Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty Sale Haul

Ulta recently had their Spring 21 Days of Beauty sale, and I set myself a budget since I knew I wanted to pick up a few things I've had my eye on. 

Dose of Colors is a brand highly hyped up, and their Marvelous Mauves eye shadow palette has stood out to me for a while. At 50% off, it was a total steal and had to be mine. I've also had my eye on the Lorac Pro Palette 3 since it came out, but didn't really want to spend $42 on it. This was also 50% off, so I finally pulled the trigger and bought it. 

I feel like everyone and their mom talks about MAC Fix+, so when I saw this was going to be only $13, I figured I'd try it out for myself to see what all the fuss is about. Same thing with the Smashbox Primer Water. Everyone says great things, but I'm not totally sure if it's something I'll like. It was inexpensive enough, so if I end up not liking it, I'm not out too much money. 

That is all I bought, and I'm really proud of myself. I've made an effort to stay on a budget this year, and this sale only cost me $67 before tax. That's less than half of my budget I set for myself of $150. 

Did you pick something up during the 21 Days of Beauty sale?

NEW! Macy's Beauty Box Overview

*Product provided for consideration. Post contains affiliate links*

I was so excited when this showed up on my doorstep, and I have to share it with you guys! Macy's now has their own beauty subscription box, and it seems like something worth checking out.

The Macy's Beauty Box costs $15 a month, you get 5 deluxe samples, plus one bonus product, a cute makeup bag, as well as a $5 gift card towards your next beauty purchase at Macy's, online or in-store!

Products in bag:

- Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser
- Benefit Gimme Brow
- Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau De Parfum
- Tarte Maracuja Oil
- Smashbox Cover Shot: Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo
- MAC False Lashes Extreme Black

I've been subscribed to a few different beauty boxes over the years, and this one seems like any other subscription service. I think the price is nice, although I know I won't use the perfume sample. Everything else is up my alley, especially the Purity Cleanser! Each months box is a surprise, and the deluxe samples are chosen by Macy's beauty experts.

If you want to learn more about the Macy's Beauty Box, click here.  

What do you think about the new Macy's Beauty Box?

May 2016 Ipsy Bag: Destination Chic

Hey guys! It's time again for another post on what I got in this month's Ipsy bag. The theme this month is called Destination Chic, which makes it sound like the products are good for travel. 

The bag everything comes in is cute with the print of all different parts of the world, but it's a very cheap vinyl feel. The snap closure is a nice change from the zippered bags they usually provide. 

The first product I got is from Pacifica, and it's their Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow Trio, and it comes with the shades Skinny Dip, Crush and Lovely. I have yet to swatch these shadows, but if they're like other Pacifica shadows I've tried in the past, then I won't really care for them. The shades themselves are very pretty though, but very Fall-like. 

Next up is the Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask. This is a brand I've seen at Ulta and have been curious about for a while, but never had the chance to try. You all know my love for face masks, so I was thrilled to have received this. It's been a whie since Ipsy has sent a face mask in my bag! There are a few ingredients in this that I need to research, because I'm staying away from certain ones right now, but if this gets the go-ahead to use, then I'll be using it!

I can't tell you how excited I was when I finally stopped receiving nail polishes in my Ipsy bags. I'd purposely give them bad reviews, and specifically have stated that I do not want nail polish. Well imagine my surprise when I saw I would be getting the Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish in the shade Old School Pink. I can't say I hate the color, because I love hot pink, but I'm very disappointed in getting this when I know it's just going to sit around and collect dust. 

You all know how much I'm obsessed with lip balms. I was ecstatic to see that I would be receiving the Hanalei Lip Treatment, even though I have never heard of the brand, until I looked at the ingredients. The very first ingredient is Lanolin. If you saw my most recent empties post, you know I got rid of the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask due to an allergic reaction to the Lanolin in the product. I don't know now whether I should try this and see what it does to me, or just give it away to a friend. Either way, I'm sad I most likely will not be able to use this.

The last product I received is the Smashbox X-Rated Mascara. I feel like this is a newer mascara for the brand, but I've never tried it. To be honest, I have so many small samples, as well as full sized mascaras to use up, that I probably won't be using this for quite a while. Mascara is one of my favorite makeup products to use, so I'm sure it'll get used eventually. 

That's everything I got in this month's bag, and unfortunately, I've also decided that this will be my last Ipsy bag. I haven't been blown away by an Ipsy bag in a very long time, and with all the different products I have in my stash, it just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. I loved my time with Ipsy, and I might even go back in the future, but I feel that now is a good time to cancel. Sorry to all of you who enjoyed reading my Ipsy posts!

February 2016 Ipsy Bag: Pretty in #IpsyPink

*Links used are affiliate links*

Hi guys! I finally received my Ipsy bag in the mail yesterday. I swear, shipping takes longer and longer every month, and it's getting a bit annoying. Anyway, the theme this month is Pretty In #IpsyPink.

The bag itself is kinda cute, but not really my style. The front is textured and has an emoji style envelope on the front, and just plain hot pink on the back. The products I received, I'm half and half about. 

The first product I received is a Luxie Beauty Small Tapered Blending Brush 231. This brush is the perfect size for my hooded lids with applying color where I need it. I don't have a blending brush quite this small in my collection, so I'm pretty stoked to have one now. I've gotten Luxie brushes in past Ipsy bags, and the quality is pretty impressive. 

Next up is a deluxe sample of the new Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. First of all, the scent of this is amazing, and smells like lavender. What I'm not quite sure about is using it as an actual primer. I typically have oily skin, so using an oil as a primer just won't work for me. What I'll most likely do is use a little bit mixed into my foundation. That trick helps my foundations go on better and makes it look less cakey. 

Then we have the MOR Emporium Classics Hand & Body Lotion in the scent Candied Vanilla. I've never heard of this brand before in my life, but when I opened this, the scent was just incredible! It smells so warm and lovely, and I'll probably strictly use this as a hand cream. I'm not wasting this goodness on my body.

Next is the VINTAGE by Jessica Leibeskind Sparkling Lipgloss in Pink Sequin. Not a fan of this honestly. If it were just a pink color without sparkle, I'd be happy. I'm 27 years old, so sparkly lips are a thing of the past and for me, there is just way too much sparkle. It's a little sticky, but not terrible. 

The last product I received is by Tre'StiQue, and it's their Baby Blush Stick in the shade Bora Bora Coral. I'm a huge fan of Tre'StiQue products and have gotten quite a few in previous Ipsy bags. However, with my oily skin, I'm not a fan of cream blushes. I do really like the color of this, so I'll give it a try, but I don't have high expectations. 

I'm super excited about this! I managed to save up 1,500 points and cashed them in for the Colourpop Forever Freshman Super Shock Shadow set. I have just a few Colourpop products, so I was really excited to be able to get this. The shades included are Crimper, As If, Melrose, Koosh, 90210, and Baby T. I'm honestly not sure if you can get this on the Colourpop website anymore, but I've heard some amazing things about the shade Koosh, and I can't wait to play with it!

So overall, like I said above, I half like my bag, and half is just meh. There are months that are amazing, some are not so amazing, and then some are just alright, like this month. If you want to get your own Ipsy bag, I'd love it if you used my referral link here! It costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 5 beauty products sent to you every month, and when you review the products sent, you earn points that you can redeem for more products! It's a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. 

If you're already subscribed to Ipsy, what did you get this month?

November 2015 Ipsy Bag

Hey guys! I finally received my Ipsy bag in the mail yesterday. Every month it seems to get here later and later, which is kind of annoying, but I'm glad it's here! Lets see what I got this month!

The theme this month is Beauty Blast, and the bag that the products come in is probably my favorite design since subscribing. I love anything galaxy themed and the color scheme is really nice too. 

The first product I received is the SLMissGlam Boutique Blusher Brush. The main reason I like this brush is because it's pink, but it's so stinking soft, I can't wait to use it! It seems a bit small for blush, so I may use it for highlighter or contouring, but I will try it for blush and see how I get along with it. 

The next product is the Coolway Stronghold Spray. It says you can use this either on dry or wet hair, but I don't really care for a product like this honestly. I don't use many spray type products in my hair unless it's a leave-in conditioner. I'll give it a shot sometime, but this is the product I'm most disappointed in getting. 

Next up is the ModelCo Highlighting Trio. Another not so great product for me since I have very oily skin. Cream or liquid highlighting products just don't go well with my skin so I tend to stay away from them. Maybe I can use them as cream eyeshadow bases instead. 

Then we have the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara. I always love sample sizes of mascaras, and I don't believe I've ever tried this particular one. Smashbox has always been hit or miss with the products I've tried, so I'm hoping I like this. As far as I know, everyone received this mascara in their bags this month. 

The last product I received is the INSPR Beauty Eyeshadow in the shade Carnival. I think this is such a pretty taupe-y grey shade, and I'm pretty excited to try it out. I've never heard of this brand before, so it's nice to get something new to try. 

If you want to get your own Ipsy bag, you can do so via my referral link here! It's only $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 4-5 deluxe sized samples of makeup, skincare, haircare etc. I'm divided on liking this month's bag, but usually they're pretty great for the price you pay!
 

June 2015 Ipsy Bag

Hi guys! I finally have received my Ipsy bag this month, after realizing how late it was getting. At first I wasn't really paying attention because alot is going on at the moment, but then others were posting what they got in their bags. I received mine yesterday, which is fairly late for me, but at least it didn't get lost in transit! Anyways, lets see what I got this month, as I have mixed feelings about it.

The theme this month is called Swim into Beauty, so to me that means these products will be waterproof/good for Summertime use when everyone sweats more. I really actually like the bag everything came in. It's really soft and has a waterproof feel to it. It's got a bright neon orange zipper, which I could do without since I'm not the biggest fan of orange. I see myself carrying this around with me if I ever go swimming or for travel. 

The first product I got is a trio of BioRepublic Skincare Sheet Masks in the scents Green Tea Detox, Cucumber Breeze, and Aloe Rescue. I haven't had luck with sheet masks in the past, but I will try these and see how they are. I'm trying to revamp my skincare and be more aware of the ingredients in products I'm using, and these seem to pass my test. 

The next product is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I've gotten a ton of these samples before, and I can't quite remember if I ever got one in an Ipsy bag. Ipsy promises to give you new products with each bag without any repeats, but if this one is a repeat for me, it's ok because I can always use a good primer. 

Next up is the J. Cat beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain, and I have no idea what the shade name is because the two colors they sent out look so similar, and the name is nowhere on the packaging. In any case, it's a pretty color and smells minty, which I do enjoy. 

The next product is the Ofra Eyeliner in the shade Turquoise. This is a pretty color but when I was swatching it, it felt pretty dry so I'm not sure if I will get use out of it. 

The last product I got is the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in the shade Kona Coffee. This is a gorgeous dark brown color and it swatches beautifully. I'm pretty excited to use this as a base underneath different eyeshadows. 

Swatches of lip stain, eyeliner and eyeshadow crayon

That's everything this month! Overall, I do have mixed feeling about this bag. I like the eye crayon, lip stain shade, and the Smashbox primer, but I'm waiting for that one bag where I absolutely love everything!

If you want to subscribe to Ipsy, feel free to use my referral link here. You get a cute bag with 4-5 deluxe sized samples, sometimes full size, for only $10 a month, plus shipping for some.

If you're already subscribed, what did you get this month?

February 2015 Favorites

Hey everyone! I'm so glad February is over and March is here! February was a rough month for my husband and I. We both got the flu hardcore and we both also had car troubles costing us a small fortune to take care of. It's safe to say I'm happy to see a new month with hopefully better days ahead. Anyway, it's time to share some of the products I was really enjoying despite being on my deathbed for a week. 

The first product I have to share my love for is the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. This was practically my savior once I was feeling better enough to start taking care of my skin again. Being sick made my skin horrendously dry and it was flaking so bad. I started using this morning and night, but now I'm only using it occasionally when I feel my skin needs it. After using this for a couple days, my skin was back to normal. This bottle is just a deluxe sample that I probably got as a gift with purchase. 

Next up we have the Smashbox O-Gloss. This is a baby sample that came in a Sephora lip kit, but this past month I've been using it nearly everytime I go to work! This is a gloss that's supposed to turn your perfect shade of pink, and it really does. At first it starts out clear, then as you rub it onto your lips, it turns the prettiest shade of a light berry-pink, at least on me it does. It's also incredibly hydrating and not sticky at all. This is probably one of my favorite glosses I've ever used, and I will most likely buy a full size at some point. 

Next we have the Radha Beauty Intensive Youth Eye Gel.  I did a review on this here, and I really flipping love this stuff! It's definitely a gel formula, but it's one of the most moisturizing gels I've come across. It just glides on the skin perfectly, and I've really seen a positive difference since using this.

The Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara has been amazing for me. The wand is curved and has rubber bristles, and I just love it when I'm having a natural/light makeup day and just want a little something on my lashes. It doesn't make them va-va-voom or anything, but it separates and lengthens really well for me. 

The Tarte Tartelette Palette was definitely my go-to in February. I plan on doing a review very soon of it, but I've fallen in love with matte shadows all over again because of this little baby. The colors are beautiful, they blend easily and look stunning with my hazel (mostly brown, but they turn green) eyes. 

My last favorite is the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. I had to get rid of another primer I was using (you'll see in my empties soon!) because it just was not working for me. This is a sample that I probably got with one of my Lorac Pro palettes, but it's a generous size that I think will last quite a while. A little goes a very long way.

What were you all loving in February? 

Also, I want to remind everyone that my Borghese giveaway ends tonight! It is for US residents only, but make sure to get your entries in before it's too late!

October 2014 Empties

Hey everyone! I used up so many products in October, especially skincare, so I'm just gonna get right into it.

The first product I used up is the Colgate Optic White mouthwash. I thank everything that is holy this is used up. I hated this so much, it burned and didn't make my breath feel fresh at all. Hated this stuff!

The next product is a good one, and it's The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel. This product smells like heaven. I swear everytime I use this in the shower, it makes my whole house smell like oranges. I'm a huge fan of The Body Shop's shower gels and will always have one or two backups in my closet. 

Next up is a Hair, Skin & Nails supplement by Spring Valley. I like taking these supplements to help take care of my hair, but I notice a huge difference in the health of my nails the most. 

Then I have a small tube of L'Occitane Hand Cream. This hand cream contains 20% shea butter so it's ultra hydrating. I liked using this before bed so it could sink into my skin. My hands are really starting to dry out now, so I can already tell I'll be going through hand cream like crazy. 

I definitely used up quite a bit of skincare and the first product is the Hydroxatone AM/PM Anti-Wrinkle Complex moisturizer. This took me ages to use up because I used it at night and I did alternate between different moisturizers. This stuff is pretty heavy, but I didn't break out from it, which was nice. I did a review of it here and it was sent to me from iFabbo.

The next product I used up is the Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner. I think I may have put this in a monthly favorites, but don't quote me. I did like this toner alot. It was very inexpensive and did feel good on my skin. I don't know if I'll repurchase only because I'm so attached to the Aloe Toner from The Body Shop. 

Next I used up the Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream Moisturizer. I don't like this stuff at all. It doesn't do anything for my skin and the scent is too overpowering for me. 

I've decided to throw away the Proactiv Mild Exfoliating Peel. I was going through my closet and saw this in there. I was actually going to use it then saw when it expired. In the trash it goes!

The last skincare product is the Own Firming Silk Concentrate. I did a review on this here, and now that it's all used up, I can say that I would not repurchase it. It was nice while it lasted. I mixed it into my night time moisturizer for extra hydration, but it did feel a little oily on my skin. 

I loved the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara. It lasted for close to a month and made my lashes look nice. All other mascaras pictured were drier than the Sahara so in the trash they go. The mascaras are Pop Beauty Smoky Lash Kapow!!! (yes, it really has 3 exclamation points at the end of the name), theBalm What's Your Type? "The Body Builder", Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, Korres Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran, and two of the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes. All of those were just so dry and un-useable.

Now finally some makeup products! The first product is the Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer. I didn't find this particularly amazing. I think it did help foundation/concealer go on a bit nicer, but it didn't really do much for my pores or oily skin. I do have another one of these to use up though.

I finally used up my Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in the color Fair. I love this stuff so much and will always repurchase once I use up some other concealers. I think this is one of the best concealers for my dark circles. 

I also finally used up my Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in the Translucent shade. This took me so long to use up since I don't use alot and mostly used it under my eyes. I love how fine this powder is and how it keeps my skin looking nice and shine free for a while.

I'm sad to say it's time to get rid of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge I've been using. It had started to get tears in it and little bits were coming off when I was using it. Even though this is way less expensive than the Beauty Blender, it doesn't hold up as well as the Beauty Blender. I've been using my Beauty Blender longer than I was using this Miracle Complexion Sponge and it's holding up so much better. 

I used up this tiny sample of the Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel that I received in an Ipsy bag. I actually did really like this. I don't do much with my eyebrows, so some gel to tame them a little is fine with me. 

The last product is the La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes. This little package came in either an Ipsy bag or an old Birchbox. I used these because I couldn't find a large package of wipes and they kinda sucked to be honest. They didn't remove makeup well, so I mainly used them to clean up swatches. Even then they didn't clean well. 

What did you use up in October?

September 2014 Favorites

Hello everyone! It's the end of yet another month which means it's favorites time! Let's see what I was loving in September.

 

The first product I've been loving is the Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil. I wrote up a review if this here, and basically it's amazing! I mentioned in that post that I was using in mixed in my shampoo, and I'm convinced that it's helping with dandruff and itchiness. I also have been using it mixed in the baby shampoo I use to wash my makeup brushes for some extra disinfection.

My next favorite is the Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette. I did a first look type of post here on this, though I will end up fully reviewing this palette in the coming weeks. I love this palette so much. There are a good mix of neutrals and bright colors, and there are also an impressive amount of matte shades. Overall, I'm very impressed. Definitely stay tuned for my review!

Next up is another Urban Decay product and it's their Naked 2 Basics Palette. Check out my full review of this here, but in a nutshell, I love it! I've been more into matte shadows lately and I think this palette is great of you want neutral shades that are more cool than the first, but not so cool to where only a few people can use it. These shades blend like a dream and I have gotten good use out of it. 

Now we have the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in the color Jet Black. I think this may have come in a kit of some kind but I honestly can't remember. I was looking for a mascara to use because I had used up the other one I was using but came across ones that were so dried out, they weren't usable. Once I decided on this one and used it, I was pretty impressed with how nice my lashes look. They give decent length and volume, but don't look spidery or clumpy. 

My last favorite of the month is the Tarte Clean Slate 12 hr Smoothing Primer. I've been trying to use up some of my eye primers because 1. I have a ton and 2. I don't wanna use up all of the Urban Decay Primer Potions I have. That stuff is my ultimate favorite so I'm saving it! This little tube came in a gift set of different Tarte primers and to be honest, I actually really like this! It feels so different though, like lotion. I wasn't sure I'd like it because of the thin texture, but this stuff really makes my shadows last longer. Not UDPP long, but longer than if I didn't use primer at all. 

That's everything! What have you been loving lately?

July 2014 Favorites!

It's that time of the month again where I show you guys what I've been loving. I feel like I purchased a decent amount of products this past month, but there was one standout that's brand new to my collection, along with a few others! 

First up we have the Freeman Facial Clay Mask in Mint & Lemon. Now I gotta admit, I've only used it once but I was super impressed after that one use, I had to mention it! It has the same mint green color as the Mint Julep Masque that everyone talks about, but this one isn't as thick. The only thing that sort of turns me off is that it burns a little after you put it on. That feeling goes away after about 5 minutes so it's bearable to me. After I rinsed off this mask, I absolutely love how soft this made my face feel. This is geared towards people with breakouts and large pores and I have to say, I really feel like my pores were shrunk a bit. I have quite a few of these Freeman masks and the ones I've tried have not disappointed me. They're super inexpensive as well, so you can't go wrong!

Next up we have a lip gloss by Smashbox and the color is called Pout. Honestly, I got this years ago in a holiday kit from Sephora, so I have no idea if it's still available or not. Anyways, I used this lip gloss about half the time this month and I just love the baby pink color. It doesn't show up that pink on the lips though, it's just a wash of color. It's also not sticky at all, which is a big plus.

The other half of the month, I've Been using the Maybelline The Elixir lip gloss in the color Celestial Coral. I'm pretty sure I've talked about these glosses before, but they're amazing! They feel great on the lips, they're not sticky and the color payoff is very nice. Next to the NYX Butter Glosses, these are definitely a favorite from the drugstore!

Now we have a shower gel from Philosophy called Happy Birthday, Beautiful! I'm about 99% sure that this was a birthday gift from Sephora some years back and I'm just now using it. It's vanilla birthday cake scented, and is delicious! You all know I'm a major fan of these Philosophy shower gels, and this one is definitely no exception. If I had the money, I'd buy all the scents in massive sizes so I have enough for the rest of my life :)

Last, but not least, we have the glorious Lorac Pro 2 palette. I did a review on this here and it's as amazing as it looks. The colors are gorgeous and they feel amazing when you swatch them. I know I said in my review, but if you buy any eyeshadow palette this year, have it be this one. It's fantastic!

What have you guys been loving this past month?

Sephora VIB Haul!

Hi everyone! When I saw that Sephora was doing a VIB event where you could get 15% off, I was so torn because I was doing a spending ban. Of course I ended up buying stuff, hence the reason for this post! My mom was even really nice and bought me some things as well during the event, so I'll be showing those as well. 

 I'll start off with the products I picked up in-store. When I was looking at products online during the sale, I saw a Sephora Favorites Skinnovations set for a little over $40. When I went to the store, I saw this set for only $35. I couldn't tell the difference between this and the one online, so I was really happy to see this in-store. There are some awesome skincare products from Kate Somerville, Murad, First Aid Beauty, and more! I love trying out smaller sized products to see if I like something and I'm a skincare junkie, so I can't wait to try out some of these!

When I was at the counter checking out, I saw this Too Faced The Mascara & Bronzing Holy Grail Set. This was only $23 and comes with a full sized Better Than Sex Mascara and a deluxe sized Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. The mascara alone is typically $23, so getting the bronzer for basically free, minus the 15% discount, was pretty darn nice! I already know I love the bronzer, but I have yet to try the mascara.

I purchased the First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay on a different day, and I also didn't realize that it was in the set mentioned above! I'm pretty sure I'll like this cleanser because my skin is getting a little more oily since it's starting to warm up some here, and this is supposed to help with excess oils and unclogging pores. 

Now for my online purchase! When I saw that Kat Von D had come out with some new palettes, I squealed like a kid in a candy store! I have quite a few of her other palettes, which are all amazing, and really wanted to get another one.

This one is called the Monarch Eyeshadow Palette. Aren't these colors just gorgeous?! I've already played around a bit with this, and so far it's pretty nice. The matte beige-y color in the upper left corner is an amazing highlight, base shade, or even for blending out harsh lines. 

Since I had to get up to $50 for free shipping, I ended up getting the TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixir in the Salted Caramel scent. If I could lick this stuff and have it taste good, I'd be a happy girl! This stuff smells so darn good, like something you'd put on french toast. I look forward to slathering this all over my lips, then looking like a duck because I'll be constantly sniffing them :)

These are the products my Momma got me! She asked me if there was anything I liked or wanted and I gave her a couple options. These showed up on my doorstep a few days later! 

I've been lusting over the Benefit Rockateur Blush basically since it came out. I have used this a few times and I'm happy to report that it's a very lovely blush color for my fair skin. It makes my skin glow and has a natural highlighting effect to it which I definitely love. 

I was intrigued by the Smashbox Full Exposure eyeshadow palette because it reminded me of Lorac Pro with it being half shimmer, half matte. I tried this out once so far and with my first impression, I'm not terribly fond of the shimmer shades, but the mattes are nice. Not as nice as Lorac Pro, but hey, not everything can be as great as that palette! I may do a review on this as I use it.

That's my haul! I've honestly been doing horribly with my spending ban because I've been seeing so many awesome sales, especially at the drugstores! Expect a collective haul coming up in the next few weeks. 

Did you buy anything during the VIB sale?

Tutorial: Neutral Eye with Gold Accent

Hey everyone! Today I have off work, but I had a few errands to run so I still wanted to put on some makeup but didn't want to make it look over the top. It's very rare that I wear makeup on my day off but hey, I wanted to look a little snazzy. Here is my eye look for today!

Eye primer and eyeshadow duo

Eyeliners and mascara

First I started off with Urban Decay Primer Potion to help prevent creasing and make the eyeshadow last all day. Then I used an eyeshadow duo by Smashbox called Grace and placed the light cream color eyeshadow all over my lids up to my browbone. Then I took a fluffy blending brush and blended the light taupe-y color through my crease. Next I took the bareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in the color Cork and put that on my upper lashline and blended it out with the tip of a flat eyeshadow brush. I then used my favorite mascara ever, the bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara and just used that on my top lashes. I finished up using the Urban Decay 24/7 mini eyeliner in the color Eldorado on my waterline and lower lashline. This really helped to brighten up my eyes and make them look more awake. Now for the finished look!

There's my look today! I did use a little blush, concealer under my eyes and some mineral powder foundation too. I personally really like how this came out. I wanted it to be really simple and neutral but still have that touch of color by adding the gold.

Let me know how you guys like this!

TAG! 10 Products I Would Repurchase

Hey everyone! First off, if you've been following me for a little while now, you may notice that I've changed up my background a little! This little blog is still a work in progress and will continue to grow. Just wanted to let everyone know of the new things going on! Anyways, this seems like such a fun tag so I wanted in on the action. If you don't know what this tag is, basically if all your makeup disappeared somehow, what are the first ten products you'd repurchase. I'll admit, this was kinda tough and I took into consideration if brushes disappeared too because I always need brushes to do my makeup. So lets get started!

I'll start with brushes first since I'd be lost without them. The first brush I'd want to repurchase is the Smashbox Shadow Brush. I hate to say this, but I don't think they sell this separately. I got this brush in an eyeshadow set from Sephora a couple years ago, but this is my absolute favorite brush for putting on eyeshadow. The bristles are super soft and it distributes color evenly across my lid.

The next brush is the BH Cosmetics Blending Brush. I've said in a post before how much I love this brush and I'll say it again. This is the best blending brush I've ever used! Seriously, the bristles are very soft on this as well, and it blends any shadow very well. I actually have another one of these as a back-up and if all my makeup did disappear, I'd be really sad about losing this brush! It's also very inexpensive.

The last brush I'd repurchase is The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Foundation Brush. This is actually an older brush before they reformulated the mineral line and renamed some things. The name that's actually on the brush I have says Nature's Minerals Foundation, but it's the exact same brush as the Extra Virgin Minerals. Anyways, this brush is just fantastic. I don't like liquid foundation at all so I primarily wear powder foundation. Once in a while I'll use a tinted moisturizer or B.B. cream, but powder is what I wear 95% of the time. This brush makes powder foundation look very flawless against my skin and it helps blend everything in nicely.

The next thing I'd repurchase is my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Now I know I've talked about this palette many times. I absolutely love both Naked Palettes but this one goes better with my pale skin. The colors are cooler than the first palette and I feel like I get more use out of this one than the first. For me, the first Naked Palette is better for use in the summer and this one I can use all year round but especially in the cooler months.

Next, I'd repurchase my bareMinerals Matte Foundation in the color Fair. This foundation is a godsend for me. I had tried the original foundation but it got so cakey on my skin and made it look like I was wearing a mask. This stuff is just amazing! It's a tad bit pricey but a little bit goes a very long way and it's lasted me so long. I don't wear foundation everyday though either.

Then I'd repurchase my NARS Blush in the color orgasm. Everyone's talked and raved about this so I won't go on and on about it, but it's a nice shimmery, peachy pink color that's flattering on a variety of skin tones.

The next thing I'd repurchase is the bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara. I love this mascara so much and if this disappeared, I'd probably cry. I really love my mascara. I'm always willing to try a bunch of new ones and see how they are, and I have a ton of mascara to go through once this runs out, but I know I'll definitely be repurchasing this in the future. I've talked about this before too but it makes my lashes look defined and natural looking without looking like spider lashes. This stuff doesn't clump on me either. The only gripe I have with this (and any mascara really) is that it flakes on me by the end of the day. It doesn't bother me too much because obviously I'll have some flaking if I have makeup on for more than 8 hours, but I'm still on the hunt for one that doesn't flake on me at all. 

The next repurchase is probably an obvious one and it's the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. With my oily skin and eyelids, this is a miracle product. I can't imagine my life without this and I don't know how I managed to wear eyeshadow before I had heard of this little wonder product. This one is the old packaging, now it comes in a tube and I have a backup of the professional sized tube, which will probably last me a really, really long time.

The next product I'd repurchase is a new favorite of mine and it's the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer in the color Fair. Again, this stuff is incredible! It really helps lessen the look of my dark circles and the color is perfect for me, for once. I can never get colors right and even the lightest shades are sometimes too dark, that's how pale I am! But I'm in love with this and I'm adding it to my favorites.

The last product I'd repurchase is any Philosophy Lip Shine. The Gingerbread Man is the one that's pictured because it's the one I'm currently using. I know I've said before that the Philosophy lip shines are my absolute favorite. They always smell and taste just like the name says and they last you a very long time. 

Well that's everything I'd repurchase! I just hope none of my makeup ever disappears!

Who else would cry if all their makeup disappeared?

September 2012 Favorites!

I really can't believe that it's already October! I know everyone on the planet says that but really, this year is flying and it's time for another favorites blog! Lets get started!

Now my first favorite is probably no surprise to most people who know me and that is the Philosophy Melting Marshmallow Cream Flavored Lip Shine. I truly can't say anything bad about the Philosophy lip shines. They smell good, they taste good and they leave my lips feeling super soft. I'm still not sure why I was drawn to this one most in September because this is more of a Christmas flavor but I just loved it. With all the lip glosses I have, I constantly reached for this one and kept it in my bag at work too. Seriously, I haven't met a flavor I didn't like yet!

My next favorite is the Nails Inc. nail polish in the color Fenchurch Street. This came in a set of four and I bought the set around this time last year (I think) and this color just screams fall. It shows up a lot darker in the picture but in person it's this dark mustard-y color with an orange tint to it. I love the whole set of colors though. They're all very fall but this one was on my nails for most of September.

I don't think you can get my next favorite anymore because I got it in a value set from Sephora a while ago and that's an eye shadow quad from the Smashbox Ultimate Eyes- Hazel value set. I honestly don't even remember all the things that came in the set but this eye quad is fantastic! You get a very light, cream color shade that's a really good base and highlight, a shimmery taupe color, a wonderful shimmery, dark silver color and the most beautiful dark plum color ever with just the tiniest bit of shimmer. All these colors together create the most beautiful subtle smokey eye or you can go very neutral with just the cream shade all over the lid up to the brow bone as a base, the taupe color all over the lid and the dark plum as a liner. I have so many eye shadows but this palette was just so amazing I couldn't really use anything else.

Next, I have Origins Well Off eye makeup remover. I'll admit, I'm not terribly picky with eye makeup removers only because I always wash my face right after. The only thing I really look for in a makeup remover is that it doesn't sting my eyes. This one is so gentle and doesn't sting at all, which is wonderful. It also doesn't leave that greasy film all over your eyes that not many people like. I personally don't mind because like I said, I always wash my face right after and I always go over my eyes with my cleanser to make sure I got all the makeup off. 

This next favorite is actually a surprise favorite of mine because I honestly didn't think it would work and that's Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray. This really does make your makeup stay put all day and I'm not a big greasy mess by the end of the day. I still get a little oily throughout the day, but not as bad as before I started using this stuff. It's also very cooling on your skin when you first spray it on. I'm not 100% sure if I'll re-buy this, only because it's pretty darn expensive and it doesn't totally control my oil all day. With my makeup on the other hand, that really does last all day and that's surprising.

My last favorite is a Blending brush from BH Cosmetics. Holy cow, this is the best blending brush in my opinion. I love how fluffy it is and it does a really good job at blending eye shadows well. It's also one of the softest brushes I own. I've used brushes that have actually hurt my eyes because they were so scratchy but this one is soooooo soft and amazing!

So there you have it! Those were my favorites for September! What were some of your favorites this past month?