Favorite 5: August 2015

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Another month come and gone! I’m not amused that the last “summer month” is over… Here are the my favorite five cruelty-free products I’ve been liking lately, in no particular order:

1. Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in Bittersweet

I received a sample of this in my May ipsy bag (read my review here) and loved it so much I got the full-size. This gloss is a beautiful purple that isn’t too out there. It isn’t sticky at all either, sits nicely on the lips and is really pigmented. The dough foot applicator is pointed making precise application easier. There is a slight makeup smell to it (no vanilla or cookies here), but it doesn’t linger. I definitely would like another one of these, perhaps in a neutral color.

2. Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry

I received this sample in my April Birchbox (read my review here). If found this shaving cream to be moisturizing. It doesn’t foam or lather up, it is like a lotion. It is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, DEA, petrochemicals, etc. It contains shea butter and coconut oil, along with other moisturizing ingredients. The full-size of this item (5 oz.) is $20—very expensive for a shaving cream. I may add it to my Christmas list. I really liked it, but can’t justify spending that much on shaving cream.

3. e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush

e.l.f. makes some great brushes and most range in price from $1-$6. This is a fluffy concealer brush that works really well to blend concealer around the eyes, especially the space between your eyes and nose. It cleans off really easily (I use baby shampoo) which is a big plus in a brush that you use to apply cream products. I would recommend this brush (and most other e.l.f. brushes)—you can find e.l.f. at Target and  some CVS are starting to carry e.l.f. I’ve even found e.l.f. at The Christmas Tree Shop.

4. the Balm Nude Dude Volume 2 Mini Nude Eyeshadow in Flirty

I received this eyeshadow sample in my April 2015 ipsy bag (read my review here). What would I do without subscription boxes! This is a mid-tone purple with a hint of taupe and gold duo chrome. It is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been using this on the outer V of my eyes because it goes really well with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Hydrangea Hype that I’m trying to use up as part of my Finish 5 By Fall Challenge (read about my challenge here). The two purples play well off each other and my green eyes. I’m yet to be disappointed by a the Balm product.

5. Skin Perfecting Blush in SPB1 Rose Gold (Limited Edition)

I received this in my July Starlooks subscription box (read my review here). I’ve been using this as an eyeshadow crease color instead of a blush. It goes really nice when I have Hydrangea Hype on my lid and Flirty on my outer crease. This rose gold color goes really well with the purples.  I originally thought this was peachy-bronze, but it is definitely more of a rose gold.

Swatches (left to right): Urban Decay's Bittersweet, the Balm's Flirty and Starlooks's Rose Gold

What products have you been loving lately? Let me know!


Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

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Favorite 5: June 2015

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At the beginning of every month I’ll let you know what my top 5 favorites were in makeup and/or skincare for the previous month.

Here’s what I loved during the month of June:

1. Makeup Geek Blush in Secret Admirer

Makeup Geek is a makeup brand started by YouTuber Marlena Stell (Makeup Geek). After hearing so much hype, I had to try this brand out for myself. I LOVE this blush. It is such a pretty light orchid color that is buildable—a little does go a long way though. I find that this color goes with everything and is a really nice, fresh summer blush color. It goes on smoothly and is very blendable. If all Makeup Geek blushes are like this one (I only own Secret Admirer) then I would definitely recommend them. This has become my go-to blush.

2. Pixi by Petra Beauty Bronzer in Summertime and Luxie 2015 Tapered Blending Brush 

Both of these came in my May ipsy glam bag. I could swear they came earlier than that because I have used them so much I feel like I’ve had them forever (in a good way). I felt that the Pixi bronzer was too shimmery for a bronzer so I set out to find a different way to use it. I absolutely love this as an eyeshadow crease color. Like, cannot stop using it love it. I use the Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Brush to apply it. The bronzer does not come off too shimmery in the crease (which makes me wonder if I can actually use it as a bronzer….) and the brush applies it perfectly. The brush diffuses the shadow and blends it nicely with the other shadow colors I have on. I will be getting another one of these brushes as some point; it is the crease brush I have been searching for for months.

3. Lip Combination: NYX High Voltage Lipstick in HVLS05 Flutter Kiss and Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi Gloss in 202 Sweet Pink 

I did a full review of the NYX High Voltage Lipsticks (read it here). I didn’t like the formula of these at first; I don’t know if it had something to do with the top layer of the product or what, but I don’t have the same issue as before with Flutter Kiss. However, I still find the brighter/darker (e.g., Rockstar) difficult to work with—it gets everywhere and is so creamy it is hard to get a defined edge on the lips. Flutter Kiss is a muted mauve color and I have just been drawn to it a lot the last several weeks. It is a great neutral with a hint of color that goes with everything. Since it is on the darker side for a neutral color, I’ve been putting the MUFE Artist Plexi Gloss in Sweet Pink over it (I got this as a 100 point perk from Sephora.com). The lipstick is on the matte-r side so the gloss gives it a little life for summertime. The gloss is a tad sticky, but nothing that annoys me too much. It has a little bit of color but still lets the Flutter Kiss color come through. 

From Left to Right: Flutter Kiss, Sweet Pink, Flutter Kiss topped with Sweet Pink

4. it Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe 

I’ve never tried a high end brow product before, so I was very happy to see this in my June ipsy glam bag. Since I received it I haven’t used any other brow product. As you can see from the swatch below, you can get a range of colors out of this universal brow pencil. It looks very natural and I like that I can build the color up and therefore don’t make my brows darker than they need to be. There is also a spoolie brush on one end to brush and shape your brows and help diffuse the product. There is a good amount of product in this sample size so I hope it lasts awhile. I’m not sure I’m prepared to spend $24 on a brow pencil.

 5. tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation in Fair-Light Neutral 

I haven’t much felt like wearing liquid foundation since it’s summer; however, powder foundations are usually don’t provide me with the full coverage I need. I tried this foundation on at Sephora once and was on the fence about it. I decided to give it a full go a while ago and I’m so happy that I did. It provides medium coverage for me and looks very natural (not powdery at all). Like many tarte products (for me, at least), it takes a few minutes for it to warm up to your skin and look good. At first it looks powdery and not quite the right color, but after a few minutes it looks great. It’s very easy to apply—I use the Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush—and it’s buildable. The brush has very tightly packed, short bristles that apply the foundation quickly and blends it nicely. 

The loose powder is kept under a mesh cover which is nice because the cover keeps the powder from getting everywhere. My only complaint is that my t-zone gets a little oily when I wear this foundation and that doesn’t usually happen with liquid foundation. There are also ingredients in this foundation that are supposed to be good for your skin (e.g., Amazonian clay, camellia leaf extract, pearl powder), something that tarte is known for.

Now that I’ve written this, I realize that I pretty much created an entire look with the 5 products I’ve mentioned above—just add some mascara! Well, that’s what I was wearing through June—good thing they all go together! What products have you been loving lately? Be sure to let me know!

You can see all my past favorites here.

Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

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ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

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Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

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Favorite 5: April 2015

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It’s May!!!! That means Spring is here, right? Right?! New England seems to ignore that memo longer ever year. We had hail/snow/sleet last week. Either way, another month has come and gone. Here are the products I was loving during the month of April (in no particular order):

1. e.l.f. Blushes in Candid Coral and Twinkle Pink

For most days in April I applied both of these blushes to the apples of my cheeks and back up my cheek bone. First I applied Candid Coral (a light dusty peach) and then I topped it off with Twinkle Pink (a light brighter peach). Twinkle Pink has a hint of shimmer so it gave a highlighting effect as well. These two colors go great together and were easy to blend. You can get e.l.f. at Target, online and at Christmas Tree Shop (and apparently at the checkout line of my Old Navy??). The blushes are only $3 and they are amazing!

2. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 720 Notting Hill Nude

I can’t get enough of this lipstick! It was one of my February Favorites. It is a great everyday color to wear—a nude with a very slight orange undertone—and  goes with whatever makeup you put on. It applies smoothly and leaves a bit of a shine to the lips. It wears pretty well and is easy to reapply. I recently took this lipstick out of my everyday makeup drawer so that I would use some of the other lip products I have. I miss it…

 

3. Revlon Super Lustrous Liptick in 463 Sassy Mauve

The other lip color I couldn’t get enough off was this nude mauve color from Revlon. It is a crème formula so it is very smooth on the lips and easy to reapply. I don’t like overly pigmented lip products—this is pigmented (you only need one coat), but does not feel heavy on the lips. I also put this lipstick away so that I would start wearing some more spring-like colors. The Super Lustrous line is a very popular line from Revlon that has been around forever and there are a kajillion shades.

4. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rio De Rose Gold

I got this for Christmas in a Josie Maran kit. It’s kind of a weird concept for an eye color. The pigment is mixed with coconut water, but you have to shake the product up for a bit because the pigment and coconut water separate. You can then apply the product with the dough foot applicator, your finger or a brush. I put use the brush to put a dab on my eyelid and then blend with my finger. It is a beautiful bronze-rose gold color. When I wear this I typically only use this one color. I concentrate the pigment on my lids and then blend the color up into the crease. The color has enough dimension that it doesn’t look flat or like you are only wearing one color. It has good staying power as well, and I don’t even apply a primer when I wear this.

 

5. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC15

In April, my face seemed to hate any foundation except my MAC foundation. I’ve fully reviewed this foundation in my Beauty Battle of Full Coverage Foundations so I won’t ramble on here. Easy to apply and blend (with a sponge) and provides very full coverage.

That’s my five! What products did you love during the month of March? Let me know! You can see all my monthly favorites here.

Disclaimer: These items were purchased with my own money or by my lovely husband and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.

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Favorite 5: March 2015

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At the beginning of every month I’ll let you know what my top 5 favorites were in makeup and/or skincare for the previous month. 

Here’s what I loved during the month of March:

1. Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara

I have a first impressions of this mascara. I loved it then and I still love it. This mascara is amazing. It really holds the curl and length all day while still keeping your lashes looking natural. If I were ever to splurge on a mascara, it would be this one (the full size is $24, I got mine as a free sample with purchase from Sephora.com).

           

2. Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette

Even though I have a bunch of new eye shadows I want to use (like the new limited edition Maybelline Color Tattoos), I have found myself reaching for this palette most mornings. It has a good mix of light to dark shimmery shades. I don’t find the shimmer to be too much. These shadows last all day too. The double-ended brush that comes in the palette is high quality—one end it good for putting color on the lid and the other end is good for lining the eyes. The matte shade (Tease) is perfect for the crease. These shadows are so pigmented and blendable. Lately, I’ve been putting Verve (silvery-champagne color) all over my lid, Tease (taupe with the slightest hint of rose/purple) in the crease, Snakebite (medium brown) on the outer corner, Foxy (matte yellow-cream) on my brow bone and Bootycall (peachy champagne) on the inner corner. It’s my simple go-to look for mornings when I’m too tired to think about my eye makeup.

3. Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black

I received this in my FebruaryBirchbox and have been loving it to tightline. This is a creamy liner so it’s perfect for tightlining. I haven’t needed to put liner on my upper lash line because this eyeliner is so pigmented.

4. L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Night Cream

This stuff is amazing! I’ve been using this since my eco-beauty moisturizer ran out and have loved it. It is a very thick cream so a little goes a long way. It absorbs into the skin nicely and when I wake up in the morning my skin looks and feels so hydrated and smooth. I got this using my points at Sephora. I would love to purchase it but it is super expensive ($7.2 for 1.7oz.). I hope Sephora has the deluxe size sample again because I would definitely use my points!

5. Essence Lipliner in 11 In The Nude

I mentioned this lipliner in a recent haul post. This lipliner a great browny-pink nude color and is the other lip product I’ve been reaching for this month. I wear this alone with some lip balm over it or under most any other lipstick I’m wearing. It doesn’t dry my lips out and leaves a nice color when my lipstick wears off.

What products did you love during the month of March? Let me know!

Disclaimer: These items were purchased with my own money or by my lovely husband (or were bought with Sephora points/a free sample with purchase, as noted above) and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

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Favorite 5 of February 2015

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At the beginning of every month I’ll let you know what my top 5 favorites were in makeup and/or skincare for the previous month.

Here’s what I loved during the month of February:

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo in 140 Rose Riot

            Since I got this in a Saving Series last week I have been wearing it non-stop. It is the perfect amount of shimmer without being glittery. It is a champagne-y pink color and has excellent staying power (it is advertised to last for 24-hours). I put this all over my lid and then add the darker shade in the 12 True Love eyeshadow duo by Sonia Kashuk in my crease; a very simple and quick look for mornings when I just want to get out of the door for work (a common theme if you have read my earlier posts).

2. eco-beauty  good day. day moisturizer

            I’ve talked about this a couple times so I won’t say too much. I received this moisturizer in an ipsy bag and it instantly became part of my every day morning skin care routine. Super moisturizing, but absorbs fast. Love! I’m sad it’s just about gone.

3. Tarte 12-hour Amazonian Clay Blush in True Love

I got this in the FebruaryPOPSUGAR Must Have Box and the color is so perfect for me. I’ve been wearing this pretty much every day since I received it. I also feel like it would look nice on a lot of different skin tones. It gives that natural flushed look, like you just came in from the cold (which, well, isn’t a lie since it’s the coldest month ever on record for Connecticut). I would highly recommend Tarte blushes, they are long lasting and don’t contain parabens, phthalates, etc.

4. Rimmel Lipsticks in 070 Airy Fairy and 720 Notting Hill Nude

            Airy Fairy is one of Rimmel’s most iconic lipsticks. I hear it raved about all the time on YouTube so I had to pick it up for myself. It is a great everyday pinky nude. It has a semi-matte finish so I would recommend exfoliating your lips and putting on a lip balm before using this lipstick. Notting Hill Nude is a nude with an almost orange undertone. I love it. Such an easy-to-wear color. It has a slight shine to it and is very smooth on the lips. Both are hydrating, have decent staying power and are easy to reapply.

 

Rimmel's Notting Hill Nude (Left) and Airy Fairy (Right)

5. CoverGirl Ready, Set Gorgeous Concealer in Fair

            In February, I’ve been neglecting all my other concealers in favor of this one. It is great for general concealing, but also to brightenup the undereye area. It’s very hard for me to find a concealer that is light enough for my skin tone, but that actually still conceals. This one does the trick. I’m considering trying out the foundation in this line. It’s oil-free and ranges in color from fair to deep.

What products did you love during the month of February? Let me know!

Disclaimer: These items were purchased with my own money or by my lovely husband and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.

Favorite 5: January 2015

At the beginning of every month I’ll let you know what my top 5 favorites were in makeup and/or skincare for the previous month.

Here’s what I loved during the month of January:

1. Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum.

            This is my Holy Grail serum. Nothing leaves my skin as moisturized and even. I’ve been using this for almost a year and I will not be without it. I have very sensitive skin and this does not irritate it or make it red. I put this all over my face and neck and a little extra on areas of concern. You can find this at Sephora in varying sizes.

2. NYX butter gloss in BLG07 Tiramisu.

            This color had been sold out for months at Target and CVS. I finally found it at CVS one day, after I had stopped looking for it in vain. The NYX butter glosses feel like buttah! They go on so smooth and are creamy and hydrating all day long. I wear this light pinky nude-brown color alone or on top of pretty much any color lipstick color to tone it down (like my #5 favorite below). I generally don’t like glosses, but the butter glosses aren’t sticky at all. I have these in a few colors and want more! They also smell like yummy vanilla cake batter.

3. Revlon Lip Butter in 001 Pink Truffle.

            I went on a road trip to find this lipstick, and it was worth it! I couldn’t find it at some stores, and it was $9.49 at CVS (no sale or ECBs). I finally went to Walgreens where it was on sale for $6.49 or $5.49 and then there was a $1 Walgreens coupon for it. Score! This is a great everyday fall/winter color. It’s a “your lips but better” color with a hint of brown. Love the color and love the formula—it’s very creamy and opaque, with a hint of shimmer. You can find this at drugstores and Target.

4. Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow in Ethereal.

            I received this in my January 2015 ipsy bag and have been using it basically every day since mid-January. Like I said in my ipsy January 2015 post, it’s the perfect light champagne color. I’ve been putting it all over my lids and up to my brow bone before adding a darker crease color.

5. Nars Lipstick in Fast Ride.

            The Sephora website describes this lipstick as a sheer mulberry color. I would say that is pretty accurate. It’s a very deep purple-y berry. I got this at the 20% of VIB sale a few months back. I wanted a quintessential fall/winter lip color and this fit the bill. I don’t normally wear very dark lip colors, so the fact that this is sheer works well for me. You can definitely build the coverage so that it is fully pigmented, but I tend to keep it sheer.

I see these all being favorites in February too. What did you love during the month of January? Let me know!