Video: Tutorial with First Impressions

Instead of a traditional review on the blog, I figured I would give my thoughts while using them in a tutorial. I also swatched all the eye shadow shades for your reference below. Hope you enjoy!

Here is a list of all the products used in the video:

Lancome Teint Idole Foundation http://bit.ly/1PMc4Sj
Real Techniques Buffing Brush http://bit.ly/1nFabuk
MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Concealer http://bit.ly/1PuKJO5
Real Techniques Contour Brush http://bit.ly/1nFabuk
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer http://bit.ly/1PqITnq
Anastasia Beverly Hills Solo Shadows in Chiffon, Belize and Lace http://bit.ly/1PLxPeX
Lune + Aster Stratosphere Volumizing Mascara http://bit.ly/1PuKMtf
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette http://bit.ly/1Vy2Rel
Lancome Colour Design Lipstick in Vintage Rose http://bit.ly/1P4kTkG

Snow Day

It's hard to get creative with your fashion choices when dealing with snowy weather. So instead of trying to worry about putting together a perfect outfit, I go back to the basics. Parka. Sweater. Jeans. Snow Boots. That's my standard. And this J.Crew sweater has been a staple in my closet for years now, and always looks good whether I dress it up or down. Since the L.L. Bean snow boots are consistently sold out each season, I picked up these Sperry ones a few years ago and have loved them ever since. They are a classic color and shape and keep my feet warm - which frankly is all I care about when it's below freezing. I snagged this Madewell parka late last year because 1. I live for all things army green 2. It has a cute cinch at the waist 3. It has a removable fuzzy inner layer that keeps me insanely warm. I am shocked that it's still available on the site, but it is and it's on sale!!! Boo for me because I paid full price, but yay for you if you snag one! The snow is finally beginning to melt which means I can bring out some normal boots again without fear of them being destroyed. And I cling to that hope until the first signs of spring, which hopefully will come sooner rather than later.

Parka - Madewell (on sale!) | Sweater - J.Crew | Jeans - Rag & Bone | Hat - J.Crew | Boots - Sperry (mine are an older style but similar here and here) | Sunglasses - Westward Leaning (c/o)

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Review: Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquid Lipsticks with Swatches on Fair Skin

After falling in love with a ton of products from Too Faced (read my reviews here, here and here), I was excited to try the new Melted Chocolate lipsticks. I never tried the original Melted Lipsticks from Too Faced but heard great things about them. When I saw these were all in nude and neutral shades, I immediately wanted to test them. 

The scent is exactly like the rest of the Too Faced Chocolate collections, and while I wasn't sure I would want it on my lips - I ended up loving it. The textures in these Melted Chocolate Liquid Lipsticks range between both shimmer and cream, with the shimmer formulation being more sheer and the cream giving more full coverage. I preferred the look of the cream finish better when wearing alone, but enjoy layering the shimmer shades over other full coverage lipsticks. The feeling is smooth when first applied and dries down slightly, but not enough where the lips feel dry or uncomfortable. The lipsticks stay emollient and creamy on the lips, though I did need to touch up more with the shimmer shades than I did the cream ones. 

From a color standpoint, I fell in love with Chocolate Milkshake instantly. Here is a full look I did with it this past weekend. Since it is so orange based, I prefer to pair it with a cooler, more taupe eye shadow and a rosier cheek to avoid creating a monochromatic orangey-coral look. My next favorite was Frozen Hot Chocolate which gives a beautiful shimmer rose shade that I like to pair over top a lip liner (I prefer this one in Primrose). The shimmer has a more silver base so it looks better on my lips when worn with a warmer complimentary color. Chocolate Honey is closer to that 90's lip look, and I have to sheer it out since it can look a bit too dark on my pale skin. Chocolate Diamonds and Candy Bar are great colors to layer over other lip shades, but I suspect that they would look amazing on more medium, olive and dark skin tones. This is one of those collections that offers a nude shade for any and every skin tone which I love. And of course anything that smells like chocolate is always a bonus in my book. 

*pr samples included

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New MAC Lipstick Additions

It has been a lonnnnnng time since I picked up any new MAC lipsticks....or MAC anything for that matter. I worked for them more than 10 years ago and left with so much gratis and enough MAC makeup to last me a lifetime! LOL But I finally took in a bunch of my old products to recycle for their Back 2 MAC program and picked up 3 lip shades that I have never had before. I didn't think it was possible since I have had just about every nude or neutral shade MAC has ever made, but I was managed to hunt and peck through the entire unit until I found these 3. 

I have heard a ton of people talk about Mehr lipstick and while I am not one for the whole "90's lip" look, this is the closest I will ever get to it. It's a matte dusty rose but looks absolutely beautiful with a light eye and brightly colored cheeks. (I will have a tutorial coming soon with this look!) Peach Blossom was the next one I grabbed and it is more of a true fleshy/peachy nude. I would prefer this with a deeper, smokey eye to create some contrast. Wearing shades that are too pale when I already have pale skin is not the most flattering look for me - my face looks lifeless. Not cute. Nippon was a bit deeper and more coral (though the lighting in the above pic makes it look paler than it really is) and is the perfect color to keep in my bag because it looks great with any eye or cheek combo. To be honest, MAC lipsticks are not my favorite and can be quite drying (no matter the formula), but I can't deny that they have some of the best colors out there. From bold to brights to nudes, there is always a shade to match exactly what I'm looking for. 

What are your favorite MAC lip colors? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

One Swipe Shadows

I love makeup as much as the next beauty obsessed gal (or guy!), but when it comes to eye makeup I gravitate more towards a one swipe shadow. I don't mind doing a more intricate eye look now and then with a lid color, crease, liner, etc, but most days I love to grab one shade and go. I picked up a few new additions to my collection that are perfect for the one swipe look. 

1. Burberry Eye shadow in Pale Barley and Shell - Yes, I finally bought the much buzzed about, always out of stock, cult classic Burberry eye shadow shade in Pale Barley. People talk about this color being the perfect natural taupe shade that looks great as both a lid color and a crease color. I have to agree that it is one of the most wearable shades because it has just the slightest amount of shimmer to give it dimension, while providing a medium pigmentation that can be sheered out or built up. It's definitely a must have in a neutral lover's collection. Shell is from their new wet & dry glow collection and has much more shimmer than the Pale Barley formula. However, the shimmer is gorgeous and gives the most spectacular gilded golden lid. I prefer to wear it dry though I still layer it over an eye shadow primer (I usually wear this or this). I have already moved both shades into my everyday makeup drawer as I suspect these will become staples of my daily look.

2. Armani Eyes to Kill Shadows in shade 6 and 15 - No these are not new, but as I have stated before - my blog is not always about the newest launches. There are so many products that I haven't tried that still deserve my attention so I love to discover these hidden gems. These cream/powder hybrid shadows have been on my must-buy list for ages, and I am so glad I finally snagged a few. The formula is not for the faint of heart as these are PIG-MENT-ED. Holy cow! Just trying to wash these swatches off was an ordeal itself. But they blend beautifully and the color pay-off is intense. The two shades I purchased were a bit darker than most of my daily neutrals, but can be sheered out so as not to be too dramatic for day. I suspected the shimmer aspect to border on glitter disco ball, but that was not the case at all and there is little to no fall out which allows me to still wear them during the daytime. In addition to a basic bronze (shade 15), I purchased an olive green shade (shade 6). It looks great with a variety of cheek and lip colors, and is a step (albeit small one) away from my standard brown shadows. I can't believe it took me so long to come to the Armani Eyes to Kill shadow party, but I'm here now and loving it. Expect to see a few more shades added to the collection in the future. Because I need more eye shadows like I need a hole in the head. Oh well. 

Video: Best of Beauty 2015

It's finally here! My favorite products from 2015. Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe!

Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Oil Primer

Sunday Riley Luna

Pixi Glow Tonic

Paula's Choice BHA Skin Perfecting Liquid

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel

Bareminerals Complexion Rescue

Eve Lom Rescue Mask

Zelens Youth Glow Foundation

Aerin Rose de Grasse

Artis Oval 8 Brush

Tony Moly Lip Balm

Chantecaille Le Chrome Luxe Eye Shadow Duos

NARS Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Pasiphae

Sisley So Intense Mascara

May Lindstrom The Honey Mud

Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse

Glossier Skin Tint

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Discs

By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Concealer

Farmacy Lip Blooms

Dior Eye Reviver Palette

Clinique Color Pop Lipsticks

Nails Inc The New White shades

Charlotte Tilbury Cream Eye Shadows

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

Glam Glow Pout Mud

Aerin Rose Oil

L'Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate

L'Occitane Almond Paste

Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen

Joanna Vargas Daily Serum

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Petal

Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Golden Light

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua

Cle De Peau Illuminizing Face Enhancer

Overcoat

It. Is. Freezing. No other way to say it. This weather is rude and disrespectful and the only way I can fight back is buying a coat that helps to combat the cold. (well I guess there are other ways like not leaving the house or moving somewhere warm, but I love an excuse to shop!) I saw this long coat on the Club Monaco site and loved the classic shape and color. It seemed perfect on the web but then I tried it on and it was soooo much longer than the picture. #shortpeopleproblems However, I began putting it together with some things in my closet and realized that I actually liked the longer length and when I finally wore it outside for the first time, it was insanely warm! So I debunked my own myth that people 5'4" and below shouldn't wear such long coats for fear of it being mistaken for a bath robe. Eek! One solution to help offset the long style is to wear it with a monochromatic look underneath, but to be honest I have worn it with a few different jeans/sweater combos and it looks great with each one. It has also reached the point of the year where beanies become completely necessary for survival outside. And with so many great ones on sale (love this one, this one and this one), it's hard to not grab a few to keep in rotation. Though I still would rather be wearing my straw fedora on the beach, I will do my best to find the silver lining of this weather.  

Coat - Club Monaco (similar here) | Turtleneck - Club Monaco | Jeans - Topshop | Bag - Mansur Gavriel | Shoes - Vince (similar here and here) | Hat - Club Monaco (similar here) | Sunglasses - Stella McCartney (similar here) | Lipstick - Rouge Louboutin | Nails - Nails Inc Whitehall

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Discovering Annick Goutal Fragrances

It's a new year, so it's a perfect time to discover a new fragrance. Well, frankly I can justify anytime to discover a new beauty anything, but I digress... I have admired Annick Goutal fragrances from afar for years simply because the packaging is always so delicate and feminine, but never had the chance to smell any of the scents. And because there are so many to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to begin. For myself, I always ask for the star products or cult classics from a brand I am new to because there must be a reason why it is such a popular item. In this case, both Petite Cherie and Eau d'Hadrien are two signature scents from the Annick Goutal line so I started with these. Annnnnnd as usual, my approach to a new brand worked again because I instantly fell in love with each scent. 

1. Petite Cherie - As a lover of sweet and fruity fragrances, I knew just from reading the notes that I would enjoy this one. Pear and peach are apparent immediately, while the musky rose and vanilla develops the longer I wear it. Freshly cut grass is listed as well, which is not typically a scent that appeals to me but it gives this blend a wonderful herbaceous quality that I enjoy. It's a perfect daytime scent, but because of it's delicate nature I can see wearing this in the evening with a fun and feminine frock. Something with lace. And the perfect strappy sandal. With some sparkly jewels. Now I want to shop. Just writing my own post can trigger me. LOL

2. Eau d'Hadrien - Citrus based scents dominate a large portion of my fragrance collection because they always smell so fresh and clean. I didn't even need to read the notes in this one because from the first spritz, the citrus notes were prominent. Sometimes with citrus fragrances, the scent can take on a sour quality or the citrus aspect can smell synthetic. Not in this case. Eau d'Hadrien smells like pure lemons and grapefruits - as if you bottled the actual fruit. Once the scent begins to dry down, notes of bergamot and cypress add a woody base which gives it more body than a typical citrus fragrance. I do love wearing my bold and spicy scents in the winter, but I have been gravitating towards this over the past month because it lifts my mood despite the cold weather. Nothing puts me in a better mood than a warm shower followed by a fresh citrus scent to wake me up. 

If you are new to the Annick Goutal line, I would highly recommend beginning with either one of these scents. Both are so easy to wear and contain notes that wear well and would appeal to many different fragrance lovers. Plus the bottle looks stunning on a vanity and that is just as important, right?

*pr samples included

NARS Spring 2016 Eye and Cheek Palettes

All of the spring makeup collections are beginning to trickle in and it gives me hope that spring weather will soon follow (I know, slightly delusional but I still hope). One of the first items that I have been testing out are the new NARS L'Amour Toujours Eyeshadow and Cheek palettes. I am already a huge fan of this NARS palette, so I was excited to test out these colors and formulations.

1. NARS L'Amour Toujours Eyeshadow Palette - Just from first glance, the palette looked gorgeous and very wearable with only one wildcard color (bold turquoise), which after swatching it seemed much less crazy than in the pan. I did however anticipate the shades to be frosted and even chunky in their texture, but thankfully most of the shades were extremely buttery and had a medium intensity with regards to pigmentation. The first shade all the way to the left of my arm was the top left shade in the palette and literally disappeared into my skintone so it is a great lid and browbone highlight color for me. The only chunky shade in the palette was second from the left on my arm as it did take a few swipes to get a smooth application. Other than that though, the matte and shimmer shades applied very evenly and were easy to blend. There is a great variation of easy to wear shades rather than the standard brown, beige and taupe so it is a good option if you are looking to step out of your neutral comfort zone with shades that are still safe. 

2. NARS L'Amour Cheek Palette - This is my first cheek palette from NARS and surprisingly I don't have that many blushes from NARS so this encompassed every shade I could want. I felt the color range was good though if it was going to be suitable for all skin tones, I would have liked to see one more very bold shade. But from a wearability standpoint, all the shades are easy to wear and would look good with an everyday makeup look. The only shade that was a bit of wildcard for me was the pale pink (fourth from the left on my swatches - the first swatch is literally the same shade as my skin). It had a ton of glitter, which is hard to see in the photo and is too pale for me. I ended up using it as an added bit of shimmer/sparkle on top of one of the more neutral shades. The first shade in the palette (far left on my arm and top left in the palette) could be a highlight for many but it blends in perfectly with my skin so I have been using it as a finishing powder over my makeup. For those that love a peachy/bronzey cheek, this is a palette that would suit you perfectly. It contains the famous Laguna bronzer and a great contour shade called Paloma (second from the left on my arm), 2 gorgeous peachy tones (2nd and 3rd shades from the right on my arm) and a more rosy shade that I like to add for just a pop of color on the apples of my cheeks (far right swatch). With the exception of the contour and highlight shades, all the colors have a bit of shimmer or sparkle but not too much in my opinion. Hopefully it travels well because I can see this being the only cheek item I would ever need on trips or vacations. 

*pr samples included

Are you planning on picking up either of these palettes? Let me know!

Review: Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm and The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleansing Balm

Nothing makes me happier than trying out new (or new to me) cleansing balms. Between cleansing balms and cleansing oils, they are my favorite step in my skincare routine. I had been hearing wonderful things about The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser for quite some time so I was thrilled to finally be able to get it on my face. Sunday Riley's Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm was just recently released, but I had heard about it earlier last year from many UK beauty bloggers. Since I am already a huge Sunday Riley skincare fan (this serum IS as good as everyone says, and this oil is amazing), I had huge hopes for this launch. Here are my thoughts on each cleanser:

1. The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser - The name alone made me want to try this cleanser. Carrot Butter - hello! Get on my face. The oilier and thicker a cleanser is, the more I want to try it. This is incredibly rich, buttery and oily and feels wonderful on the skin. It did a stellar job at removing makeup, though it has quite a steep price tag so I tend to save it for my second cleansing step so I can really allow the natural ingredients like rosemary, carrot, shea butter and chamomile to get directly onto my skin. It works great for my oily skin, though the richness of the formula would make it ideal for someone with dry skin as well. I apply it with dry hands to a dry face and massage it in for 30-60 seconds. If my skin is feeling irritated or dry, I can leave it on for a few minutes as an extra treatment. Typically though, I massage it in and then use a damp cloth to remove it. It does emulsify into a gentle milk, but I have found that I definitely need a cloth to help remove all residue. Just using water is not enough to fully dissolve the cleanser, but I enjoy the added step of using a wash cloth to give a slight exfoliation. Afterwards my skin is left smooth, hydrated and incredibly calm. A perfect addition to a winter skincare routine.

2. Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm - Another hit from Sunday Riley (though honestly, I feel she can do no wrong with her skincare)! Though the usage does specify that it can be used to remove makeup, I preferred to use it as a second cleanse. It did get off most of my foundation, but with certain really stubborn eye makeup, I did have to break out a stronger cleansing oil. The texture is a bit more gritty (not like a scrub, but not as buttery as a typical balm), so it felt a bit more exfoliating to me which I loved! The instructions also advise using it as a treatment mask. I leave it on the skin for 15-20 minutes and found that it really gave my skin a nice added boost of hydration. As with most of my cleansing balms, I applied this with dry hands to a dry face and massage in for 30-60 seconds. It does emulsify to a milk, but as with The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser, I needed a cloth to remove it. My skin definitely felt smooth, plump and hydrated after, but it seems to have more exfoliating properties to it which made my skin more glowy and radiant than other cleansing balms. I like to use it 3-4/x since it delivers such strong results for me, and my skin has seemed much less oily when using it regularly. I do think it would be great for all skin types, even sensitive because of its soothing essential oils and chamomile. Sunday Riley continues her skincare winning streak in my eyes with this new launch. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with for 2016!

*pr samples included

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