November 2013 Favorites!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  I'm sure everyone is either shopping or decorating today, but for those who took a quick wine hot chocolate break to catch up on your blogs, here are my November 2013 beauty favorites :)  Enjoy!

Favorites This Month:

Mac Prolongwear Foundation ($31) mixed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($45)
I love Prolongwear by itself, but it's a bit heavy for me for day-to-day use, so I like to sheer it out a bit with my Beauty Flash Balm, which is similar in concept to Mac's Strobe Liquid.  It's not as iridescent as Strobe Liquid, but it gives a great natural glow.  It smells divine, too!  (Full disclosure...the Beauty Flash Balm was a given to me by my sister to try, since she LOVES hers...I didn't buy it myself.)

NARS Orgasm Blush ($29 individually; mine is shown in an old palette)
An oldie but a goodie!  I sort of forgot about this blush for a while, but I picked it back up this month and have worn it most days.  You all know everything there is to know about Orgasm...but it's just a gorgeous shimmery pink that is flattering on all skin tones.

Mac Pro Shaping Powder in Emphasize ($16.50)
I use this to set my undereye concealer.  It's a white power with the slightest amount of sheen, and it is meant to highlight all areas of the face.  I like a little undereye brightness, and this works well with my skintone (Mac NC25/30).  

ELF Studio Makeup Remover Pen ($3)
I grabbed this at Target after hearing Josh Collier rave about it, and it's the one ELF product that I can honestly say was not a waste of money!  I love it!  It's great for getting rid of a mascara smudge or end of the day liner smudges.  It does leave a slight residue, but nothing that can't be just rubbed into your skin.

Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush ($35)
I resisted this brush for a while, but finally broke down and grabbed it during Sephora's VIB sale.   I am so glad I did.  If you use Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powders, I would definitely recommending investing in the brush that goes with them.  I was using a large paddle brush that was sort of similar in shape, but it wasted too much product.  This brush really keeps the powder from flying around and gives you a flawless application.

Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush ($6; these go on sale B1G1 50% off at Ulta a lot!)

I love this brush!!!  I think it might be my new HG liner brush, and I don't say that lightly!  It's a round shape, but it is stiffer than other liner brushes I've tried, which makes application a breeze.

Chanel Eyeshadow in Fauve ($28.50)
Fauve is my sole Chanel eyeshadow, and I could only justify the purchase because it is SO unique.  It's a gorgeous greyish purple, but the insane shimmer is what sets it apart.  I don't get a ton of fallout, which is awesome, especially given the shimmer.  If you're ever near a Chanel counter, just go play with this one!!  I have yet to see a swatch that does it justice...

Mac Naked Pigment ($21)
I have been using this on my eyelids with warm browns in the crease and I have been loving the look.  It's a gorgeous super shimmery nude color and pairs well with anything.  You could absolutely use this pigment as a highlight, too!

Dior Amber Diamond Highlighting Powder ($45)

This highlighter gives such a gorgeous natural sheen to the skin...it's basically all I've been using for on my cheekbones this month.  It's a tan shade and may work better as a shimmery bronzer for the fairest of us, but on most complexions it will work as a gorgeous highlight.

Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Balm in Peppermint ($10)

I'm not sure how many times I can rave about this stuff before you guys get bored of me talking about it.  Just go and get it already!!!!  It's the perfect peppermint lip balm. 

What have you been loving toward the end of the fall??

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours :)

As much as I love shopping, I will not be patronizing any stores on Thanksgiving day.  Everyone deserves a holiday.

Pick Through My Trash: Product Empties

One of my favorite types of videos to watch on YouTube are beauty girls' product empties videos.  I'm always trying to use things up, especially now that I have put myself on a serious no-buy and I'm trying to just enjoy and condense my collection!  I love seeing what people think of products and if they would re-purchase them after they've had a chance to fully use the products.  I take a lot of recommendations from these types of videos, so I figured I would start doing them myself!

I don't plan to do these on any regular basis...just when I have a full bag of items to share.  So without further ado...here are my product empties for the past few months.

Products Mentioned:

Beauty Secrets Pure Acetone ($6 for 32 oz. at Sally's, which is the size I buy)

I would and have repurchased

Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Antibac Hand Soap ($5.50 full price, but they're always on sale)

These are a staple in my house...I always have one of the B&BW scents in each bathroom and the kitchen.

Yes to Blueberries Face Wipes ($6)

Not a fan of these...see my full thoughts in this post.

Mac Wipes ($20 for 45 wipes)

My favorite wipes evah!  I already have repurchased them.

Mac Penultimate Liner ($19.50)

Not sure if mine was a dud or what, but I would not buy this again.

Gilette Venus Disposable Razor ($12.49 for 3, but again, buy on sale with coupons!)

I generally just buy whatever razors are on sale and have coupons, but I would get these again.

Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Body Wash (Now called Coconut Lime Breeze...$12.50)

Love this scent, and again I'm a big fan of B&BW body washes.

LUSH Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie ($22)

This was my 2nd tub of this...LOVE it.  Such a luxurious product.

Soap & Glory Hand Food ($12)

I would buy this again, but don't plan to until I'm out of other hand creams.  It was good, not amazing.

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo ($8)

Loved the scent, but hated the texture.  I likely would not repurchase this.

Oral B Glide Pro Health Dental Floss ($4)

This was fine, but I get so many samples from the dentist that I wouldn't buy it!

Lancome Absolute Eye Premium Bx Replenishing Eye Cream ($95 for 5 oz.)

Hated it.  No way I would buy the full size.  (I had a 1 oz. sample...NO WAY did I buy it for that price!!)

Mac Brush Cleaner ($25)

Best brush cleaner I've used.  I would absolutely repurchase and will when I finish up the bottle of Sonia Kashuk cleaner I have already.

And a bonus item I forgot to mention in the video....

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara ($32)

I did really enjoy this, but it's no Benefit They're Real ;)

Hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: My New Favorite Topcoat

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

The start of a nice short week!!  I hope you're all enjoying the last three days before the Christmas Season officially begins.

Image Source: Sephora.com

Today I have a nail polish topcoat that I was lucky enough to find recently.  A few weeks ago I snagged a mini of the Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat ($18) from Sephora as a 100 point perk and I am IN LOVE with this stuff.  It is the perfect solution for a mom who is trying to beat the nap time clock or who has to be out the door to do a ballet class pickup...you know what I'm getting at!

Julep says that this topcoat "sets" in natural light in 5 minutes, and I have to completely agree.  I get professional, salon quality gel like results with this polish and I am 100% smudge free in 5 minutes.  I will say that I don't get the long-lasting results of a professional gel mani, but I say that with the caveat that I am really hard on my nails.  A normal polish change will last me 2 days before I have to repolish.  With this topcoat, I can get 3 days (same as my other newest love, Sephora's Formula X Polishes.)

I know this one is pricey, but if you can grab the 100 point perk I would highly recommend "spending" your points on this!  I have a small stockpile of topcoats to go through (another Seche Vite, an Out the Door, a Formula X, and this mini) so I won't be purchasing right away, but when I work through my stash, I think I'll go for the full size Julep.  I absolutely love the fact that within 5 minutes of putting it on, my nails are completely dry to the point where I can do dishes, change a diaper, or (wishful thinking) go to bed!

Have you tried this topcoat?  What are your thoughts?

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Get Ready With Me! An Average Morning...

Today I'm sharing what I do on an average morning for makeup.  This 10-minute look is pretty typical for me.  Hope you enjoy!

Products Used:  (ps, sorry it's so Mac heavy!  didn't mean that...)
Clarins Bright+ Brightening Hydrating Lotion ($62) (given to me as a gift by my sister)
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden ($20)
Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (limited edition)
Mac Eyeshadows in All That Glitters and Moleskin (limited edition) ($15)
Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush  ($12)
Mac 224 Tapered Blending Brush ($32)
Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Taupe Notch ($6)
Mac 217 Blending Brush ($24)
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16)
Sigma E05 Eye Liner Brush ($12)
Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara ($21)
Beauty Blender ($20)
Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation ($13)
Mac Mineralize Concealer ($20)
Anastasia Brow Wiz ($21)
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base ($48)
NARS Blush in Sin ($29)
Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour Brush ($19)
The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer ($24)
Sigma F05 Small Contour Brush ($18)
Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Balm in Peppermint ($10)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Face of the Day: Red Lips!

I decided to rock some nice red lips today!  I'm getting SO excited for the holidays with my little one here this year, I couldn't resist being a little festive with my makeup today!

Products Used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden layered with Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ochre.  (Not pictured.  Individually, each of these crease on me, but layered they don't.)

Mac Eyeshadow in All that Glitters. (Placed on the lid)

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Creme Brulee and Frappe.  (Blended into the crease.  These shadows are AWESOME.)

Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack.  (As of right now, this is my HG eyeliner.)

Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash.  (I have been liking this a lot more than I originally thought I would!  I layer using the volume wand first and then the length wand.)

Loreal True Match Magic Lumi Foundation.  (Very similar to one of my favorites, Neutrogena Healthy Skin, but this is a better winter shade for me.)

Mac Mineralize Concealer.  (My shade is NW20.  I love this because it doesn't settle in my fine lines.)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light.  (This is barely yellow and helps hide any redness and blurs pores.  It's SO good!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz.  (I use Caramel to lightly define my brows and fill in bare spots.)
 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Milk Chocolate/Light/Medium (Great for my skin tone in winter...not too dark and not too orange.  Plus it smells SO good!)

Mac Blush in Melba  (Perfect go-to peachy pink color that will be flattering on most skin tones.)

Dior Amber Diamond (Used as a cheek highlighter.  Beyond amazing!!!  Worth every penny!)

Bite Beauty Lipstick in VIB Rouge Red :)  (This came in the little package Sephora gave me when I made VIB Rouge!  It's just a very flattering bright red.)

Hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: 2-Minute Eyes

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

 
Another new week!  With the holidays coming up, we're all even busier than normal, so having a super quick go-to eye look that you can fall back on morning after morning is key to getting out the door quickly.  Keep reading for my two-minute easy eyes!  (And yes, it really only takes 2 minutes.  I timed it!)

You'll Need:
2 or 3 eyeshadows - a light shimmer and a medium brown matte crease color, plus an optional dark matte shade (black or brown are best; you can also grab your favorite eyeliner instead of that third dark shadow)
Mascara
2 eye brushes - a flat shader brush and a big fluffy crease brush (like a Mac 224)

What You'll Do:
1.  Apply your light shimmery shadow to your lid and inner corner area.  Use your flat shader brush to pack the color on.
My Picks:  Mac Vanilla, Mac Naked Lunch, Stila Kitten, Urban Decay Virgin or Sin (both in Naked 1), Urban Decay Bootycall (Naked 2), Loreal Infallible in Iced Coffee, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded.





2.  Apply the medium brown matte color in your crease.  The bigger and fluffier the brush, the better.  You can absolutely use a more-dense brush (like a 217), but it will take more blending (read, more time) to crease a flawless look.  The best color will be 2 or 3 shades darker than your skintone, because it will give your eye definition and also help blend our any harsh edges from your lid color. 
My Picks: Mac Moleskin (limited edition), Mac Soft Brown, Makeup Geek Creme Brule, NYX Nude, Urban Decay Naked or Buck (both in Naked 1). 


3.  Take the darkest shadow and get it just on the tip of your shader brush.  Push it into your lashline to make it look like eyeliner.  It's perfectly OK if it looks smudgey and imperfect!  (Alternatively, you can line your eyes with a pencil, gel or liquid liner, but using shadow and not being too fussy is so much faster.)
My Picks: Mac Carbon, Urban Decay Hustle (Naked 1), Urban Decay Blackout (Naked 2), NYX Black, Makeup Geek Corrupt, Mac Smut.  You could even go with a fun dark color, like purple or green.





4.  Add mascara to your top lashes (and bottom if you have time) and you're done!



I used my Naked 1 Palette for this look, specifically the colors Sin, Naked, and Hustle.  My mascara is Mac's Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash.

 

So lovelies, what is your go-to quick look?  Share!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Pinspiration: Purple Lids

I'm a huge fan of Pinterest...I absolutely love getting great beauty tips and ideas while browsing the Beauty tab.  I also really love to recreate looks I've found, and from time to time, I'll be sharing my Pinterest-inspired eyes with you :)

Today's purple eye is one that I've admired for a while.  I'm always trying to find a way to make color more wearable, and I think this nails it.

Original pin is here.  Follow me on Pinterest here.

Image From Pinterest

My Recreation

 I've recreated this look a few times, but I've always worn browns in my crease to make it a little more everyday-appropriate.  However, I never felt like I really had the look quite the same as the original pin.  The secret was using a purple to define my crease.

Here's how I recreated this eye, step by step:

1.  Prime lid with a base to prevent creasing and help shadows stay vibrant longer.  I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion in the color Eden.  I then layered that with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool, which is a shimmery white.  (The original pin is shimmery, but my shadows were all matte, so I used a shimmery base.  The Color Tattoo is unnecessary if you're using shimmery shadows.)

2.  On a fluffy crease brush, blend a brown shadow just a bit darker than your skintone into your crease, and blend it up to your browbone.  I used Mac's Moleskin, which was limited edition.  Other options: Mac Soft Brown, Urban Decay Naked, Makeup Geek Creme Brule.  My brush was a Mac 224.

3.  On a more precise crease brush, blend a dark, warm purple into your outer crease.  (I used a Mac 222, which is no longer sold.  Sigma's E35 brush is a good alternative.)  I used an old shadow that is no longer for sale anywhere I could find, but there are a lot of options that will work.  Mac Sketch or Shadowy Lady, Urban Decay Rockstar (check your palettes...this was in many of them!), or the Wet N Wild Petal Pusher palette are great options.  Start with a little and build the color up until your eye is defined to your liking.

4.  Pat a warm, light purple onto your lid, staying below the crease, with a stiff shader brush.  I used Sigma's E55 brush, and a combination of 2 colors on my lid...Inglot 379 (bluer toned) and Inglot 334 (purpler toned).

5.  Highlight your inner corner and browbone with a light, slightly shimmery shade.  I used Mac's Mylar.

6.  On your lower lashline, smudge the lighter purple shadow on the inner half, and the darker purple that you used in your crease on the outer half.  I used a pencil brush for this...Sigma's E30 brush.

7.  Line your top lashline with black liquid liner.  I did not see a discernible wing in the inspiration photo, so I did not wing my liner.  You absolutely could do a wing though!  I used Loreal's Lineur Intense Carbon Black liner.

8.  You really want to make sure that your upper lashline is very dark with no light spots at all.  To do this, I smudged the liquid liner into my lashline from underneath my lashes, as well.  I also lined my upper waterline with a black pencil liner.  I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner in Perversion.

9.  Line your lower waterline and all the way into your inner corner with a black pencil.  Again, I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner in Perversion.

10.  Add lots of black mascara!  I used Mac's Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash, and I used only the volumizing wand.  You could definitely add some false lashes, too, especially ones that emphasize the outer corner of your eye.

Let me know what you think of my recreation!  Will you try this look?  What colors will you use?  Do you have a look you found on Pinterest you'd like me to recreate?  Send me the pin, or email me at abeautylush@gmail.com :)

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: A Busy Girl's BFF...Dry Shampoo!

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

So today isn't technically going to be a makeup Monday, since I'm sharing my most-used hair product.   But close enough...it's still going to get you out the door fast and looking presentable!

Dry shampoo has been an absolute lifesaver for me since having my daughter.  I used to have a strict 2-day rule with my hair...wash on Day 1, dry shampoo on Day 2, and then a wash with real shampoo and water.  I'd occasionally stretch it to Day 3 but only if it was a non-work day and I could throw my hair up in a messy bun. 

Now?!  Ha!  Not so much.  Why lie...when I was pregnant and battling the exhaustion that is the first trimester, I stretched my hair 3 days consistently by using dry shampoo.  Since having my baby girl here, it's only gotten worse!  Rocking 5th day hair is not unusual, I'm a little embarrassed to say!  Good thing my new BFF is here to help me through ;)

If you've never used a dry shampoo...first, stop living under a rock and get your butt to a drugstore to pick some up!!  The stuff is like gold in a can.  It takes your gross, dirty-looking hair and makes it look pretty much like you actually did wash and blow it out that morning.  Spray a medium amount in your roots, shaking the can as you go, all over the crown of your head (or wherever your style will show your roots) and especially at your part.  Give it 5 minutes to sink in, and rub your roots until no more whiteness is visible.  Brush your hair, and you're good to go!

That being said...here are my hits and misses for dry shampoos.  Hope you enjoy!

Grab These

1.  Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo ($21)  I know it's expensive, but this stuff really is the hands-down best dry shampoo I've tried.  It leaves absolutely no white cast at all (and I have dark brown hair), doesn't leave a funky smell or any residue, and keeps your hair looking clean all day.  If I'm going to push it past Day 4, this is my secret weapon.  Ulta does sell these a few times per year at a deep discount to help raise money for breast cancer awareness.  Your can will be pink, not black, but the price is usually around $10 per can, which is a HUGE savings.  Ulta usually limits the number of cans you can purchase, but I always use the sale to stock up.  I want to say it occurs in either February or April...but watch your Ulta flyers...they always include it!

2.  Psssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo Spray ($6)  My stylist swears by this one, and she is so right.  It's amazing and sold at the drugstore = cheap.  If I'm not careful to rub it in well, it can leave a white cast, but that's the only reason it doesn't beat out the Bed Head dry shampoo.  When I'm out of Bed Head, you best bet I'm using this one!  (Just be careful not to grab the curly hair version of this by accident.  I did once, and it doesn't work nearly as well as the original!)

3.  Batiste Dry Shampoo ($8)  This is another drugstore version and is just as good as Psssssst!.  It's a little more expensive, so I've ranked it third, but it works amazingly.  What I do love about Batiste is that it comes in multiple scents, and they have a version for dark hair, too.

Pass on These

1.  LUSH No Drought Dry Shampoo ($14 for 4.6 oz.; $7 for 1.9 oz.)  I really love LUSH products and I really wanted to love this, too, but I'm sad to say I am not a fan at all...especially for the high price.  It didn't make my hair clean or even make it look clean, and it left a noticeable white cast in my brown hair.  You can find much better for much less money.

2.  Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Invisible Spray ($25)  I typically like Oscar Blandi products but I was really disappointed in this.  It worked well when I sprayed it in, but I found that after a short time my hair was back to looking greasy dirty like it had before.  For the price, it's just not worth it.  There's much, much better out there.

So lovely readers, tell me what dry shampoos you love and hate!  I'm always looking for a new one to try, so I'd love your feedback! 

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Sephora VIB Sale Haul!

Happy Weekend Lovelies!  Before the Sephora VIB sale ends tomorrow (Monday, November 11) I just wanted to share with you all quickly the items I picked up and my first impressions on what I've tried so far.  Sorry for the all-text post, but I'm trying to beat the fast-ticking nap time clock right now!

In super exciting news, I made VIB Rouge!!  I bargained with my hubs and I think now he's just happy he doesn't have to battle the mall for a Christmas gift for me :)

First off, I did grab my extra Clarisonic Sensitive Brush Heads ($25 for 1; $40 for a 2-pack) and the Shiseido Facial Cotton ($9.50) that I am obsessed with.  Both of these items were in my recommendations post, and they're both items that I use regularly so I take advantage when I can pick them up at a discount.

From my wishlist, I got Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond ($45).  I grabbed the last one they had in store, and last I checked it was sold out online, but keep your eyes peeled.  I haven't used it yet, but it's just the prettiest highlighter.  I can't wait to dig into it!  I also grabbed a few more Formula X Nail Polishes ($10.50 to $12.50)...another red, a purple, a grey, and a glitter.  You guys know I LOVE these polishes.  I also grabbed the topcoat thinking that it may leave my "normal" nail polish with as good wear and shine as the Formula X does.  After I test it out I'll be sure to post about it!

Other wishlist items I purchased:  Touche Eclat ($40) and the GlamGlow Gift Sexy Supermud Set ($69).  (Quickly...I tried the Supermud mask last night and I wasn't left overly impressed, especially for the price.  I am going to try it a few more times, and try the exfoliating mask it came with, in the hope that more regular use will leave my skin in better condition.  I'll do a full review, but for now I can't say I would recommend spending the money on it.)

I also grabbed a few other impulse items...

This Soap & Glory Lip Balm in Peppermint ($10), which I LOVE, may be my favorite item!  It is seriously like Christmas on your lips.  It leaves the prettiest shimmery sheen and smells absolutely amazing.

This Bumble & Bumble Dry Thickening Spray ($29).  Jury's still out on whether I like this or not.  It did really volumize my hair after I sprayed it in, but it fell flat in a short amount of time.  Re-fluffing through the day helped, but for the price, I'm just not sure how I feel about it.

This Wen Healthy Hair Kit ($42.50).  What can I say...I totally fell for the informercial I saw a few weeks ago.  Have any of you guys tried Wen??  Give me your thoughts and tips please!!

Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray ($29 for 4 oz., $14 for 1 oz.)  I grabbed a small bottle of this to compare to some other setting sprays I have.  I'm going to do a full post on these in a few weeks once I've fully tested everything, but here's a preview...don't waste your money on this one.

And that's about it!  I'm on a SERIOUS makeup no-buy after this haul, but I'm happy to use my new products and shop my collection a bit.

Lovely readers...what did you get at the VIB sale?  Share your goodies :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

My Top 10 Mac Eyeshadows

Hello Loves!  Today I'm sharing my Top 10 Mac Eyeshadows with you all.  I have to admit, I have a LOT more Mac shadows than I really need, but I've been collecting for over 10 years and I did get quite a few free as Back to Mac items. They're listed in no particular order...the just match the swatches :)

For reference, in Mac foundations I am generally in the range of NC30. 




Grand Entrance (Starflash)
This was a Limited Edition shade launched in 2009's Love that Look Collection.  It is a light, shimmery beige that has such an incredible sheen to it.  I wore this on my wedding day, and it still one of my top favorite shadows...this may even be my very favorite Mac shadow.  You can find it online (All Cosmetics Wholesale has it for $24 at the time of this post), but you can also get a pretty close dupe - Stila's Kitten eyeshadow.  The two are super similar...close enough that I won't be upset when I eventually use up Grand Entrance.

Mylar (Satin)
This is the perfect highlight color for my skintone.  It is a cream color, and has just the smallest amount of sheen to it, but not enough to make my browbone look shiny.

Vanilla (Velvet)
I use Vanilla for both highlighting and as a lid color.  It's the perfect creamy shade, and the shimmer that you see in the pan does not translate to the skin.  This is just a touch lighter than my natural lid color, so I like to use it to lighten and brighten up my eyes.  It is for me what Brule would be for someone in the NC35/NW25 range.





Naked Lunch (Frost)
I love to use this shade on my lids with a cool brown in the crease.  It's light pink, but translates as more beige-toned on the skin.  It looks so pretty, and it just shimmery enough to create a nice bright look without being over the top.

Stars N' Rockets (Veluxe Pearl)
This is a very pink-toned purple duochrome, and it's my favorite purple shadow by far!  It's actually a lot more useable and wearable than you may think, and when layered with different shadows or cream products, this takes on various different looks.  I love layering it over a navy blue eye pencil on my lid to create a darker, smoldering smoky eye, or over a white base on my lid with browns in my crease to have some fun with my eyes, or smudged under my lower lashline for a wearable pop of color.

Moleskin (Matte)
This was a Limited Edition shade launched in 2011's Mac Me Over Collection.  This is definitely in the running for my #1 Mac shadow.  I probably use this most frequently, as it is the best color for me to blend out my crease colors with.  It's very similar to Urban Decay's Naked, which is sold individually and also comes in the original Naked Palette.

Tempting (Lustre)
I think Tempting might be the most underrated Mac shadow!  I never hear anyone talking about it, but I am obsessed!  It's so sparkly, flattering and versatile.  It's a bronzey brown color and I use it both on my lid or in my crease for different looks.  Definitely one of my most-used!

Satin Taupe (Frost)
Who doesn't love this shade?  I'm not even sure anything I can say about it will add to what has already been said!  It's just the perfect shimmery grey-brown.  The end.  (If you love the shade but not the $15 price tag, Wet N Wild has come very close to duping this!  One of the shades in the Silent Treatment trio and their individual shadow in the shade Nutty are both super close.)

Sketch (Velvet)
I absolutely love this purpely brown.  I typically use Sketch in my crease with something light and shimmery on my lid (I wore this with Grand Entrance for my wedding).  It can come off more grey when paired with certain colors, but used with a light shimmer and blended out with a matte brown (like Moleskin) you really can't go wrong with it!

Handwritten (Matte)
I love to use this dark warm brown to add dimension in my crease or outer V area.  It flatters my skintone very nicely and blends like a dream.

So readers...what are you favorite Mac shadows?  What other dupes are there that I need to know about?!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Ulta Haul!

As promised, here are the items I picked up during Ulta's 20% off sale!  I actually didn't go too crazy at Ulta, as I am trying to save most of my purchasing for Sephora's VIB sale (details here) to try to make VIB Rouge by year-end :)

The one item I skipped was the Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Styling Heat Protect Spray ($23).  I do use this regularly when I curl my hair with a curling iron, and I love it, but I have a few other heat sprays that I need to use up, so I couldn't justify the purchase right now.  (Plus, I didn't realize that Sephora sells this, too, so I would rather get it there anyway!)

More details on what I grabbed below!




Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara ($20)
As I mentioned in my wish list post, I saw this on QVC one night and have been dying to try it.  I'm a total sucker for a new mascara, so this was my must-have item.  I can't wait to give it a shot!

Loreal Voluminous Full Definition Mascara ($7.99)
When I placed my order, Loreal products were B1G1 50% off, so I decided to grab this.  Tiffany D claims it's the closest drugstore mascara to the Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara, which I haven't splurged on (cough*yet*cough), so I just had to add it to my cart.

Prestige My Biggest Lashes Mascara ($6.99)
Yes, another mascara!  Like I said, I'm a total sucker!  I loved Prestige My Blackest Lashes, but I prefer lengthening formulas, so I figured I'd try this one out next time around.

OPI All I Want for Christmas (is OPI) ($9)
So as I mentioned in my video, when I took this out of the box, I realized it looked an awful lot like OPI's I Got the Blues for Red and other shades just like it that I already own.  The swatches I had seen online made this polish look warmer toned than the polishes I already have, which is why I grabbed it.  However...as promised in my haul video...here it is swatched with other shades:

I can't even make this up.  These 4 polishes are identical.  Like, not even similar...identical.  Oops.  (Click for a larger image, but L-R, it's OPI All I Want for Christmas (is OPI), OPI I Got the Blues for Red, China Glaze Adventure Red-y, and Sephora Formula X Ignite).  So yeah, All I Want for Christmas is getting returned!

Essie Toggle to the Top ($8)
The swatch of this in Polishaholic's post on the Essie winter collection made this shade look incredible, so I grabbed it.  I don't have any sparkly or glittery holiday reds in my collection, either, so now I do :)

Jane Cosmetics Water Resistant Eye Liner in Black ($6, but on sale for $4 right now!)
After filming my haul video, I gave this liner a run for its money.  It actually did stay on my waterline ALL DAY.  I think I may have actually found my Holy Grail liner for my waterline.  This stayed better than anything else I've ever tried by far.  It's super black, transfers so easily, and hello...it's $6!  I have to give a huge thanks to Tati/Glam Life Guru for mentioning this one!!

Loreal Colour Riche Caresse Aqua Lacquer Lip Stain in Endless Red ($9.99)  This was the other half of my B1G1 Loreal purchase.  I grabbed it on a total whim, since I don't wear bold lips that often.  However, I've been really feeling red for the holidays this year.  This is also supposed to be a drugstore version of the YSL Glossy Stains, which I've been dying to try.  For 1/3 the price of the Glossy Stains, though, I figured I should start small and try this one instead.  Happy to report that I LOVE the red color, and it lasted me about 3 or 4 hours before I had to reapply.  I purposely brushed my teeth with it on (it was still perfect afterward) and drank a latte.  It was a little worn off after the latte, but I went another 2-ish hours without needing to reapply.  I'm a big fan!  (As promised in the video, here is a great post comparing the YSL and the Loreal stains!)

That's it!  Please let me know what you picked up during the sale in the comments!  I'd love to hear what you're going to try out :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: Get Ready With Me in Under 10 Minutes

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

Happy Monday! This week I have a video to share with you.  I decided to film my morning makeup routine one day while my daughter was napping.  It is possible to do a full face of makeup and look polished and put together in under 10 minutes!  If I hadn't been chatting so much while I worked, I'm sure this would have been even shorter :)

Enjoy, and see below the video for a list of the products I used.

Products Used:

Clarins Bright Plus HP Brightening Hydrating Day Lotion with SPF 20 ($62)

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden ($20)

Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (this was limited edition)

Mac Eyeshadows in Naked Lunch, Bisque, and Sable ($15 each)

Sigma E55 Brush ($12)

Mac 224 Brush ($32)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Whiskey ($19)

Clarins Eclat Minute Instant Light Brush on Perfector in No. 02 Medium Beige ($34) 

Burberry Powder Foundation in No. 7 ($55)

Sigma F45 Brush ($24)

Nars Laguna Bronzer ($36)

Sigma F20 Brush ($29)

Benefit Blush in Rockateur ($28)

Real Techniques Blush Brush ($8.99)

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel ($21)

Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara in Black Satin ($32)

EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet ($2.99)

Please note that the Clarins products and the Burberry foundation were gifts...I didn't buy them, but I do love them!  As always, no affiliate links were used.

Thanks for stopping by!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.