January 2011 Favorites

I didn't even realize that it was the end of the month until just now! I've been super busy with school and work lately so I haven't actually had time to wear much makeup at all but here's what I came up with:

1. Benefit Bella Bamba Blush- I got this a few weeks ago and have been loving it ever since. It's basically just your so-not-average watermelon pink with golden shimmer as described on so many other beauty blogs. I actually do prefer Coralista over Bella Bamba but this packs a nice punch of pink.

Above (with flash) from left: Benefit Coralista, Bella Bamba

2. Illamasqua Lover Blush- I've been wanting this for the longest time and was finally able to get around the end of December. Sephora stores and online have been out of stock for months so I was thrilled to find this at my local Sephora store. Lover is a matte, very bright, apricot peach. It's easy to apply too much since it's so pigmented but when using just the right amount, it looks beautiful.

Above (no flash): Illamasqua Lover Blush

3. NARS Turkish Delight Lip Gloss- I've been using the Turkist Delight side of my NARS Turkish Delight/Sayonara Lip Gloss/Stain duo all month. I love the milky pink shade and the NARS formula is so moisturizing -a must for my dry, Winter lips!

Above (with flash) from left: NARS Turkish Delight, Sayonara

4. Cetaphil Skin Restoring Moisturizer- My doctor gave me a full size bottle of this and the new cleanser back in (I think) December and I've really been loving both products. (I didn't take a picture of the cleanser since it's in my bathroom.) The lotion really helps to lock in moisture and keeps my skin soft and smooth -at least during the days that I remember to apply it! I think my skin likes when I switch skincare products from time to time.

5. Milani Eye Tech Liquid Eye Liner in Black- This has been in my Monthly Favorite many times now but it's really one of the only makeup products that I've actually been using this month. It provides a dark, long lasting line and stays on all day -even through any allergies or tears.

Above (no flash): Milani Eye Tech in Black

6. Claire's Rose Earrings- I got these dusty rose earrings in a set of 3 at Claire's for around $9 earlier this month. I absolutely adore them and have been pairing them with every outfit. =)

7. Raffaello Almond Coconut Candies- I can't stop munching on these! They're sweet (but not too sweet) and are totally addictive.

What are your favorites from January? Have a nice day everyone!

Top 5 Palettes of the Year (..and 7 other standout products)

It's a new year and along with a new year comes new beauty products! I decided to do a "2010 Favorites" list versus the usual "Monthly Favoites" since 2010 just ended. I decided to focus on palettes (although I did include other products) because if you haven't noticed yet, I'm a total palette whore.The funny thing is during the last few weeks, I've actually cleaned out my makeup drawers and given away loads of palettes (about 20+) so while rummaging through my collection to do this post, I found that I don't even have that many palettes anymore! I guess that means more room for new palettes -look out 2011, here I come! Here are the 5 palettes the cut this (or I mean last) year..

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows (review & swatches here)

This was the one Book of Shadows that I really loved. The shades are all fairly wearable and I love me some Alice in Wonderland so it was a definite hit! This baby was sold out in seconds and continues to be in high demand (I still see it on Ebay for double its price at around $100.)

Too Faced Enchanted Glamourland (review & swatches here)

Another amazing palette/kit. This was one of the best values of the year -15 eyeshadows, a full size TFSI, a full size Glamour Gloss, a blush, and a bronzer all for just $49.00 which is a steal. This kit is a MUST HAVE if you love neutrals and color.

Urban Decay NAKED Palette (review & swatches here)

Urban Decay really wowed me this year especially with their NAKED Palette. This was another palette that sold out immediately and continued to sell out for weeks after it first launched. My local Sephora still sells out of these quickly to this day! As you all know, I love neutral eyeshadows so this was something that I used over and over again every single day for months. I also love to travel with it as it contains everything I need. I think every gal needs this one in their collection even if they already own 1,000 palettes.

theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 2 Palette (review & swatches here)

I love my theBalm palettes and I actually liked this one more than the recently released Vol. 3 palette. It's, again, a compromise for neutral eyeshadow lovers like me because it contains plenty of pretty neutrals along with some awesome muted colors that aren't too dramatic for daily use. I also love to travel with this palette.. Get it while you can. I don't think they'll restock once they're out since Sephora just started selling Vol. 3.

Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette (review & swatches here)

I love this palette and I think it's one of the best products that Stila's ever produced. It's not just your typical glitter eyeshadow -it gives off this amazing effect so that your eye lids actually look "wet" -like they're glistening with sparkling water or something. I've never seen anything like this and it's the product that I get the most compliments on -even from boys! (..They tend to hate glitter.)

And of course I couldn't just end it with the palettes. Here are 7 more standout products from 2010. They weren't all launched in 2010 but I first discovered them during the year.

Benefit Coralista Blush (Temptalia review here)It took me a long time to jump on the Coralista bandwagon. It just never sparked my interest until this amazing value set was offered at Sephora. My boyfriend bought it for my birthday and I've been using it ever since -I don't think I've even used any other blush besides this. It gives me the perfect peachy coral cheeks and I love to mix it with MAC's Oh So Fair Beauty Powder. (Review coming soon.)

CARGO Topeka Blush (mini review here)This was my main blush during the summer -it's so so beautiful and looks amazing with a tan. I like to break this out whenever there's some sun out. I actually had to convince myself to stop using this because I realized I wasn't giving any of my other blushes any love (I like to rotate the makeup I use LOL.. or else I'd feel ridiculous for owning so much makeup and never using all of it.)

MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (review & swatches here)

I use this highlighter all the time but, again, try to rotate my highlighters. I'd probably be totally fine if this was my only highlighter -it really goes with everything and just gives the prettiest glow. It's very natural looking so I love to use for my "day looks."

Pangea Organics Lip Balm (review here)I discovered this lip balm this year and love it almost as much as I love my Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. I also find it more convenient than my Jack Black since it's in a (twist up) tube because I personally like to use my fingers to apply the Jack Black which can be unsanitary. This stuff really keeps my lips calm -even during the cold, winter months so it's a must-have for me.

LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in Polished (review & swatches here)I use this almost every single time I wear lip gloss which is basically 4-5 days a week. I love this gloss so much that if they decided to discontinue it, I'd hoard 500 tubes of this stuff so I could be set for life. It's just the perfect gloss -I really have no words for it! =P Just read the review..

Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in Spiced Cream (review & swatches here)I'd (probably) be perfectly fine if this were the only nude lipstick I owned. It's seriously The Best nude lipstick I've ever encountered. The formula and color are perfect and I've never owned another nude lipstick that's even come close. This is great for smokey eyes but also looks amazing with simple, low key looks.

Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow (mini review here)

This is my absolute favorite illuminator and I've been using this deluxe sample tube for months! haven't yet been able to convince myself to splurge on a full size tube since it's $36 for some shimmery lotion but I'll have to when I run out. It really gives the best natural, dewy glow. I use it on my cheekbones, brow bones, and even on my entire face -it never looks "too sparkly" as it's very subtle.

Wheww! That's it for my Favorites of 2010. I was supposed to go to sleep a long time ago since I have school in the morning but what do you know? It's 3:52 AM now and I have to get up in 4 hours. I like to blog at the worst times. Anyways, have a fantastic Monday everyone! <33

All About Gloss: My All-Time Faves!!

Today I thought I'd share with you my favorite lip glosses. I put them in 2 categories: "Ultimate Faves" and "Next in Line" meaning they're not by absolute favorites but they come pretty darn close.. here's the list!

The Ultimate Faves..

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss, NARS Lip Gloss, LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss, Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss $18- This was the first "real" favorite gloss that I ever owned. I really think it's the perfect "all around" gloss since it comes in shimmers/nonshimmers and 3 different finishes (the following are my own descriptions for each finish. Check out Sephora's too for more info):

1. Sheer Color- Sheer with just a tint of color. Comes with a brush applicator.

2. True Color- The color you see in the tube is what you get on your lips. It's fairly vibrant and pigmented. Comes with a doe foot applicator.

3. Full Color- Ultra pigmented and longlasting (more so than others 2 finishes.) Comes with doe foot applicator.

In short, the major reasons why I like the gloss are because it's moisturizing, pretty long lasting, nonsticky, pigmented (except for the sheer color), and doesn't sink into my lip lines. I don't need a lip balm to wear this gloss. The texture is inbetween thin and thick –perfect. Also, it comes in tons of colors. I've owned several throughout the years but my favorite is Pout, which is a light bubblegum pink. I'd also recommend Aura –it works beautifully for all skintones. For some swatches of Smashbox Lip Enhancing Glosses, go here.

NARS Lip Gloss $24- I think this is either a gloss people will love or hate. I really love it because it's moisturizing, long lasting, and pigmented. It's got a sort of thick, tacky texture though and it's definitely sticky but not overly sticky –just sticky enough to bind to the lips. You might be put off by the smell as it does smell like crayons and tastes a bit like them too. The taste goes away after awhile so no need to fret! My favorite shade is Harlow (no longer available at Sephora!! Booo.)

LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss $22- I've been raving about this gloss since I first bought it. This is the most moisturizing gloss I've ever owned and I have just too many positive things to say. In short, the gloss is glittery (but not gritty), smooth, moisturizing, pigmented (BUT Polished and Vivid are on the sheerer side), longlasting, and smells nice. See the 14 reasons why I love it here. Everyone needs to own this. I currently own 3D and Polished –I have/had Vivid and Cliché too but lost them! Still upset about that. =( Anyways, check out swatches of all LORAC Multiplex 3D shades here.

Too Faced Mirror Mirror Lip Gloss $16- To me, this is the most fuss-free of the bunch. It's your basic clear gloss in cute, squeeze tube packaging. The gloss is very sheer (practically clear on the lips), smells amazing (like fruity candy), super moisturizing, slightly sticky, smooth, and has a sort of thick texture. I like to wear this alone or over a lipstick. I can't emphasize on how amazing this smells and tastes –pure deliciousness. I only own one one shade –Don't Hate Me, since these all look practically the same on the lips.

Next in Line..

Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss, Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss, Fresh Sugar Lip Gloss

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss $6.99- This stuff is fantastic for the low price you pay. They're the best drugstore glosses I've ever stumbled upon. They are decently moisturizing and don't dry out your lips (maintain your lips' moisture), slightly sticky (not in an overly annoying way), pigmented, smooth, long lasting, and decently pigmented. I own 4 shades from the Daydreamer Collection –click here for swatches.

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss $19- These have the cheekiest, most fun packaging ever. You get a boy from both his front and back view on your cap and you have the choice to undress him or keep him fully clothed. The gloss itself is moisturizing, nonsticky, long lasting, applies effortlessly, and leaves a shiny finish. I only have one shade, in Kirk, and it's semi-pigmented but I can't speak for other other brighter and darker colors. When you rub the tube, it supposedly attracts men (and women maybe?) but I'm not sure if it works –my boyfriend likes the gloss though so maybe! There's one major downside though and that's the smell. It may not bother others but I think it smells like moldy rotten sugar or some sort of artificial, expired dessert. Click here for swatches of Kirk.

Fresh Sugar Lip Gloss $18- I really like this gloss and like the Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss, it's super fuss-free. It's moisturizing and smooth but on the sheerer side. (I only own the shade Sugar Baby so I'm not sure about the other colors.) The best part is the smell and taste –like lemon candy. I'm always tempted to eat it off my lips after applying!

Most Hated Glosses??

There are a handful of glosses I absolutely hate. A couple that I can think of off the top of my head are Too Faced Girls Dig Pearls (gritty and goes on extremely unevenly), Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglazes (drying, just plain gross), and  several others others but I can't quite remember right now. =P

Too Faced Girls Dig Pearls Lip Gloss

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze

Now it's your turn. What are your favorites? Least favorites? Let me know! I'd love some recommendations too.

So.. I have an obsession. Or maybe it's an addiction?

There are some things in life that we all go gaga for. Our obsessions, passions, and infatuations. I originally was going to make this post all about makeup but I decided to switch things up a bit! These are some of the things I absolutely love and melt over and will never get sick of..

The Arts..

1. 90's R&B and Soul. I wish we were still in the 90's at least music wise when people were still able to sing and the industry was still based on talent at least somewhat. Now it's all about big hair, tiny clothes, and ginormous booties and boobies. I really miss turning on my radio/TV and being able to listen/see people who could actually sing. I love R Kelly (yes, even after his "video.") Some female favorites include Aaliyah, TLC, Changing Faces, En Vogue, Kelly Price, Lauryn Hill, Faith Evans, Xscape, and Mary J. Blige. As for the males, I'd have to say Jodeci (K-Ci is one of my favorite male singers.. EVER. And yes, I'm aware of the MJB ordeal.. I'm not saying he's the best person in the world, I just love his talent.), Keith Sweat, Isley Bros, Musiq Soulchild, Maxwell, and of course R. Kelly.

2. Poetry. The first "famous" person to inspire me to write was Tupac Shakur. I loved him for his raw lyrics and especially for his deep poetry. He left a collection of poems including his thoughts about lovers, society, and more. Another lady that inspires me is Sonia Sanchez. I love her writings. I also love fun children's poems. =)

The Boys..

3. Boys wearing shorts. I'm talking denim, cargo, etc. Hoop shorts are fine but they don't hold the same intrigue. Extra plus PLUS if they're camouflage (cue drooling girl.)

4. Boys with arm veins. My friends all laugh at me for this. I love it when guys pick up heavy boxes and their veins pop out or when they shift (driving a stick shift), you see the veins. (GOSHHH my hubby would so laugh if he read this.)

The Eats..

5. Beef. I love steak so much I can eat it every day. I also love burgers (always the safest bet.) Whenever someone asks me what I want to eat, my answer is always, "BEEF." Then they go on to ask, "what kind.." and then that's where it gets difficult.

6. I know this isn't something you eat but I love juice so much. I know it's not good for you (my dentist has told me to lay off of it) but I love juice. Especially pink juice since it's usually pink lemonade, strawberry, or yummy melon flavored.

The Beauty!..

7. Palettes. Let me tell you, I rarely buy single eyeshadows. I am so, so obsessed with palettes and up until a few months ago, I had about 50+. I've recently let go of over half of that due to the fact that my insanity caught up with me and I realized it wasn't healthy to hold onto stuff that I'm not even gonna use! I just passed on about 4 of my NARS palettes too. =( Was sad but realized I'd never use them (because of the colors) anyways. I'm a major palette hoarder though whether it's high end or drugstore. Love that I don't have to fill them up myself and that all the colors are there ready for me -that's where my laziness shines through.

8. Ok.. This is something I'm absolutely crazy about.Something I'll choose over ANYTHING when it comes to makeup. I love pink/lavender/purple/nudey lipsticks. Anything pale or pastel and comes in one of those colors must be mine. I love glosses too but I love the better, bolder pigmentation (in many cases) of lipsticks.

Here's a peek of my current lipstick army.. stuff I can actually use on a daily basis! I didn't bother to include any reds or anything since I rarely use them -just the purples/pinks/nudes. I especially love bubblegum pinks and lavenders (except I don't think purples go with my hair color right now.. just dyed it!) It may not be the biggest but I'm proud of my collection.

Row 1..

Above from left: Cover Girl Trushine Lip Color: 400 Powderpink Shine, 470 Nude Shine (Didn't open the cap for both because they're all smooshed and gross looking), NYX Black Label Lipstick: Sand, Dandy, Bling, Beige, Nude, Cover Girl Incredifull Lip Color in 908 Pillow Pink, Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in 006 Pink Champagne, Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color: 903C Just Peachy, 901B Think Pink.

Row 2..

Above from left: NYX Diamond Sparkle Lipstick: Sparkling Orchid, Vegas Sexy. Revlon Matte Lipstick in 008 Cocoa Craving, Revlon Super Lustrous Pearl in 405 Silver City Pink, KIKO Smart Lipstick: 59 Light Lilac Pink, 92 Natural, The Body Shop Lipstick (I think this line is discontinued) in 01, Barry M Lip Paint in 100 Baby Pink, Revlon Matte Lipstick in 004 Pink About It, NYX Black Label Lipstick: Midnight Dinner, That 70's Pink.

Row 3..

Above from left: Chanel Lipstick in Coco Pink, LORAC Cream Lipstick in Baby Doll, Napoleon Perdis DeVine Goddess Lipstick in Electra, CARGO PlantLove Lipstick in Eve Pinky, YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 7 Lingerie Pink, Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in BE109 Spiced Cream, Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick: I Do. I Do. I Do., (baby size) Lady's Choice.

Row 4..

Above from left: MAC: Show Orchid PRO (amplified creme), Myth (satin), Honeylove (matte), Scanty (amplified creme), Snob (satin), Pink Nouveau (satin), Saint Germain (amplified creme), Lavender Whip (cremesheen), Fashion Mews (glaze) Up The Amp (amplified creme), Blooming Lovely (amplified creme), Ever Hip (cremesheen), Gaga (lustre).

Overview

I've recently done some serious Spring Cleaning so everything in my collection has been majorly downsized. At first I was upset but seriously, what's the point of keeping stuff you're not gonna use. BUT, I have regretted giving away some things because now I miss them dearly (like this one Lancome bronzer) and would love to have a chance at them again. Boo. So, the lesson here is throw out what you don't use BUT be careful about what you throw out/give away/sell because you might regret it!! Totally contradicting myself but I think you know what I mean.. If you sort of still like something, maybe just keep it around for a little longer to see where it takes you! This is why you don't just get rid of everything in one go (like I stupidly did) but instead, give yourself a few days to think. Oh..... I miss you Tarte eyeliners.

To end this post, this is one of my favorite "live" performances ever. Enjoy!

What are your favorite things/obsessions/loves? Things that you absolutely adore and can't live without..

The Best of 2009: My Personal Favorites

I've been meaning to post this for awhile and I'm finally getting around to it. These are my favorite beauty products/discoveries of 2009.


1. Urban Decay "Liquid Liner"- $18

This has got to be my favorite liquid liner. I had my eye on these for quite awhile but never wanted to take the plunge and buy one. Sephora was offering a full size of this in "Smog" for just $8 for a limited time so I got one. Since then, I've purchased a few more. "Smog" is still my favorite of all the colors I own and it's well worth the full price. First off, the packaging isn't the best. Sometimes some of the liner gets around the opening of the bottle so I have to clean it off. The bottles are wide so they're not very convenient storage-wise. I do love what's inside the bottle though. In my experience, most of the liners give good color payoff and I don't have to line my eyes twice -which is an issue with some liquid liners. The formula is not streaky. It's very smooth with a beautiful metallic-y sheen. The liners are not waterproof but that's not much of an issue for me. I don't like when liners have too much staying power and I have to tug at my lids to get it off. These liners have great staying power and only come off when you wash it off with water or makeup remover. These liners are currently offered in 12 different shades. At $18 a pop, they're a little pricey but very much worth it.


2. Too Faced "Shadow Insurance" Primer- $17

When this first came out on the Sephora site, I purchased it right away. I wanted to see how it compared to its rival -Urban Decay "Primer Potion." It's the same price as UDPP with just 0.01 more ounces of product. I love both primers. I think that TFSI is better when it comes to people with dry lids -as opposed to UDPP being excellent for people with oily lids. I've mentioned that I have dry skin so sometimes when my lids are dry (especially in Winter), I opt for TFSI. I love how this stuff seems to disappear into my skin.. meaning it'll work for all skin tones. TFSI also prevents shadows from creasing and helps them to last all day long. Another plus is that TFSI comes in a squeeze tube which is a lot better than the potion bottle tube that UDPP comes in. TFSI's packaging allows easier access and ease of use. You can actually get all of the product that you paid for unlike UDPP which you have to cut open if you want to get all the product out. This is a definite winner -especially if you have dry skin.

3. Illamasqua "Intense Lipgloss"-$19

These glosses definitely fit their name. They are intense and packed full of color. These glosses are moisturizing, non-sticky, smell nice, and give full color payoff. The only thing I don't like about these glosses are that they're a bit pricey for the small tubes. Sometimes I squirt out too much product and I end of wasting it. I prefer a tube and wand to a squeeze tube. These glosses come in a wide variety of beautiful colors. The sheer glosses are great too but I prefer the opaque color payoff of these glosses.

4. Yves Saint Laurent "Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara"- $28.50

I love this mascara. It's my absolute favorite mascara in the whole world! First off, the packaging is gorgeous -a gold tube with the YSL logo. The mascara itself is wonderful. I know that $28.50 is a hefty price tag so this isn't something I can buy every 3 months (or less.) The mascara thickens and lengthens my lashes like nothing else. The color is very black and I get tons of volume. The only thing I don't like is that it can get clumpy. It doesn't bother me too much since I use my Sonia Kashuk lash curler with every mascara. The finished look is amazing. This definitely is a luxury.

5. Prestige "My Biggest Lashes" Mascara- $7-8

This is my second favorite mascara. If I can't afford a tube of YSL Faux Cils, I turn to this. This gives me basically the same effect that the YSL mascara gives me except it's a tad less dramatic and not a black as the YSL mascara. It lengthens and thickens my lashes while giving them great volume. I use my lash comb for this mascara as well because sometimes when I do my lashes to quickly, they clump up. This is a lot less clumping than the YSL Faux Cills though so if you hate clumpiness, go for this one. It's also about $20 cheaper. I can't find a link for this mascara but I've seen it at Ulta and CVS for sure. I'm guessing it's available at other drugstores as well.. and Target.

6. Sephora Brand "Flashy Liner" Set- $20

I absolutely adore this set. Go here if you want to see the full review on it. I never tried any of Sephora's Flashy liners prior to purchasing this set so this gave me a chance to check them out. They're waterproof and stay for hours on my waterline and I've never found another pencil liner that could do the job. I love all the colors in this set and I love that it only cost me $20 for a whole set of 7 mini liners. I like using "Deep Black" on my waterline and applying MAC Pearlglide liner in "Black Russian" on top for a smooth, shimmery finish.

7. CeraVe "Moisturizing Lotion"- $12.99

I use this lotion every day and don't know what I'd do without it. My dermatologist prescribed me a special medicated version of this. I've also tried the "normal" kind that's sold over the counter and I love it. The medicated kind that I get through prescription is just a bit stronger and more moisturizing than the over the counter version but they pretty much do the same thing. This is the best lotion I've tried in my entire life. I love that it's unscented. I can use it on my face and body. It's just the perfect, fuss free lotion. Even my boyfriend loves it.

These are my favorites.. what are yours?

(Pictures from Sephora.com & Drugstore.com)