Video: September 2014 Beauty Favorites

Here is a look at my September beauty favorites. Below are swatches of all the products featured.

These are all the products featured in the video:

1. Laura Mercier Invisible Pressed Setting Powder

2. Buxom Show Me Some Skin Foundation

3. Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Dollface (available on Shiseido.com in October) - $5 from each one sold will be donated for breast cancer awareness

4. Rouge Bunny Rouge Lip Potion Devilish Nectar

5. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne

6. Buxom True Hue Blush in Breathless

7. Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel 

8. Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal

9. Dolce & Gabbana Eye Quad in Desert

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Summertime Lips

So red it's almost orange. I didn't even know I had a thing for these bright vibrant coral shades until I looked in my drawer and realized I have bought quite a few at this point. And though they look good worn any time of the year, summer is when they seem the most appropriate. These four shades run the gamut from sheer and juicy to matte and bold.

1. Lipstick Queen in Stoked* - Swipe it on once for a subtle hint of color, or build it up for a true punch. The texture of this new color from Lipstick Queen's Endless Summer collection is lightweight and hydrating and I can already see this being a favorite of mine for the summer.

2. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Raven - One of the longest wearing lipstick formulas I own, these Hourglass Opaque Rouges are no joke. Super pigmented, super matte and

surprisingly super comfortable on the lips. I already own the shade Canvas which has become one of my holy grail lip colors, so Raven was the perfect next color. These lipsticks feel like velvet on the lips and this color is the quintessential fiery coral. Buy it and thank me later.

3. Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Color in Mod - Slightly less pigmentation than Hourglass and a true matte texture, this is weightless on the lips. Often I can feel matte lipsticks on my lips, but this is easy to wear and rarely needs reapplication. I can see this with glowing, dewy skin and lots of lashes. Oh and a beach, umbrella drink and straw fedora.

4. Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Zinfandel - I am not going to stop until I have collected every bite beauty lip color out there. I LIVE for this brand. All of the products feel amazing on the lips, have food grade ingredients and wear forever. I bought this Zinfandel shade and another shade called Tart in the same Sephora shopping trip - and frankly I am quite proud of that since at one point I had 7 Bite shades in my hand and forced myself to pick only two. My favorite quality is the pencil tip which makes application a breeze.  And it is much thinner and more pointed than similar pencil style lip products which again makes Bite beauty a winner in my book.

Any other red-orange/coral shades I should add to my collection? What are some of your favorites?

Have you entered my glowing skin giveaway???!!!! Well you need to. Enter here.   

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A Bit Obsessed: Best Of Beauty 2013

Another day, another list of beauty favorites, right? Well not exactly - these are THE best products that I have used in the past 365 days.  For something to keep my attention that long is quite a feat, and for many of these products, it was love at first use.  Skincare, makeup and fragrance - these are the items that rocked my world this past year.  But a little word of caution before you read the list - I am not responsible for the buying spree that may result at the end of this post.  I am simply the beauty messenger.  Got it?  Good.  Let's get started:

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light - So much hype for a product, yet is it worth it?  Most definitely yes, yes, yes. This particular one I use on my cheeks and hair line to give me a "lit from within" glow to my complexion.  Frankly it's a miracle I have not bought every single shade - but there is always 2014 for that.

2. Le Metier de Beaute Classic Finish Flawless Foundation -  What's in a name? Everything when it comes to this foundation.  Flawless finish is exactly how this looks on the skin - with buildable coverage and a natural finish that keeps my skin matte and perfect all day long.

3. Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation - I oscillate between this and my Le Metier for best foundation, but I simply can't choose.  This is designed to deliver a high definition finish and it does.  Perfect for pictures and perfect for daily wear.  And no matter how many other layers I put on top (powder, finishing powder, blush, highlighter), it blends perfectly.

4. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara - Is it possible to pick one mascara that rocked my world this entire year?  Yes it is.  It was hard but this formula really made quite an impression on me....and my lashes.  A thick, voluminous, lengthy and perfectly separate lash look sums it up.

5. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Pepper - It's not only the color that I loved with this lipstick, it was the formulation, the packaging - the entire brand.  This and the next color have taken up permanent residence in my makeup bag, and it's only a matter of time before the entire line takes over my makeup vanity. 

6. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig - The perfect natural pink lip in a tube.  See swatches here and decide for yourself (though I'm sure you will agree).

7. Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette -I have said it before and I will say it again - how a brow pencil made it to my yearly favorites is beyond me, but when something is good, it is GOOD.  Texture, application, color - everything with this product is perfection.  My brows have never, and I mean never looked better.

8. Nest Fragrances in Midnight Fleur - If there was just one fragrance I wanted to smell like forever and ever, it would be this.  So unique, rich, warm and quite the conversation piece I may add.  Almost every single time I am wearing it, I get compliments and questions asking me about the scent.  I am almost hesitant to tell them for fear everyone will begin wearing it, but then I realize that if I walked around and smelled nothing but Midnight Fleur on everyone, it would be a perfect world.

9. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF 30 Lotion - Best darn daily moisturizer for my oily skin.  Hydrates, keeps me matte, wears well under makeup - do you need it?  Yes you do.

10. Dermalogica Multi Power Recovery Masque - Not sure how I lasted this long in my life without this masque.  THIS. MASQUE.  The short version is this stuff makes my skin instantly perfect.  The long version is it uses powerful concentrated vitamins to help erase any signs of damage to the skin.  Either way, buy it now and thank me later.

11. Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion - Let's face the facts, no matter how well I treat my skin, I will forever break out.  I have quite oily skin and my hormones like to go off on tangents without my prior approval.  Thus resulting in nasty blemishes that must be stopped.  Enter this Buffering Lotion.  Under makeup or alone, I simply cannot live without it.  It is the only thing that helps me treat the blemish fast and without completely drying out my skin. 

12. Perricone MD Blue Plasma - In all fairness I discovered this product last year, but I used it so much this year I had to include it.  My glow, even skin tone and smooth texture can be credited to this daily peel that helps to chemically exfoliate the skin without ever irritating it.  It is so good, I am giving one away.  Yup, you are welcome. 

13. Perricone MD Blue Plasma Orbital - All the amazingness from the face version, but for the eye.  Project 'stay looking young forever' is in full effect.

14. Tatcha Deep Rice Enzyme Powder - Again a product I have been using for a long time, but I had to include in this year's favorites.  Add water and this powder exfoliant turns to a soft paste-like cleanser that gives an effective, yet surprisingly gentle exfoliation.  I always have a back up. Always. 

15. Neal's Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Concentrate - The name threw me off initially and I was not sure what to expect, but this cult-classic (google it and you will see exactly how crazy people are about this product) has become the best thing to help my skin rejuvenate as I sleep.  I don't know if it's the aromatic scent or the immediate calming effect it has on my skin, but this product has become a holy grail night moisturizer for me.   

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A Bit Obsessed: October 2013 Beauty Favorites

A monthly favorites with this many bold lip choices?  It's shocking, truly.  But I can't help myself.  I have found so many great bright shades that I am reaching for them almost every day.  Of course I balanced this out with two neutral eye shadows, to make sure you guys still knew it was me.  And a few nail products and one skincare product also made the cut.  Here's the rundown:

1. Neal's Yard Remedies Organic Eye Makeup Remover (c/o) - Rarely do I use eye makeup remover, since my preferred method of cleansing each night is with a cleansing oil, but after giving this one a go, I was happy to welcome it back into my regimen.  More than anything, I found this remover to be so soothing and I would actually soak a cotton pad in the solution and hold them on my eyes for approximately 15-30 seconds.  Not only did it remove the makeup, but it refreshed and nourished the eye area.  

2. Bite Beauty Lipstick in Fig (swatch above)- How many Bite Beauty lip products can one girl acquire?  I'm on a personal mission to find out.  Pepper was a previous favorite (see post here), and now Fig - a subtle pink shade that wears beautifully and makes my lips actually feel better after using it.  

3. NARS Velvet Matte Pencil in Damned (swatch above) - The name sounds a bit daunting but this deep berry shade is the epitome of an easy to wear vampy lip.  I know, that almost sounds like an oxymoron, but trust me - whether worn as a stain or more opaque, it is a must for fall/winter.

4. Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in Sancerre (swatch above) - Another Bite lip product?????  I wasn't kidding about this brand - I am collecting them all.  A matte, full coverage lip that delivers bold color not for the faint of heart.  I blot with a tissue after, but the color is intense and lasts all. day. long.  Just try to remove it.  Seriously.  Try.

5. Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadows in Les Fumes (swatch above) - I find myself becoming more and more drawn to Guerlain, and with each product I try, my love for the brand is solidified more.  I have heard people rave about these eye palettes before, and now I know why - look at those swatches!  Butter soft, richly pigmented and so easy to blend - I am a bit mad at myself I didn't discover them sooner.  Now that I know better, I will do better (AKA buy more). 

6. NARS Eye shadow in Edie - Alright, I got this color just a few months ago, and I swear I am going to hit pan any day.  I use it THAT much.  It is the perfect base shade - and frankly, while it may not be as exciting of a color as some, it is soooo necessary. Not too shimmery, not too matte - it's just right. 

7. Julep Polymer Top Coat - I'm that girl that goes to the nail salon with her own polishes - yes I am.  But ever since discovering this top coat, my manicures have never lasted longer.  The finish is much like a gel polish, and dries faster than anything I have ever seen.  And chipping? What chipping?  I have to reallllly, try to chip my manicure when wearing this top coat.  I already have a back up for when I finish.  To be without would be a tragedy.

8. Butter London Wallis - I can't lie, I have A LOT of nail polish.  But in my defense, I do a weekly blog feature so......so there.  With all that polish, I tend to forget about shades that I have used and loved, and recently I stumbled across this Butter London shade again and was reminded of why I bought it in the first place.  So unique, so different - it is truly one of my favorite nail color of all time.  A little bit grungy, a little bit glam - here is a swatch to convince you.  See???  Amazing.

Shop October beauty favorites:

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A Bit Obsessed: July 2013 Beauty Favorites

I've been on a makeup buying bit recently, so this month's favorites were primarily all color, with only one skincare item and one fragrance.  But we all know I am a forever skincare junkie, so there are many new products I am testing out and am sure will find some favorites to feature in August.  So without further ado, let's talk product:

1. Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths (c/o) - Removing my makeup at night is probably one of the things I look forward to the most each day.  And without fail, I always start with makeup removing wipes to begin the process.  Touted as a cleanser, toner and makeup remover all in one, these wipes left my skin feeling refreshed without any of that dreaded residue-y feeling.  Perfect for sensitive skin, 100% natural and biodegradable, these wipes will satisfy those looking for more natural skincare choices and beauty lovers who need a product to effectively remove makeup each night.

2.  A! Absolute Solid Fragrance in "Dream 42" - Introduced to me through a recent Glossybox, I fell instantly in love with this fragrance.  With notes of sweet mandarin and tangy grapefruit, this has been a perfect scent for the summer.  Most days I throw it in my bag and use it to freshen up when needed.  It gives a subtle citrus scent that is understated yet bold enough to wear for day or night.   

3. MAC Lipstick in Shanghai Spice - No shocking news here that my two favorite lipsticks for this past month were nudes.  Sooooo typical.  But still, when it's good, it needs to be shared.  I picked this color up on a recent 'Back 2 MAC' recycling visit (if unfamiliar, read about the program here), and have been wearing with a smokier eye, as it gives me a paler lip look that works well with darker shadow colors.  Some days putting on my makeup seems like a science, ya know???
4. Bite Beauty Lipstick in Pepper - Hold the phones.  Stop the press.  This lipstick needs your undivided attention.  Not only the color, but the texture of this lipstick made it a sure thing on my monthly favorites list.  I have seen other beauty bloggers speak about Bite beauty, but sometimes I can be stubborn with trying new brands - but I'm glad I broke through and gave this one a shot.  After trying in store, the products blew my mind - from the color ranges, to the textures, to the staying power of this particular lipstick - all was stellar. 

5. Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil - This is my fancy favorite of the month - and quite a splurge.  But I am never one to shy away from luxury products as we all know (that "we" includes my credit card), so this lip oil was right up my alley.  Used more as a night treatment, I found the rich texture and emolliency to really nourish and heal my lips overnight - making the lipstick I wore the next day glide on smoother and more even.  Oh, and the gold shiny packaging got me too.  Obviously.  

6. Deborah Lippmann "Mermaid's Dream" and "Do the Mermaid" Nail Polishes - My nails are one of the only places you may ever find glitter on me, and even then it is a rare occurrence.  But having already been a fan of Deborah Lippmann polishes (see all my swatches here), I knew I would love the "Mermaid" collection.  I purchased the teal "Mermaid's Dream" last year after hearing of it's unique color, and it quickly became one of my favorite summer polishes.  When the additional Mermaid colors launched this summer, I snatched up the lilac "Do the Mermaid" immediately.  The texture is unique as it mixes both finely milled glitter with chunkier bits, to create a multi-dimensional look that can be worn more opaquely than other brands.  I like to think of these as "grown up" glitter polishes. 

Shop all my favorites below:

Deborah Lippmann Nail Products · Hourglass Lip Treatments · Sephora Lipstick

Only one week left to enter my Dior "Grege" eye palette giveaway!!!  Click here for all details.

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