Video: February 2015 Beauty Favorites

I skipped January but I'm back with my monthly beauty favorites for February. Hooray!!  It's a good mix of skincare, color, and other bits. Scroll down to watch the video and don't forget to subscribe!

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Below are all the products mentioned in the video:

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Moisturizing Hand Cream

La Prairie Cellular 3-minute peel

Clarins Lip Comfort Oil

Diptyque Rosafolia

Tom Ford Cheek Brush

By Terry Velvet Rouge

Ilia Tinted Moisturizer

It Cosmetics Lipgloss in Naturally Pretty

Pixi Glow Tonic

My Lip Color But Better

I have so many weaknesses - cupcakes, black pugs, a chic pencil skirt and sheer, shiny, my-lip-but-better lip colors.  As I always say, when one is good, fifty is better.  I've been experimenting with bold, dark and vibrant lip colors more this fall but my first instinct when I come upon a cosmetics counter is to go right for the safe zone - peachy, pink colors preferrably in a sheer texture.  I love how predictable I am.

I have amassed quite a collection (no surprise to anyone, I'm sure) and here is a run down of all the colors and swatches.

1. Cover Girl Lip Perfection in shade 210 - This was a complete impulse purchase, on a whim, not sure I even really wanted it - but low and behold I am loving this pencil style lip.  Easy, quick and can be applied without a mirror.  

2. Ilia in Nobody's Baby - Another shocker out-of-the-gate when I tried this product - it is technically a tinted lip conditioner but the coverage is just like a lipstick.  Best of both worlds.

3. Dior Addict in Blush - A bit bolder but still wearable for any occasion - I love this when my eye makeup is a bit lighter and I need a lip to pull it all together.  Plus the packaging is sparkly, shiny and mesmerizing.  Sold.

4. Chantecaille Lip Chic in Anais - Whoa.  Mind blown.  I had read reviews of these lipsticks online and darn those Nordstrom reviewers can be so convincing - but thank goodness they were right.  These lipsticks are everything - glides on with great coverage and lasts forever, but still manages to be sheer and nourishing on the lips.  My lips actually feel they are getting better the longer I wear this.  And this color - perfection - seriously.  Not too nude, not too pink, not too brown - the best of all worlds. 

5. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy - I like this color, I don't love this color.  This has been the first product from Chanel that did not knock my socks off, and I was a tad heartbroken.  The color is so sheer it's almost non-existent, so I tend to use it as a base and layer other colors on top.  Oh well - you win some lips, you lose some lips. 

6. Chantecaille Lip Chic in Daphne - Yes, the first was so good I had to buy a second.  A much more vibrant peach shade, this looks beautiful with a brown smoky eye and bronzed cheek.  Summer will be now known as the season of the Daphne lip.

7. Loreal Colour Riche Lip Balm in Nourishing Nude - I stare at these every time I run into the drugstore to get my daily Diet Coke during lunch, and finally snagged one on a particularly stressful day.  I threw it on as soon as I got back to my desk and viola! Day made.  The color is gorgeous as a rich rose-brown and the texture matches the name - nourishing.  Do I need all the other colors? Most definitely I do.  

8. Dior Addict Lipstick in LA - Aw man, I was really excited to get another one of these lipsticks and then I ended up buying almost the exact same shade.  Womp, womp.  But this color is a tad more sheer and shiny so it reads much less intense on the lips so in my mind I have made peace with the purchase.  

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Beauty Bits: Red Lip Love

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and how cliche of me to post a red lip post, right?  Ugh, I totally agree, but then again most of you (and me too #bandwagon) will probably end up sporting one on the day, sooooooooooo..... here we are.  Now I personally feel that red lips don't have to be saved for special occasions, and I found some great options to wear on that day or any other for that matter.  I love a good sheer or matte or blue based or orange based red lip as much as the next gal, and I have some great choices for all.  I know the below swatches are a tad slasher-movie-esque (ha!) but it's the only way to show the true color pay-off. I do it for the blog, I tell you. I do it for the blog.

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry - Ok, confession.  I was a so-so fan of the original sugar lip treatments from years ago, but now that I have tried the tinted versions, I have to say I am head over heels.  Such great colors with amazing moisturizing properties - I love wearing them alone or layered over another lipstick.  I already have a back up of this one.  That says everything.

2. Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Mightiest Maraschino - The Chubby Stick craze never enthralled me to be honest, but after trying this new Intense version, I was blown away.  The pigmentation is so intense and has a deep blue-based red undertone - simply gorgeous.  And after wearing this and seeing how good it feels on my lips, I think I may give the original Chubby Sticks another look.

3. Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Crimson & Clover - Tell me - have you ever seen a lip conditioner/lip balm with this much color and pay-off? Yeah, me either.  It reads a lot more orange when it's on but it's great for a bright pop of color.  

4. Armani Rouge Ecstasy in Shade 400 - Every lipstick collection needs a few classic reds - those lip colors that don't lean too orange, too blue or too pink.  This Armani shade is that color for me - it falls right in the middle - I like to refer to it as the "Goldilocks of red lipsticks". 

5. MAC Ladybug - This shade has been in my collection for years and is such a great sheer red that brightens up the face immediately. Throw on a sheer gold eye shadow on the eyes (love this one) and bronzer for the cheeks (I swear by this and this)  and the look is fresh and glowing.

Purchase the makeup bag pictured above here.

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Beauty Bits: Wear This On Your Cheeks And Lips

I always have mixed emotions when trying a brand for the first time.  A bit of excitement, hope and skepticism all blend together as I give the products a test run - putting them through the daily gauntlet that I call my life - work, after work, weekends and beyond.  And then when the brand passes with flying colors, it's as if I won the makeup lottery and then the need to share my findings with everyone and anyone ultimately ensues.  Well get ready my friends because this may be the first time I talk about the organic beauty line, Ilia but I can assure you that it will not be the last. 

When I first received the products, the sleek and minimalistic packaging was an initial draw, followed shortly thereafter by the color and textures of the tinted lip conditioners and blushes (c/o).  I grabbed that pinky nude lip called 'Nobody's Baby' and ran immediately to the bathroom to try it on - and then angels began to sing.  Kidding, sorta.  This color is absolutely stunning on the lips - STUN-NING.  It's everything I want in a natural lip color, that also happens to have the most perfect texture.  Stay tuned for a 'Finished Look' post coming soon featuring this lip.  The red shade named 'Crimson & Clover' seemed to be made for me with its initial sheer application that can be built up to be opaque - and please note that when swatching it for these photos, it took me a cleansing oil to finally remove.  THAT is staying power my friends - and daily gauntlet approved.  Both Multi Sticks can be used on the eyes, lips or cheeks and the peach shade called 'I Put A Spell On You' is something out of a cream cheek lover's dream.  Easy to blend and a color that is perfect with just about any eye and lip look.  As one who typically shies away from shimmery products for the face due to my excessive oiliness, I was surprised that I enjoyed this highlighter called 'Polka Dots & Moonbeams' as much as I did.  It's extremely subtle shimmer and creamy texture left a delicate glow on the cheek and brow bones, easy for day or night.  How much more perfect can this brand BE???  Frankly, not any more.  Now the only thing left to do is acquire the remaining colors and shades for total Ilia beauty domination.  *tents fingers, laughs maniacally*

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