Favorite Products…

I recently received a request on Instagram to make a video sharing my favorite products. I tried and tried (and tried) to make a decent talk-through video answering this request, but I found them to be a bit too boring! So, I’ve made a video literally showing all my favorite products, kind of like a teaser, and this blog post goes with it to explain why each product made my favorites list. 🙂

First of all, narrowing all my goodies down was tough! There are a lot of products I love equally that didn’t make it in the video either because I don’t use them as regularly or they’re not as versatile.

Let’s go!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

I’ve talked about this product before, and I’m sure I will again because it really is that amazing. When I first tried this, it was the most expensive foundation I’d purchased so I had high expectations. The formula is so smooth and lightweight it almost feels more like a light serum or even water, which I love – I don’t like feeling my makeup on my face. The coverage this provides is light to medium, but it’s completely buildable. Another great thing is the range of shades. I have a hard time finding a foundation that matches because I’m so pale but with neutral/yellow undertones. This is available in either pink or yellow undertones and goes from very fair to dark. There really isn’t anything I don’t like about this foundation…it feels great, leaves a natural finish, covers well, and even smells great. This is spendy, but totally worth the money for me, not only because of the quality but also for how long it lasts (years). If you’re able to get a higher-end product, this is definitely my recommendation. (If you do, make sure to use your fingers to apply as this is too watery to be used with brushes or sponges.)

L’Oreal True Match Foundation

This comes in literally ever shade possible for every undertone imaginable. Mine is in “Soft Ivory N1” which is the lightest of the neutral undertones, and it matches me perfectly. This is a medium to full-coverage foundation so it definitely covers well, but it’s also very blendable and can be thinned out if desired. For the price, I’m not sure there’s a better foundation out there. This would be great for beginners because it’s easy to work with and the store display makes it easy to find your perfect shade. This is also great because it can be applied with whatever you like, be it brushes, sponges, or fingers. I like to use mine with my BeautyBlender (which probably should’ve been included on this list…) because it gives just enough coverage while still thinning out the product and blending it in really flawlessly. Another thing that’s great about this is the finish. A lot of foundations are too matte or too greasy for me, but this is right in between. It looks like real, healthy, hydrated skin – perfect.

Cover FX Cream Concealer (MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer; Laura Mercier Undercover Pot)

As far as concealers go, I’m only going to cover (ha!) what I use on blemishes, not undereyes. I showed the Cover FX Concealer in the video, but there are really three that are tied now that I think a bit more about it. I really love the Cover FX one because you only need a little, teeny, tiny bit to cover well, and it’s really easy to blend, but I also feel like I should talk about two others because they’re also just as good. The MAC concealer is really great and I’ve been using it for a long time now, and the Laura Mercier one is also great. What I love about all of them is that they’re full-coverage, which is key when covering things like pimples and dark marks (my top concerns), and they’re all available in a wide range of shades, particularly the MAC one. I alternate between the MAC one and the Cover FX one currently, depending on my mood. The Cover FX one is really easy to blend which makes it easier to work with, but it then has to be set with powder to make sure it doesn’t slide around. The MAC one on the other hand has an almost tacky texture and dries quickly so it’s hard to blend, but it stays put without the help of a powder. The Laura Mercier one has two chambers, one with a face concealer similar to her Secret Camouflage, the other has an undereye concealer. The face concealer is really dry, so you have to swipe the brush in there a few times to get enough product, but, once you do, it only takes a dab on blemishes to make them disappear and it stays put. I like to set it with a little powder anyway because it is a cream, but that’s just preference. (I won’t talk about the other side of the pot because this is about face concealers, but I will say that it’s great too!) The only reason I don’t use the Laura Mercier one as often is because I bought it as part of a kit and the shade is one shade too dark… 😦 But! I plan on buying one that matches as soon as I can. Anyway, as you can tell, this was a tough call for me… I love them all and recommend all of them to beginners and makeup-mavens alike. 🙂

Nars Blush – “Orgasm”

I don’t even know where to begin with this little baby…! I should probably just make the shade itself the favorite…haha. I’d wanted this for years before I was actually able to afford it a few years ago, and boy was it worth the wait. By some magic that only NARS knows, this really does look good on every skintone and gives the perfect just-did-something-naughty 😉 flush! It’s that perfect blend of pink and peach that I dream about because it flatters, looks natural, and complements just about any look. I’ve had this for about four years now, and this is still going strong because you truly only need a little. The shimmer also isn’t very noticible and comes across as more of a glow than shimmer. I will use this forever! (I also love the other “Orgasm” products – The Multiple, the lipgloss, the nail polish… can’t. get. enough.)

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Because I’m so fair, I usually have to use an incredibly light hand with bronzer because I can look like an Oompa Loompa real quick, but with this one, I’m good to go! This is a lighter version of their original Chocolate Soleil Bronzer that’s specifically made for fairer gals. It’s got warmer undertones, is completely matte, and smells amazing…like cocoa (with which it’s actually made)! If I want more of a warmth to my face, I’ll apply this lightly around the perimeter of my face just to toast things up, but for times like now, when I’m self-tanning and wanting that bronzed look, I can load this on without it ever looking unnatural.

Benefit Majorette

This is a true love of mine because there’s literally nothing I don’t love about it. Just the packaging is great because it’s a good size, sturdy, scalloped (!), and has that beloved magnetic closure. Then there’s the product, which is, again, that beautiful pink-peach shade that flatters everyone and looks so sweet and natural. It’s also completely fool-proof because all you need is a clean finger to dab in the product and seamlessly blend into cheeks. This really does the work for you…and it even smells like peaches too!

MAC “Omega” Eyeshadow

Before I talk about this, let me just start by saying I had a heck of a time finding a contour shade that worked for not only fair skin, but someone with neutral undertones. Everything I tried was either grey or orange or way too dark. Finally, I emailed a MAC makeup artist through their website asking for a suggestion, and she recommended this. “Omega” is a matte eyeshadow, so that’s a plus right there because no one wants to contour with anything shimmery. Then there’s the shade… this is a light shade of taupe, so it’s the perfect mix of brown and grey. Your contour color should be the shade a shadow actually leaves on your face, and this is spot on for me. I can carve out cheekbones for days with this little thing without it ever looking unnatural! It’s the only thing that works for me. 🙂

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Something you should know about me: I LOVE highlighters. I always have. I don’t think there’s anything prettier than a beautiful complexion when it comes to makeup, and highlighter is key in my opinion. Having said that, I have a lot of highlighters – powders, creams, gels, you name it! This one is a stand out. I love the formula of this because it’s a liquid, so it’s so easy to apply and blend and it’s very natural. The shimmer in this is also realtively low, which I also love because it’s subtle, yet still makes an impact. I add this on the high-points of my face and suddenly my skin looks dewy and hydrated and healthy. What more could you want? 🙂

Revlon Lash Curler

Pretty self-explanatory, right? 😉 I have really straight lashes so this is a necessity.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray and Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

This next one is a tie. I can’t use eyeshadow without a primer because it creases and disappears. Both of these are included because both work terrifically, are easy to work with, and add a little coverage to the lid which makes shadow stand out more and masks little imperfections like veins and discoloration. Love them both!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

For mascara, I had a tough time. I have so many that I use all the time and that I love for different reasons. However, when it comes down to it, I have to go with this one by Too Faced! This truly does it all – lengthens, thickens, and lifts – without being heavy or hard to remove. I love the packaging as well because it’s really sturdy, and the brush is really big!

IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil

I don’t really like to shape my brows as much as fill them in, and this is great for that. It goes on lighter (more of a taupe color) with a light hand, but comes out more brunette if you press a little firmer, so it’s great for beginners because it takes the guess work out of finding the right shade. The effect is really natural, and this truly doesn’t come off until I take it off. I also love that it comes with the spoolie on the opposite end.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

I just love this because every single color is beautiful, fun, and flattering. This was great during the holidays because it’s got that glitzy vibe to it, but I’m surprisingly able to use it just as much now for beautiful bronze-y looks and neutral, everyday looks. One of my favorite shades in this palette is “Cherry Cordial” because it warms up and adds depth to any look and looks great with my eye color – I’ve never found anything like it. I also love the packaging on this because it’s adorable, and I even love the names of each shade (maybe I’m just a chocoholic?). Not to mention, this smells like the cocoa powder with which it’s made. Basically, I just want to eat the palette too!

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

This is my little baby…it’s the first big palette I’ve ever owned and I got it as a gift from someone I love on a special day. Next thing you should know about me: I have an obsession with rose-gold. I get my hands on as much of it as I can, and this palette is no exception. I think every color in this is so flattering and beautiful, and they all work together perfectly – there’s no bad combination. I would wear this every day if I could, and for every occasion. I love the brush it comes with too.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I love this because it’s great for everyday. I usually take this with me when I travel because it’s so small and the shades are neutral and can take you from breakfast to going out at night. I particularly love the highlight shade in this kit because it’s not too shimmery or too white.

What’s great about all of these palettes is that each one is highly pigmented so only a little goes a long way, and each one is completely unique. I love love love them!

Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Balm

For lips, I have about a million products I love, but, once again, I had to whittle it down! This is a favorite because it’s a tinted lip balm, which is my favorite and go-to, and it’s also a perfect shade of pink that just gives life to my lips but isn’t flashy or too bright. It’s also intensely hydrating and smells really pretty.

“Royal Ball” and “Happily Ever After” from the Cinderella Collection for MAC

I’ve done a whole post about just these two and I really do love them. They’re so pretty together, and on their own. For more information, check out my previous post, “Cinderella, Cinderella…“.

Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer – “179 Murmure”

The associate in Macy’s put this on me, and I fell in love! It’s a really flattering pinky-melon shade and I can’t stop wearing it. It’s not sticky, more hydrating, and lasts forever. Definitely worth the money. 🙂

Lorac Alter Ego Lipgloss – “Southern Belle”

Last but not least! I’ve talked about this in previous posts, so all I’ll say is I still can’t get enough of this gloss because the shade is SO beautiful…!

And there you have it! My favorite favorites. 🙂 Please let me know what you think! I’d LOVE to hear from you. 🙂

XO

Bronzed Makeup Tutorial!

As much as I would like to, I haven’t been filming many videos for my YouTube channel lately. I’m frustrated because I have the vision in my mind of what I want, then I’m unable to do it with the technology I have (a phone and natural lighting…). I’m glad I’m able to do at least something, but it’s still a wee bit annoying. However, I recently received a video request on Instagram and it’s inspired me to make not only that one, but another as well! I’m back in it! Haha

This one is a look I did last week that I thought turned out really pretty. I’ve been self-tanning lately, so my face and body aren’t matching up anymore and I used bronzer to compensate. This is also partly inspired by a look one of my favorite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge, has on her YouTube channel. It’s a very natural, laid-back, summer look. Let’s get started!

As usual, I started with washed and moisturized skin and clean hands. I skipped primer and applied L’Oreal True Match Foundation in “Soft Ivory N1” all over my face with a BeautyBlender. Then I did some spot concealing with my Cover FX Cream Concealer in “N X-LIGHT”, using fingers to pat the product onto blemishes.  Using a fluffy brush, I set that all with a pressed powder that matches my skintone (Maybelline Fit Me in “115 Ivory”) to prevent fading and add a bit of extra coverage. Going back in with a lighter concealer, Maybelline Dream Lumi in “Ivory”, and a flat Crown Concealer brush, I concealed dark circles, then set that with the same powder and a Lancome Blending Shadow Brush to prevent creasing.

With a BareEscentuals Flawless Face brush, I swept Too Faced’s Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer onto temples, my forehead, cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, jawline, and neck, making sure to blend fully. These are the areas that get touched by the sun naturally, so applying bronzer to them makes the look believable and flattering. This was the most important step for the look because it would help my face match my body and add that summer feel to my look! (Unfortunately…because of the lighting, I feel like you can’t really see the color too well on my face even though I added quite a bit. I’m definitely gonna have to find some different lighting for these videos…!) After bronzing and blending, I used an ELF Blush Brush to apply Covergirl Cheekers Blush in “Rose Silk” to the apples of my cheeks, blending it into the bronzer. This step isn’t necessary, just something I like to do to add a little more color to my face and make the bronzer a little less stark. Then, using a RealTechniques Setting Brush, I applied MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish highlighter in “Soft & Gentle” to the high points of my face to add a bit of a glow and enhance the slight contour of the bronzer.

For eyes, I first set my lids with Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance Primer. Using the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, I used the soft, shimmery peach shade “Marzipan” all over lids, applying with a MAC 217 Brush. Then, using the same brush, I went in with “Triple Fudge”, a matte dark brown, from the same palette and emphasized the crease and the Outer-V. With the same color, I used an ELF Smudge Brush to dot the lower lashline for subtle emphasis, then used a Tarte liner brush to smooth the color onto the upper lashlines. With everything blended well, I moved on to lashes by first curling them with my Revlon curler, then applying a light coat of L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Black Brown”. I chose a lighter mascara than usual because I didn’t want anything to look too obvious, and a mascara with brown in it is more naturally enhancing than just straight black. I also only applied enough to create a little definition so the whole look would come across as more effortless than “done”.

For the finishing touches, I applied IT Cosmetics Brow Power to brows using short, feathery strokes to fill them in and subtly shape them. For this look, I think just about any lip color would look great from a bright red to a cool melon, however, for the surfer-girl-just-back-from-the-beach vibe I was going for, I didn’t want to stray too far from my natural lip color. I chose Tarte’s LipSurgence gloss in “Exposed” to just lightly add a little shine and hydration as well as enhance the color that was already in my lips. Feel free to alter this to your own color of course, or try something completely different!

And that’s the look!

I think this works well for just about any summer occasion, and can be easily dramatized by either changing the lip color, adding a cat eye, or even just adding more mascara!

I hope you enjoyed 🙂

XO

Cinderella, Cinderella…

In celebration of the movie being released in just a few short days (!), and the beautiful collection by MAC, I’ve been indulging in some dress-up – with makeup that is. 🙂

When MAC’s Cinderella collection hit stores on March 5th, I hurried over to Macy’s and scooped up the two items I’d been lusting after since first seeing the collection: “Royal Ball” Lipstick and “Happily Ever After” lipglass.

Seems I got them just in time, too because the sales associate told me there was only one more lipglass left after mine and the other one was already sold out! Phew!

“Royal Ball” is a pinky-nude with a touch of iridescence. It’s perfect on it’s own, but it looks even more enchanting (couldn’t resist) with the gloss.

“Happily Ever After” is a soft pink with blue shimmer that gives lips the look of being in the moonlight at midnight 😉 It gives terrific shine and wears as beautifully as all the MAC lipglasses.

The collection is quite perfect for my taste because it’s very soft and, you guessed it, natural. It’s all about some well placed color and shimmer, and that’s right up my alley. 😉 For date night recently, I had to use my new beautiful lip products, and the look ended up being centered around them.

I thought it turned out nice, and I wanted to recreate it for you! When I did it again, I used a few new things just to see which I liked better. I’ll post what I thought worked best:

First, a princess always has a smooth, dewy complexion (even if a fairy godmother helped). I started by smoothing on a pore-minimizing primer to clean, moisturized skin. Mixing my foundation and a brightening primer, I applied it from the center of my face out with a foundation brush. Then I dabbed some concealer on any blemishes that were still showing, and used a slightly lighter concealer on the corners of my mouth and under my eyes to subtly brighten. I lightly set it all with a dusting of pressed powder.

To get the flushed look of falling in love with the prince, I used a baby pink blush to color the apples of my cheeks. While Cinderella doesn’t look too bronzed, I wanted to add some extra color to my face, so I used bronzer to warm my forehead, temples, and chin, and subtly contour my nose and cheekbones, blending it all into my neck.

And for the part that makes it magical: highlighter. I used a pearly-white powder on the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, above my brow bone, and on my Cupid’s Bow to give that “princess-y glow” and make my whole face look dewy and illuminated.

For my eyes, I used a little primer to make sure there wouldn’t be any creasing (before or after midnight), and applied a shimmery ivory, focusing the color on the center of the lid. For subtle definition, I swept a small amount of light, shimmery brown to the creases and blended. I then used a creamy white eye pencil to brighten the inner corners of my eyes and blended it with a smudge brush. For the brow bone, I used a light pink pencil and blended well. Along my lower lash-line, I smudged a deep purple pencil into lashes. (I think it’s a fun pop of color that’s almost indiscernible, and it looks great with the soft baby pinks.) After curling lashes, I used a curling mascara and a thickening one together to create that doe-eyed princess stare, then filled in brows lightly with a pomade.

And, of course, I finished the look with my two new lip products. 🙂

I’m kind of obsessed with the look right now and will probably be wearing it when I go see the movie this weekend. I think it works well for just about any event – even a royal ball.

Have a happily ever after…

XO

Products Used:

Benefit Porefessional Primer

L’Oreal True Match foundation in “N1”

Benefit That Gal Brightening primer

MAC Pro Longwear conealer in “NC15”

NYX Concealer Wand in “CW01”

Maybelline Fit Me pressed powder in “110”

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer

Benefit “Dandelion” blush

Physician’s Formula Mineral Glow Pearls in “Translucent Pearl”

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray

Benefit “She’s So Jetset!” palette – “Champagne Please” and “Pretty in Mink”

Benefit High Brow

NYX Eye Pencil in “Milk”

Mally Evercolor Eyeliner in “Black Violet”

Benefit Roller Lash mascara

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in “Medium Brown”

MAC lipstick in “Royal Ball”

MAC lipglass in “Happily Ever After”

Victoria’s Secret Makeup Look!

   

Yesterday, I felt like looking romantic and soft, and one of my all-time favorite makeup looks is the one seen on the models at Victoria’s Secret! I’ve uploaded a video on YouTube for this tutorial, but I’d like to explain what I did here:

First, I prepped my washed and moisturized skin with Lancome primer, applied with clean fingers. Then I used my BareSkin foundation and my Bareminerals brush to apply the product thinly all over my face. A tinted moisturizer or BB cream can be used instead, just make sure it’s a product that will look natural on the skin and leave a dewy look. I just used the BareSkin fluid because I need a little more coverage. I find my Bareminerals brush to leave a bit of a streaky finish, so I go back over my foundation with a dry sponge to press out any marks. This foundation is so liquid-y, it’s tricky to apply! Next, I pumped a small amount of my MAC concealer onto my hand and warmed it with my finger for a moment before tapping it onto problem areas. If the area is large, I’ll just keep tapping the product on until it blends out. If it’s something like a zit or small scar though, I leave it and come back to it with a thin brush to blend out the edges. I then used my illuminating concealer under my eyes for the well-rested and fresh look the models always seem to have! I just tapped this into my skin gently, making sure to blend well. After that I applied my cream blush softly to the apples of my cheeks for that natural flush. Cream color will give the most natural look, just be sure to blend it well and only layer creams over other creams or liquids, never over powder or it’ll turn into a mess. Next I applied HD powder all over, focusing mostly on the areas I’d be applying bronzer to give a smooth base and prevent it from sticking to the foundation or blush. I applied my bronzer with a light touch slightly under my cheekbones, up to my temples, along the top of my forehead, and down my nose, chin, and neck, for that subtly defined VS look. Then blend well. I then took a blush brush and swirled a softly highlighting blush over the cream color to really flush my cheeks and give them staying power. Then blend, blend, blend! I then took my MAC highlighting powder (not liquid, remember!) and placed that generously on the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose, on my forehead, and to my Cupid’s Bow to create the illusion of high cheekbones, a luminous complexion, and fuller lips.

For my eyes, I used my Benefit primer to create a neutral and long-lasting base for my shadow, blending well. I then applied a pearly shadow from lashlines to lids, focusing the color on lids, the brow bone, and the inner corner of the eye to make eyes look bigger. I then took a light brown shimmery shade and blended that into the crease for soft definition. Make sure to blend well here too – no harsh lines. Then, using a black creamy eyeliner, I drew a thin line right on my lashline, ending where my lashes stop. I then took the rubber smudger end of the liner and softly smudged the line for a soft focus look that just makes lashes look thicker. I also tightlined my eyes (by gently lifting the lid) to create an even fuller effect for lashes. To curl lashes, I used my E.l.f. curler and gently clamped it on my lashes, followed by a generous coat of Too Faced mascara. Any smudges were cleaned up with a wet Q-tip. I then applied a less-dramatic mascara to my bottom lashes, and filled in my brows with a pomade, brushing them out to alleviate harsh lines.

I spritzed my face with MAC spray to set my makeup, melt everything together, and give just a hint more of shimmer and glow. For my lips, I prepped with balm, then I applied a rosy pink pencil all over and finished off with a sparkly gloss.

There you have it! A simple, youthful and radiant look that’s perfect for a date, or anytime you want to look naturally pretty – even if it’s just to watch the VS Fashion Show… 🙂

XO

Products used:

Lancome La Base Pro Perfecting Primer
BareMinerals BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in “Bare Porcelain”
BareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush
Ulta Super Blender Sponge
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in “NC15”
Tarte Double Ended Liner/Shadow Brush (came with a kit)
Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in “Ivory”
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in “Powder Pink”
Makeup For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
Sephora powder brush (came with set)
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Mally brush (came with Mally Diamond Powder)
Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in “Peach Beach”
E.l.f. Blush Brush
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in “Soft and Gentle”
Real Techniques Setting Brush
Benefit Stay Don’t Stray in “Light/Medium”
Benefit eyeshadows in “Champagne Please” and “Pretty in Mink” (from the “She’s So Jetset!” kit)
Flat shadow brush from Target
MAC 217 brush
Too Faced Perfect Eyes Eyeliner in “Perfect Black”
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
E.l.f. Eyelash Curler
Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in “Medium Brown”
Studio Basics Eyeliner Brush
Mally Dual Ended Spoolie and Liner Brush (came with kit)
MAC Mineralize Charged Water spray
Dior Crème de Rose lip balm
Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in “Pouty”
Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Lipgloss in “Strawberry Fizz”

Fall Favorites

As warned, here are my current favorite products! We’ll start with lippies… (and please ignore my chipped nails in these pics!):

As you can see, there are quite a few lip products I’m loving right now.

This is the Creme de Rose lip balm from Dior. It says it’s “smoothing” and “plumping” but I just love the scent! I’m a girl who likes roses, especially the smell, and this soft, light pink balm smells just like a fresh bouquet of them. It’s a very soft texture that glides on to lips easily and is perfect for lipstick prep. It was definitely a pricey purchase, but I have a feeling I’ll be using this for a long time.

This is a Too Faced Sweet Sun Shines lip gloss in the color “Mocha Freeze”. This is my go-to lately. I love the natural, peachy-brown color of this and the silky texture. This feels so light on my lips, not sticky at all, and smells a bit like coconut to me! I find this goes with just about every look I create and matches every outfit 😉

This is one of the Revlon Super Lustrous glosses in the shade Fuchsia Finery. Revlon makes great lip glosses and is one of my all-time favorite brands to check out. The colors of their glosses are always so pretty, and the formula is always nicely pigmented and smooth, comparable to higher-end brands. I bought this because I was loving the look of “Heroine” by MAC (wish I could’ve the the “Pure Heroine” shade by Lorde!) on some of my favorite YouTube vloggers, and wanted something similar. This is more toned-down because it’s a gloss of course, but the color is exactly what I was looking for and seems like a more “me” way to get the look I admire. I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m excited to and will take a picture when I do!

Another Revlon gloss! This is the same type as the one above, but this one is in the shade “Super Natural”. I’m a sucker for peachy-pink shades, and this is a great one! I’m a huge fan of the NARS gloss in “Chelsea Girls” and this is very similar to me. I love it!

This is an oldie, but a goodie 😉 This Benefit gloss came with the kit “She’s so Jetset!” and is a beautiful shade of light pink called “Life on the A List”. I love the little lip brush applicator and slightly floral scent, and have always turned to this gloss for those times I want to look extra pretty 🙂

This is one of the two MAC Lipglass glosses I have – this is “Florabundance”. The shade is more orange-y than most peach glosses, and it comes off as a soft nude on my lips. I love to pair this with my MAC lipstick in “Kinda Sexy” for a more glam look, but this gloss is pretty no matter what I pair it with. I love the sweet, slightly vanilla scent of Lipglass, and the formula is, of course, super pigmented and rich. This is for the days I’m not kidding around! 😛

Here’s my other Lipglass, “Oyster Girl”. I just cannot get over this shade…pictures never seem to do it justice! It’s a delicate pinky-purple with a soft silver iridescence that looks like something you really would only ever find in the deep blue sea. I feel like a mermaid whenever I wear this gloss 🙂

This is a Chanel Levers Scintillantes Glossimer in the shade 179 Murmure, and I LOVE this gloss. I’ve always wanted a Chanel gloss, but all the shades are so pretty I could never pick just one. As it happened, a sales associate at Macy’s put this on me one day and I fell in love with it. I normally don’t gravitate toward corals, but this is surprisingly flattering on me and wears like a dream. I love to wear this with a bronzed look for a soft pop of color, but it really does go well with everything I’ve tried it with. I love, love, love this gloss.

I picked this up at Sephora while on vacation over the summer, and I’m really pleased with it! NARS is another brand that just has so many beautiful shades of gloss so it was hard to pick just one, but this shade, “Striptease”, is a winner. At first glance, this is a simple nude, but upon further inspection, subtle gold shimmer can be found, and it translates into a serious makeover for your lips. On it’s own, this makes lips look fuller (thanks to the shimmer), and is soft enough to let your natural lip color shine through – only prettier! I love to pair this with my NARS pencil in “Bettina” for a soft look.

Another Revlon gloss?! This one is a Colorburst gloss in the shade “Bejeweled”. I bought this specifically for one look I want to try (I know…) because it is the perfect shade of lilac. A few years ago there was a similar Revlon gloss in the shade “Lilac Pastelle” that I would love stealing from my mom (haha) that was sadly discontinued. This is the closest thing I’ve found to it, and so far it’s great!

Confession: I LOVE lip pencils. The application is so precise and it’s as fun as coloring! Yes, it’s Revlon again and yes, I have three of these wonderful pencils and love them all, but the reason this particular one makes the list is because it’s a really close match to the Too Faced Lip Creme in the shade “Pink Chocolate”, which I’ve been coveting. I bought this before I wanted the Too Faced shade because it really is such a pretty color, sort of a brick shade, but I see the similarities between this and the Lip Creme and it makes me love it even more!

Another lip pencil! This one is a Velvet Matte one by NARS in the shade “Bolero”, a pretty cantaloupe color. I love the fresh pop of color that isn’t overwhelming, and these last forever. I’ve wanted this shade for years, and it’s as beautiful as I thought it would be 🙂

Another NARS Velvet Matte pencil, this time in “Bettina”. I bought this one during the same trip I mentioned earlier, and it was another tough choice! This shade is a unique tan/pink with a soft shimmer that really just warms up and defines my lips beautifully.

This is a MAC Lipstick in the shade “Sin” which is part of the limited edition Rocky Horror Picture Show collection. I didn’t find out about the collection until too late apparently, because almost everything was sold out by the time I looked. I bought this one off eBay, determined to secure a piece of such a great collection. I’m a fan of the movie (no matter how weird!), and this lipstick shade is my favorite of the four in the collection. I’ve worn it once so far, and it’s gorgeous! I love deep, reddish colors, and this fits the bill. It’s a strong shade of plumy-red that looks great matte or with gloss. And the packaging is great for the vanity 😉

This is my first MAC Lipstick, and I still love it! It’s in the shade “Kinda Sexy” which is a beautiful nude-y pink color that looks great with everything. These wear really well in my experience.

This is a Wet N Wild lipstick in the shade “Cherry Bomb” that I fell in love with after seeing it on a blogger I follow on Instagram. It’s a gorgeous deep cherry red shade that wears shockingly well for it’s $3 price tag! Supposedly, this is a dupe for the MAC shade “Diva”, but, either way, it’s a beautiful shade and is a great price.

And now… the Chanel lipstick I’ve always wanted… Rouge Coco Shine #54 Boy! I’ve wanted this forever, and, let me tell you, it was worth the wait! This lipstick is so hydrating, smooth, and comfortable on my lips, it doesn’t even feel like lipstick, more like a balm. The color is a soft pink that seems to just enhance my natural lip color for an effortless yet polished vibe. I love it!

That concludes the lip product section! 🙂 Now on to my other favorites:

For my birthday last week, I received this little Ubran Decay Naked Basics Palette! It was on my list (haha) because I love the neutral shades included. I am someone who loves the natural look, and this palette seemed perfect for that!

The shades are exactly what I was hoping for, and are as smooth and pigmented as Urban Decay is known for. “Venus” is my new favorite for highlighting the brow-bone and inner corners of eyes – it’s the perfect light nude with just a hint of shimmer. “Foxy” is a soft, yellow-ish nude that works great as a base. “Walk of Shame” is what I tend to use all over, from lashes to brows, because it matches my skin almost exactly, but provides a brightened look that’s really subtle and pretty. “Naked 2” is that perfect matte, cool based soft-brown that looks great in the crease. “Faint” is a chocolate brown that works great at the lashline and “outer-v” to intensify any look. “Crave” is one of the main reasons I wanted this palette – it’s a true black that doesn’t turn grey on the skin. All these shades are beautiful and I truly love this palette!

Now…

This palette, the Too Faced Boudoir Eyes palette, is absolutely one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I bought this with my birthday money 🙂 at Ulta, and am so glad I finally was able to get it. As someone who normally wears neutrals, the purple shades in this palette were a bit of a step outside my comfort zone so I always held off on purchasing it. After looking up way too many tutorials, I fell more in love with this little palette and the soft, sexy, shimmery shades it includes.

I’m so glad with this purchase, I can’t say it enough! All the colors are so pretty and I have yet to think up a combination that wouldn’t look great. My favorite shades so far are “Sugar Walls”, “Lap Dance”, “Birthday Suit”, and “Voulez-Vous”, but they really are all equally gorgeous. In the palette they look great, but, once on, different dimensions appear in the shades that make them so unique! I’m still learning with eyeshadow, yet I created a look the other day with these shades that was so simple (if I could do it haha), but so pretty I was amazed! I LOVE this palette…

Along with the Boudoir Eyes Palette, I was able to treat myself to another birthday present…

The Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette!

First of all, it looks like a chocolate bar, which is adorable to me, but it also smells just like chocolate thanks to the cocoa powder it’s infused with (which is an antioxidant)! And the colors…

!!!!

I can’t get over this palette! With names like “Gilded Ganache”, “Marzipan”, and “Black Forrest Truffle”, you know this palette is good. My favorite shades so far are “Salted Caramel”, “White Chocolate”, and, the one that first got me hooked, “Cherry Cordial”. Cordial just adds the prettiest depth to any look, and is so rich and unique – I can’t get enough of it!

On we go!

My favorite brushes: The Real Techniques foundation brush and powder brush, the Mally powder brush, and the MAC 217 brush. Perfect for BareMinerals foundation, highlighter, blush/bronzer, and eyeshadows, collectively.

All things Too Faced: Everything I’ve tried of theirs is my new favorite – seriously. I love it all, and, particularly, the Milk Chocolate Solieil Bronzer (I’m fair, so this is great for me, and it’s infused with cocoa powder so it smells amazing!), the Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Peach Beach (a sun-baked trio of peach, rose, and gold that creates a natural radiant flush), the Melted Lipsticks (in “Peony”, “Nude”, and “Berry”) that are so pigmented and soft they really are like melted lipstick, and their Better Than Sex mascara, which is the best mascara I’ve tried out of TONS for it’s hourglass brush that really curls and thickens lashes, and easy to remove formula that remains glossy and stays put all day!

My favorite under-eye concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind in “Fair”. This has skincare ingredients to help with dark circles and puffiness, and the formula is so smooth it blows my mind. It never gets cakey, and blends like a dream. I love, love, love this. Plus, the applicator is fun and doesn’t drag on the skin.

My Cheeky Sweet Spot kit by Benefit!

I love me some Benefit, but there were still some Boxes O’ Powder I didn’t have and, for the price of one, I was able to fill that gap! This kit comes in a cute holiday tin, and has FULL-SIZE boxes of Dandelion, Hoola, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Coralista, and Rockateur plus a mini Watts Up and cute little brush. I gave my Watts Up mini to my mom 🙂 I love the value of this kit, and all the colors are gorgeous.

My Tarte “Exposed” kit that has a full-size cheek tint, gloss, and lip pencil, and a mini blush all in my favorite Tarte shade and all for $34!!

My new birthday perfume roller balls:

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, Prada Candy, and Versace Bright Crystal. I love them all!

 

AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS LOOOOONG POST!

Haha 🙂

I warned you!

All of these products are available at Ulta, Sephora, and drugstores. Hope you enjoyed!

XO