January Favorites

February 03, 2015

I can't believe we're already one month into 2015. It's probably getting annoying that I always say I can't believe how quickly the month passed at the beginning of every monthly favorites post, but it really is true. In January I had a lot of favorites, probably because I've been using things I got for Christmas and trying new things for the new year, so my favorites are going to be broken into two posts: a beauty favorites and non-beauty favorites. Let's talk about the best in beauty of the month, and keep an eye out for my Non-Beauty Favorites post on Thursday.

You might remember me lamenting that there wasn't a shade of the NARS Sheer Glow foundation that matched my skin, and I would be forever bitter about not getting to try it. Well, just before Christmas I found that the shade Mont Blanc was a great match (I'm trying not to use pink-toned foundations anymore and go for neutral undertones instead to cancel out my redness) and onto my Christmas list it went. This is the only foundation I've been reaching for all month. It gives such great coverage (I'd say medium but easily buildable up to full) without ever getting cakey. It sets to a satin finish that's beautifully luminous without being dewy. This would probably be a great option for more oily-skinned people who don't want something totally matte. But it works even on my dry/dehydrated skin. It does cling to any flaky patches, but I've eliminated this problem by simply making sure I exfoliate regularly. I apply this with the Zoeva Silk Finish Brush (mine came in the Rose Gold Luxury Set), and while the entire set is unbelievably great quality, this brush has been my most-used. It's a large, dense buffing brush that's so soft and works the product into the skin quickly and thoroughly for an even, airbrushed finish. This is one pair I'll be reaching for for months to come.

A lip product that I can't believe I didn't try earlier is the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. I got a set of them right after Christmas that contained the shades Rose, Rosewood, and Apricot, but I gave the Apricot shade to my sister (orange shades look funny on me). I've always kept one of these in my bag since I got them. They're perfect for topping up during the day because they're just as moisturizing and comfortable as a balm, but they give a hint of sheer color. Another plus is the packaging - a squeeze tube with an applicator so no grubby fingers ever get involved and taint the product (very important if you're working in a dirty/germy place). I'm seriously kicking myself for waiting so long to get these.

One other lip favorite has been the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. I wrote a whole post about my love for it here, so I'll just say that I've still been wearing this most days because it's such a perfect MLBB shade for me that lingers for most of the day without needing too many reapplications.

At first I felt bad including a limited edition product, but I realized that my favorite shades from the NARS Virtual Domination Palette are part of the permanent collection. I've been using every shade in the palette, but my most-used are the Laguna Bronzing Powder, Deep Throat Blush, and Miss Liberty Blush (really a highlight but they still call it a blush). All of the shades are so pigmented and blendable that they make application a breeze and add some much-needed life into my dull winter skin. My favorite brushes to apply these have been the Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush and the Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush.

I've already raved about theCharlotte Tilbury Luxury Palettes here, but they've definitely been a favorite of the month. I've reached for one of these almost every day since getting them, and I fall more in love with them with every use. I'm now desperate to try more of Charlotte Tilbury's line, unfortunately for my wallet.

My last favorite is a new mascara - I talked about the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in my A Mascara Match Made in Heaven post, where I raved about using it at the same time as the L'Oreal Miss Manga. But it's such a great product on its own as well. It gives such great length, separation, and definition that it creates a gorgeously fluttery look. I have the waterproof version, and it holds a curl and stays put all day.

As I said above, tune in on Thursday for my Non-Beauty Favorites! What were your favorite products of the month?

Mini Too Faced Haul / First Impressions

January 29, 2015

Last Sunday I was suddenly feeling a little spendy, and I decided to make a little splurge online at Sephora, going for a couple Too Faced products. I was so excited to get them in the mail and test them out because all I've ever tried from Too Faced is the eyeshadow primer. I ended up going for the Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Fig (after hearing Kayla from Microscope Beauty go on about how much she loved it I had to try it for myself) and the Hangover Replenishing Face Primer.

I've been having some really annoying issues with my skin lately - no matter how many layers of facial oils and moisturizers I layer on at night and how much moisturizer I apply in the morning, my skin just stays dehydrated and dry. So much so that it's been drinking up any makeup I apply within a couple hours. Really - I've looked in a mirror at work about 2 hours after application and pretty much the only thing left is my eyebrow pencil and mascara. I tried using the primers I had, and still nothing would work. I had been wanting to try the Too Faced primer for awhile because of how nourishing it's supposed to be, and I figured what better justification than having my skin constantly eating all of my makeup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The primer contains coconut water, so it feels super moisturizing and also smells really good. It smoothed over my skin and made makeup application a breeze - everything blended so much more quickly. The first day I used it, I was amazed to find that my makeup was still intact when I got home from work about 9 hours after application. And so far I haven't had any of the big under-the-skin blemishes that some primers can give me. So far this is an ultimate win for me.

The lipstick is an absolute win as well. It goes on smoothly with a velvet applicator (like that of the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors). It's got great pigmentation, and the color I have only needs one layer to be opaque. The Melted Fig color is just beautiful, a perfect my-lips-but-better shade that's a little bolder than your normal MLBB's. It sets to a satin finish that isn't drying, although it will make any flakes very noticeable - you'll definitely need to use a lip scrub before applying. It has great lasting power - it lasted perfectly up until I ate lunch, and even then it only started wearing off gradually and evenly, never leaving an unsightly line around the lips. I've already got my eyes on a couple more shades of these, especially the Berry color.

I'm super impressed with the quality of these products and am now adding more and more things from Too Faced to my wishlist.

Have you tried either of these products? What's your favorite product from Too Faced?

The "Bright Eyed, Bushy Tailed" Edit

January 27, 2015

I haven't been sleeping very well lately, meaning I wake up looking positively gray and zombie-like every morning. I've narrowed down the best products to fake a full night's sleep and make you look all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and whatnot.

When I have time, I'll start with an energizing mask - the perfect one for early mornings is the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial. If I use this in the morning I'll leave it on for even less than a minute to avoid any post-mask redness (I get some slight redness from pretty much every mask, more from removal than the mask itself), and I get refreshed, awake-looking, and glowing skin. Instead of my normal moisturizer plus base I'll swap in the Origins VitaZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer because it gives my skin a good dose of moisture along with a little hint of warming color - it helps me not look as gray, and builds up that natural glow that the mask was giving me. Instead of masking my face in a full application of foundation, I opt for just using concealer where I need it - under my eyes (a must), and down the center of my face where I get some splotchy redness. Under my eyes I've been trying out the Estee Lauder Doublewear Brush On Glow BB Highlighter in the shade 0N - it gives great coverage without caking or creasing, and the soft pink shade really cancels out the darkness of my undereye circles and brings light to the area. On everything else that needs concealing I'll use my usual NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. To add more color and life to my lackluster skin, I'll use a blush with a slight iridescence to it, like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat or the NARS Blush in Deep Throat. Usually this is enough glow for me but if I'm looking really dull I'll also throw in a quick sweep of the Benefit Watt's Up highlighter. Since it's a cream consistency, it looks more natural and less "disco ball" than some other highlighters.

I tend to do my eyebrows and eyes as normal, a quick brush-through of the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade, a wash of a champagne eyeshadow (the Stila Eye Shadow in Kitten always does the trick, with one of the middle shades from the Naked2 Basics Palette in the crease), and lashings of my beloved L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara. To bring more light to the area, I'll dab some of the highlighter on the inner corners of my eyes. For lips I'll always reach for a complexion-brightening pink, such as the Dior Addict Lip Glow.

So there you have it, a not-too-complicated edit to fake getting all of your beauty sleep. What are your favorite products to help you look more awake?