for myself. But, I think, that this sort of exploration can be fun, and I never wanted to confine myself anyway, so here it goes!

Beauty - the really, really important kind - isn't something that is found in products. Beauty is so much more than that, and it's important to really think about it - and to love it and appreciate it - before raving about lipstick.

Recently, I was in a bit of a bad place: I won't go into detail but I had a lot of anxieties that were weighing on me so much it felt physical. I just felt…down, like the world was so heavy. And then, I don't know what happened or why, but I finally found the deep breath I was looking for. And things just got a whole lot easier and happier. And that all started when I began to really appreciate the beautiful things.

I know this sounds like a massive cliche, but I wouldn't share this if I didn't feel it to be in some way important. I was just suddenly able to see this incredible beauty all around me, and no matter what mess was going on inside my head, I felt okay in the end, because I had this realization. I was so happy and thankful for being me and for being in a good place with even better friends (more on that soon). And beauty is everywhere and stepping back and really knowing this makes life…wonderful.

Back to friends. Friendship is - I think - one of the most powerful forms of beauty I have ever come to understand and feel. I don't think there can be anything more beautiful than finding a friend with whom you can share just about everything with.

I am writing with my best friend in mind, and I am constantly amazed with how blessed I am to have her in my life. She has shown me beauty in so many things, and I think this is what friendship does. It forms this amazing relationship between people, and this organic thing that people can create can never be destroyed…how perfect! Although we met a few years ago, she's become such a massive part of my life, and there have been so many huge moments that we have shared (both incredibly joyful and incredibly sad) and this has made - and will make - us both stronger. And friendships seems to me to be a sort of armor against all that happens in the world: when the good things happen, friends are there with you to celebrate and hold your hand, and when the bad things happen, they're there with you to cry and rant, and hold your hand, too. I think the true beauty of friendship is that it can stand the test of life: we need it, and we create it, and once it is formed, nothing can ruin this sort of bond. And I think this is absolutely amazing, and Beautiful. 

In my own personal life, trying to understand the beauty of things has made me much, much happier. And my beautiful friends have made me much, much happier. And I know that whatever happens to us, whether it be the best things in life, or the absolute worst, we're going to make it. And I know this because I believe in this beauty, and I believe in the beauty of friendship.

Anyway, I just wanted to put all of this down because it's been circling in my head for the last three weeks, and I am trying to make sense of it all. And I don't know if I did the job well, but it's now out there - and I hope this can also mean something to someone. 

I Heart Rimmel

In the last few weeks, a certain brand has been creeping into my makeup boxes. It was unexpected, and not a brand I considered one I loved until I took a closer look at the products I'm most likely to grab for in the morning. And I came to this conclusion:

I love Rimmel.

The products are available at all drugstores, which is great for a student like me, who can run out and get what is needed with a quick trip to Target. And my (frequent) Target trips have revealed more and more of the Brit-brand! Here are the particular products I am absolutely loving.

The Rimmel Match Perfection is now a daily must. I am so, so picky about foundations and I often stick to one if I like how it looks. Satisfaction is key: and it's risky trying out foundation if it's not a good match (as it's on your face for everyone to see)! So I was hesitant, but after hearing so many bloggers rave about it, I thought I would give it a try! I was so skeptical at first: it came out so thick and seemed heavy on my skin. But with some good blending, and a step away from the mirror to reflect (ha) I instantly fell in love! It leaves such an amazing finish, I now use it every day. I find the coverage incredible as well: my skin isn't too bad, but I have a few places I'd like to perfect. With this foundation, I feel like they're instantly fixed!

On top of the foundation I use Rimmel Matte Finishing Powder to finish off my skin look. The powder sets so, so nicely: I rarely have to touch up my makeup throughout the day. It also gives such a perfect, polished look. I use a cute little kabuki brush and just touch up areas on my face that get a bit shiny later in the day, and it looks great!

With the fall in full force, I've become so enthusiastic about fall colors! Bring on the orange and the cranberries! Nothing says autumn like some good dark colors paired with a good dark coffee! I wasn't sure about the Rimmel eyeshadows: in the palettes they looked a bit opaque so I tried them with a bit of hesitation. But they are so incredibly pigmented I instantly loved them! To get my fall look I've been using two of their palettes: Smokey Brun and Afternoon Tea (which I shamelessly bought for the name) to create a rose-gold smokey eye. They look so great and they blend really well. Even better: they stay all day long and into the night for my busy study schedule!

And lastly, where would I be without the Kate Moss for Rimmel lipsticks! I have a bunch in my collection, ranging in color based on what I was loving at the moment. Right now, for a good fall look I love dark lipstick. 107 is my absolute favorite, and I had a mini-panic when it wasn't at the store when I went last time, as I think my current one is getting a bit dried out. So, I'll be on the lookout next time, as it is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks. it's a beautiful deep, deep red color, and I love how it makes my lips feel! 

What are your favorite Rimmel products? I'd love to hear any suggestions, as I am always on the hunt for good products in a brand I love!

Hello My Name Is: Ultraviolet Rae

Hi everyone!

My name is Rae, and I am a twenty-year-old college student. Clothes, hair, fashion, health, and makeup have always been very important to me: I come from a family of awesome role models when it comes to this. However, until quite recently I was happily entrenched in my daily routine of applying several coats of mascara, possibly some winged eyeliner if I was feeling fancy (or had time to spare), dragged a brush through my hair, and ran out the door.

Then – perhaps a bit late in the game – I discovered the wonderful, wonderful world of beauty blogging. I instantly fell in love and began to experiment. Enter foundation, contouring, makeup brushes (and brushes, and brushes, and brushes!), blushes, highlighters and bronzers, and too many eyeshadows to count. Hair products were quick to follow with dry shampoos, curling cremes, sea salt spray, and many bobby-pin battles. Soon, I began to really love the whole process and kissed my quick twenty-minute routine goodbye.

Honestly, I wanted to test out everything purely for myself: I loved how different eyeshadow palettes transformed my eyes, how a good filled brow could change your face, and how a beautiful shade of red lipstick could make a great pout! It gave me this boost of self esteem that I happily welcomed in. I guess people started to notice, and I began getting a lot of compliments, and a lot of desires to share what I was doing with other girls.

After some prompting, I considered starting a blog of my own. The thought was daunting: these people have years of experience to my dipped-toes-in-the-water. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I have become really happy and excited with makeup and beauty, and I think doing what makes you happy is so, so important. And I would love to share this happiness with others. And additionally, blogging has always appealed to me: as a writer, I've always found them great reads.

And, here we go. I don't know what will come of this, but I am excited! I want to share my experiences, things I have learned, and learn from others. As well as beauty I'd love to explore other things, like daily musings, health, love, books...I'm not really sure! We will see how this goes, and go from there! 

So, hello everyone...it's so nice to meet you! Thank you for reading this, and I am so thrilled to start this!