February 2013 Favorites

Hey ya'll! I know I am slack about not posting updates on my blog. I have a lot going on in my life lately and have just been busy. Being a mom to a 15 month old, expecting the 2nd arrival in August and working full time has me pretty pooped.  I'll try to do better :)  So here are my favorites for the month of February!

 



 

Covergirl Lashblast Volume~This is an old favorite that I have been reaching for daily for the last few weeks and have really enjoyed.  It gives me volume and definition.  You just can't go wrong with this mascara IMO.

 

Jordana Fabuliner in Black and Brown~I recently discovered these two beauties this year and have been reaching for these almost daily also.  My local Walgreens was out so I ordered them from cherryculture.com. They are just so easy to use for a liquid eyeliner.  The black is a true black and the brown I love because it is a DARK brown.  If I use brown eyeliner, I prefer it to be dark. 

 

MAC Painterly Paint Pot~This is another product I have had forever that I've recently started using pretty much on a daily basis.  I wear it over my Too Faced Shadow Insurace and I have noticed that it makes my eye shadow look more even and it de-veins my eyelids so my shadow looks better and the wear of it is extended even longer than just wearing it with the shadow insurance alone.

 

 

 

 

 

2012 Favorites

 

I know it's been a very long time since I've posted, and this is late because we're a month into the new year, but just thought I'd share my makeup favorites of 2012.  The year flew by!  So let's get right down to the favorites!

Foundations~Estee Lauder Double Wear Powder in Desert Beige was my go to foundation for the spring and summer months of 2012.  It was so easy to apply and lasted all day.  It has suprisingly good coverage for a powder.  A foundation I picked up later in the year that I have enjoyed is the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation in Sand Beige.  I put off buying this a long time, but finally one day decided to purchase it and did not regret it.  The texture is amazing, it's light and blends in very easily and the color match is perfect for me.  Not sure about the 24 hr lasting power because I never wear makeup for 24 hrs but it does last all day for me for my purposes and makes my skin look flawless.  My only gripe with it is that the lid broke on it and won't screw on anymore so I can't really throw it in my makeup bag.

Blush~The only blush I consistently used a lot this past year was MAC Hipness Blush.  It's just a beautiful bright coral pink color that really brightens the face. I believe it was limited edition from one of MAC's summer collections but I can't remember which one.

Bronzer~NYC Sunny Bronzer I used up every bit of this product this year.  I never use up products so to me, this really says something about how much I liked it.  It is a perfect contour and looks great on my light/fair skin.

Eye Shadows~Revlon Nude Elements Eyeshadow Quad got used a heck of a lot this year once again.  It's just the perfect neutral quad for me.  I am upset though because I believe these quads from Revlon have gotten discontinued. I haven't been seeing them anywhere and I even looked online on Revlon's website and they were not there.  MAC Eyeshadows in Satin Taupe, Shale, Omega, and Shroom also got a lot of use this year. I love all of these, they go really good with my skin and eyes.

Eyeliners~MAC Phone Number Eye Kohl has been a favorite again this year.  It's a perfect soft grey day time eyeliner for me that goes great with the Nude Elements Quad I love. Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Eyeliner I really enjoyed because it's an awesome deep black that is so creamy to apply as per all the 24/7 Liners.

Brush~The Real Techniques Domed Eye Shadow Brush was my favorite eye shadow brush.  It's awesome to apply eye shadow to the entired lid as it's kind of large and dense. It blends the shadow up into the crease easily.

So there you have it, better late than never, my 2012 makeup favorites!  What were your favorites this year?

February Favorites

So I've been wanting to do this post for a few days but couldn't decide what my February favorites were lol. These are products I used most this last month and enjoyed. Great products for a busy new working mother :).

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation~This was a new one I've only had for a couple months but it has a gorgeous finish. Coverage is light/medium but that's all I need. My skin is pretty clear, I just have issues with large pores on my nose. My shade is 5, which is slightly too dark for me right now, but it's the right color tone. I purchased 4 too, but it's too light and yellow. One of my aunts asked me what I did to keep my complexion so pretty one day when I was wearing this so then you know it's a good product and for the price it should be :).

Make Up For Ever Face & Body Foundation~This is even lighter coverage than the Giorgio Armani but what's so wonderful about this one is that it doesn't cling to dry patches on winter dry skin. It's very liquidy and blends effortlessly. I'm shade #20.

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Black Drama Mascara~This is something old in my stash that I fell back in love with this month. It's dark and makes my lashes long with a beautiful curl. Only con is that it gets kind of flakey after a long day of wear. My tube may just be old, not really sure.

Wet N Wild Coloricon eyeshadow trio in Walking on Eggshells~This has been so easy to just slap on and not think about this month. It's pigmented, neutral, and goes with everything. A no-fuss product.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion~I know I said I didn't like this as much since the formula changed but I think it's just taken some getting used to. The formula is thicker than it used to be, but I've found that if I just squirt a little on my finger and warm it up, it spreads easier and still has the awesome staying power that the old UDPP had.

Honorable mentions I also used a lot in February~Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Excess Mascara, NYC Sunny Bronzer, NARS Orgasm Blush, Hard Candy Baked Blush in Living Doll, Milani Liquify Eyeliner Pencil in Brown, Maybelline 24/7 Concealer in Ivory

2011 Favorites

2011 was one of the best years ever for me! My son Tyler was born on November 27 (thus the reason for lack of posts) so I have been one busy girl lately! Just thought I'd jump on here and share some products that I love and used the heck out of in 2011! Also, please share some of your favs!!!

Foundations~NARS Sheer Glow in Fiji was still one of my favorites this year. Everytime I stopped wearing it and then started back, I fell in love again. It's the perfect amount of coverage while remaining really lightweight on the skin, plus something about it just perks my skin tone up. This product could probably almost be considered a HG for me, I have been wearing this since 2009! Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Sand Beige was just a no-fail foundation that has also been in my stash for a long time. This color is the perfect match for me, flawless coverage, and has never irritated my skin. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation was also another fav of 2011. I wear shade B20. Coverage is like your skin but better and it's also very lightweight on the skin.

Powder/Foundation~MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium I wore as a foundation for most of probably the later half of the year. I would never be without this product. It's the perfect, most glowy skin like finish I have ever found in a powder. It was super easy to just buff on and go. It's also an excellent powder to set foundations with.

Concealer~Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory I picked up in a CCO while on vacation and have used it as an under eye concealer just about every since. It's moisturizing and covers well.

Bronzers~NARS Laguna was a staple that I hit pan on this year. It just creates the perfect bronze glow with a slight sheen that is flattering for light-medium skin tones. NYC Sunny Bronzer was the matte bronzer I got the most use out of. It's not too light, not too dark and looks very natural.

Blushes~Benefit Bella Bamba was the perfect brightening pink blush. It's gorgeous, pigmented, and instantly lights up the face. NARS Deep Throat was my favorite peachy-pink blush this year. Nars blushes in general are awesome, very pigmented and no-fuss. NARS Orgasm Blush is another staple. This peachy-pink (more pink than Deep Throat) blush goes with most makeup looks and is just gorgeous! Love it or hate it, but I adore it!

Eye Primer~NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base was my go-to eye primer this year. Something about the Urban Decay Primer Potion formula was different on the squeeze tube I bought, it was too dry or something and hard to spread. I tried NARS as recommended by lots of the ladies on Makeupalley and I fell in love. It's the perfect consistency, it doesn't dry my lids out, and my eyeshadows don't crease.

Eyeshadows~Revlon ColorStay Quad in Nude Elements produced the perfect neutral eye looks for me. All these colors are flattering on me and look perfect together. Not to mention are long wearing. It's just a great quad that you can throw on and not think about, and it goes with everything. The Urban Decay Naked Palette was just another great neutral palette I wore a lot this year. Chanel Taupe Gris eyeshadow is the epitome of my love of taupe eyeshadows. It's a gorgeous, unique color that I love to wear over Benefit Creaseless Cream eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans for a smokey look.

Eyeliners~MAC Phone Number Eye Kohl is a beautiful gray eyeliner that is great for daytime wear and looks really nice with the above mentioned Revlon Nude Elements eyeshadow quad. Urban Decay 24/7 in Zero was my go-to black eyeliner pencil. Creamy and long wearing, you just can't beat it!

Brow Product~Wet N Wild Brow Kit in Ash Brown. This is so cheap and works just as good as any expensive brow product IMO!

Honorable Mentions~Covergirl Lashblast Mascara, MAC Painterly Paintpot, Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans, MAC Satin Taupe,Contrast, and Omega Eyeshadows, Bare Escentuals Ready Eyeshadow quad in The Dream Sequence and duo in Showstopper, Wet N Wild Eyeshadows, Too Faced Naked Eye Palette, Loreal Fairest Nude Lipstick, Revlon Lipbutters, Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation

The Honeymoon Phase

I have gotten a few new things and wanted to share my FOTD.

FACE

Maybelline 24/7 Concealer in Ivory

MUFE Face & Body #20

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder Naturally Beige

Lancome Miel Glace Blush

EYES

NARS Primer

Bare Escentuals e/s duo in The Honeymoon Phase

MAC Phone Number Eye Kohl

Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes WP

WnW Brow Kit Ash Brown

LIPS

MAC Creme d'Nude l/s

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting

CG Drama Eyes

Wow, can you believe I'm posting 3 times in one day? Anyway, just wanted to share my FOTD.

FACE
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Fair
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Intensity 1
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

EYES
UDPP
Covergirl Drama Eyes Quad
Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Raisin Noir
Covergirl Lashblast Mascara
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown

LIPS
Loreal Fairest Nude l/s

29 Weeks Pregnant

I haven't really updated you much on my pregnancy, but that is the reason I haven't posted much recently. I was 29 weeks pregnant yesterday and I have no complaints! I have had a really good pregnancy so far-I haven't been sick at all until last week and then it was a sinus infection which was miserable because I really couldn't take anything for it. I am feeling much better now, I just have a residual cough. The only thing is that I have gained a ton of weight! I have already gained 27 lbs last time I went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago! So I am trying to watch that but everything else has been great. My glucola test came back normal so that was good. Oh and we are expecting a son and we are naming him Tyler Gage! Here are some pics to update you along the way!

Pre-pregnancy! I was tiny! I was about a size 2 or 4.

At 12 weeks-still tiny!

About 14 weeks on our vacation in the mountains!

16 weeks. Can you see the bump forming?

21 weeks 6 days :)

Now here I am at 29 weeks! 11 weeks to go!

August Favorites

Hello lovelies! I thought I would update with a blog post of my August favorites after watching tons of them on youtube.

1. Sigma F80 Brush-This is awesome for applying liquid foundation! It is densely packed and makes blending any foundation effortless. I think everyone needs this!

2. Estee Lauder Double Light Foundation-I always wanted to love the cult favorite original Estee Lauder Double Wear, but I never could. I think it is too heavy for me, I prefer a light to medium coverage foundation. The Light version, however, is perfect! The coverage is just right, it is slightly dewy unlike the original version which is very matte. The light controls oil for me, lasts all day, and hasn't caused any breakouts.

3. Covergirl LashBlast Mascara-This is an old favorite that I've recently went back to. No matter what new mascara I try, I always seems to come back to this. It gives me volume, separation, and it doesn't make my lashes crunchy.

4. Too Faced Naked Eye Palette-This is something else I have loved this month! I have had it for a while (probably around a year) and have used it off and on. Everytime I go back to it, I fall in love with it. This is the perfect natural eye palette for those of you that look better with cooler toned makeup like I do. I have a fair neutral, leaning warm skin tone but cooler eye shadows-grays, taupes, pinks-look better on me. I also had the other palette with warmer neutrals that Too Faced makes-the Natural Eye Palette-but a lot of the colors looked orange on me, so I gave it to my sister, who loves it. It's awesome too, so if you like warm neutrals you would probably love it. This includes instructional cards also, which is nice. It's just something that I can throw on that is appropriate for any occassion and takes minimal effort to blend and look nice.

5. Benefit Bella Bamba Blush-This blush instantly brightens my face and everytime I wear it I get comments that I'm glowing! People at work think it's pregnancy, shh don't tell them it's this!

So what are your current favorites?

WnW Dancing in The Clouds

Hey everyone! Every since I saw a blog post and Emilynoel's video showing new Wet n' Wild eyeshadow trios that have came out, I went to 3 different drugstores this morning looking for them. I finally found them at Rite Aid. Only one trio appealed to me and that was Dancing in The Clouds, which consists of a gold, purple, and copper color. The only other neutral one was too similar to Silent Treatment. Here is my fotd I did using the trio!

FACE
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20
MAC MSFN in Medium Plus
NARS Laguna Bronzer
MAC Style Blush

EYES
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
MAC Painterly Paintpot
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
WnW Dancing in The Clouds e/s trio
Physician's Formula Eye Booster in Ultra Black
Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Raisin Noir
Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

LIPS
MAC Prrr Lipglass

MAC Fashion Flower Inspired Look

I really like the colors and idea of the Fashion Flower Collection. I already own some of the products so I decided to try a look inspired by the colors.

FACE
Laura Mercier TM in Bisque
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Estee Lauder Blush in Peach Nuance
MAC Shell CCB

EYES
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
MAC Painterly Paintpot
MAC e/s in Aqua and Nylon
UD e/s in Mushroom
Lancome e/s in Strut
Loreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black
UD 24/7 in Zero
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

LIPS
NYX Baby Pink l/s
MAC Oyster Girl l/g

WnW Petal Pusher

I used the right side of the palette.

FACE
NARS SG in Fiji
Revlon Age-defying Concealer in Light-Medium
NARS Laguna Bronzer

EYES
Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Primer
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
WnW Petal Pusher Palette
MAC BTFL
UD Zero on waterline
Covergirl Lashblast Mascara

LIPS
MAC Viva Glam VI SE ls
MAC Viva Glam VI SE lg

TGIF Neutral Look

Today it was just easiest to grab my UD Naked Palette. This is probably what I wear 75% of the time. Plus, bonus Katie pic :) CC welcome! PS don't mind my frizzy hair, I just dyed it and it doesn't want to behave :(.

FACE
Smashbox PF Light
Revlon Age Defying Concealer in Light-Medium
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Foundation in Buff 6
MUFE HD Powder
NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Orgasm Blush

EYES
MAC Painterly Paintpot
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
Urban Decay Naked Palette-Sin, Darkhorse, & Virgin
Urban Decay 24/7 in Whiskey & Zero
MAC False Lashes Mascara

LIPS
Revlon Prim-rose ls

Tarte Lilac Bronze FOTD

So I went out and bought a bunch of Tarte stuff today. Here is a look I did using some of the products. Plus bonus of why I've been away :). FACE Smashbox PF Luminizing Primer Revlon Age Defying Concealer in Light Medium Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder in Medium Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful EYES WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown Tarte Lifted Eye Primer MAC Painterly Paintpot Tarte Eye Couture Palette Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara LIPS Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Coral Shimmer

Revlon Nude Elements

This is the look I've been wearing all week thus far and I've been loving it!

FACE
Smashbox Photofinish Light
Revlon Age Defying Concealer in Medium
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20
MAC Studio Fix NW25
Benefit Bella Bamba Blush

EYES
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
MAC Painterly Paintpot
Revlon Nude Elements e/s quad
MAC Phone Number Eye Kohl
BE Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

LIPS
Carmex
Rimmel Airy Fairy

Trying Out Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Hey lovelies! Today I got my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation I ordered in the mail so I decided to try it. Do you think it's a good match?

FACE
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20
Revlon Age Defying Concealer in Medium
MAC To the Beach Creme Bronzer
Lancome Miel Glace Blush

EYES
Painterly Paintpot
WnW Ash Brown Brow Kit
Chanel Ombres Perlees De Chanel e/s Palette
MAC Phone Number Eye Kohl
Boots No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara

LIPS
NYX Paris l/s
MAC Steppin' Out Dazzleglass

Satin Taupe, Carbon, Blanc Type FOTD

Today I decided I wanted to do a brown smokey eye so I decided to use one of my favorite browns-Satin Taupe!

FACE
NARS Makeup Primer
HC Glamoflauge Concealer in Medium
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab
NARS Loose Powder in Desert
NARS Deep Throat Blush

EYES
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
MAC Constructivist Paintpot
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
MAC e/s-Satin Taupe, Carbon, and Blanc Type
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
UD 24/7 in Zero
BE Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

LIPS
NARS Supervixen l/g

Laura Mercier Silk Road

Today I finally got the Laura Mercier Silk Road Palette I had been wanting. This is my first attempt at playing with the colors.

FACE
MUFE Mat Velvet+ Foundation in 30
LM Persian Rose Blush

EYES
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
WnW Brow Kit in Ash Brown
LM Silk Road Palette-Golden Sands, Rare Taupe, & Regal Violet
UD 24/7 in Lust & Zero for waterline
Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara

LIPS
Buxom l/g in Clair

UD NYC BOS FOTD

Today I decided to *finally* use my UD NYC BOS that I have had forever, and I STILL want more makeup! *sigh*

FACE
LM Primer
LM Oil-Free TM in Bisque
HC Glamoflauge in Medium
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
ELF Pink Passion Blush
Dior Amber Diamond

EYES
UDPP
MAC Painterly Paintpot
MAC Pure White Paintstick
UD NYC BOS-Bordello & Rockstar
MAC Blanc Type & Grand Entrance e/s
UD 24/7 in Zero
Stila Smudgepot in Black Cat
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

LIPS
Revlon ColorBurst l/g in Peony