Monthly Faves

Hey There!

It's almost difficult to pull together monthly favorites when you've been using the same trio for several weeks. Half of the reason is that I'm lazy and it's easier to just use the blush and bronzer that are on the counter. The other reason is that the look that I've been getting from this trio is on point. I've been loving it.

Let's back up. Several months ago I began pulling makeup for the week on Sunday and just rotating between the same 2 blushes, same 2 bronzers and the same few lippie combos for the week. It makes getting ready in the morning a little bit easier. Even though I said 2 blushes and 2 bronzers, I've actually been using the same 1 blush and bronzer for about 3 weeks now. Along with my MAC Studio Fix pressed powder (NC42), I've been using my Milani Tea Rose Powder Blush and my e.l.f. Contouring Blush in St. Lucia.

I've told you about my love for the MAC Studio Fix pressed powder (link is here) but let me tell you about my love for my e.l.f. Contouring Bronzer in St. Lucia. This was one of my first bronzers. I fell in love with it and even though I have purchased several others (high end and drugstore), I always return back to this one. The blush is barely touched. It doesn't show up on my face and it doesn't last very long but the bronzer is amazing.

The Milani Tea Rose Powder Blush was an impulse buy. I told myself that I wasn't going to get it and I resisted for a few months. Then it (like everything else) jumped into my shopping cart and ended up at my house. And, I am soooo glad that I bought it! It brings my cheeks to life! It's perfect for a natural look.

And, I have to add my 2 favorite brushes. I've been loving my Claire's kabuki brush and my Ecotools blush brush. They are used "evry" day -- I mean "evry" day.

This is the winning trio (plus makeup brushes) that I have been using. Day look, night look, polished look, natural look -- it doesn't matter. These babies have been doing the damned thing! It's going to hurt my feeling a little bit to put them away and pull out some new products for the new week. But it will be okay.

Then I'll have a new favorite for next month!

November Faves

 Hey There!

It's been about two months since I've done a favorites blog post. I spent a while testing new products so I didn't have a real favorite. When you are using something new every 2 or 3 days you don't have a chance to become attached to any one thing. This weekend, I was setting out my makeup for the week (yes, I choose blushes and bronzers for the week, just like my clothes) and I realized that I did have some favorites this past month. There were some items that stayed in rotation.

I think I have found my holy grail face primer. I wanted to fall in love with a primer because everyone else is. Once I understood what primers were supposed to do, I tried several of them this year and then me, being the princess that I am, found the most expensive one on the list. I've been using my Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. It's a smooth base that is one of the only primers I've found to keep my t-zone (my nose) from getting greasy. I wear eyeglasses so that's a tall order. Hourglass has met the challenge and it's worth the money for that alone.

I have kept my e.l.f. Blush (dark) Palette on my counter all month. This has been the variety in blushes that I've needed. I may pull one or two single blushes out but I tend to reach for this and choose one of the 4 gorgeous colors. It seems that within this palette I have all that I need. I might not ever have to buy another blush again. Bwah - ha ha. I know. That was funny.

I bought this L.A. Colors Mineral Pressed Powder pretty recently but I have picked up this powder almost every day since I bought it. This has rivaled my MAC and Lancôme powders. It's smooth and a great color match. No, I'm not going to toss out my high end face powders but this one will stay in rotation with them.

My NARS creamy concealer has been my love since I received it in my Sephora VIB haul. I cover my dark spots and I feel comfortable that when I get home from work, I will still have spot coverage. No, it won't be perfect (not 12 hours later) but it won't be dark and glaringly obvious. I've pulled out the other concealers once or twice, simple because I don't want them to dry out or anything.

I've been testing different lipsticks all month so I don't have a favorite right now. What has been a constant is my NYX retractable lip liner in Nude Pink. It's a great nude for my lips and it has worked with many different shades of lipsticks. I've had a few lipsticks that without liner, are sliders but this lip liner has kept them in place.

My eyebrow combo has been my Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil in Soft Brown and my e.l.f. Wet Gloss Lash And Brow Clear Mascara. Man! I've been missing out on eyebrow life with this. I mentioned that I had tried Anastasia Brow products before and wasn't a fan. If I had tried this perfect duo before, I'd have never tried anything else.

And that's all folks. It's not a large loves list this month, but it's nuthin' but love. Everything has been used more in November than anything else. You have to keep reading though because I have a lot of stuff that I've been playing with so December favorites might be even more exciting.

Or you might see the same things next month. You never know.

July Faves

Hey there!

I didn't have a ton of faves this month. That was because I was trying a lot of new products so I didn't get to wear too many things too many days in a row. Even so, I managed to ink out a few favorites. 

I've began using my eos hand lotion because I wanted to try it for you good people. I have kept reaching for it because it's pretty darn good. It smells nice and absorbs into the skin quickly. It only cost $1.99 and it was well worth it. I own Berry Blossom but the website says that they have Cucumber and Fresh Flowers. I think I'll try them as well.

I just did a post on my Claire's bamboo kabuki brush. I really have been using the heck out of it. It's a soft, full brush that allows great coverage when I used my loose or presses powder. The two days I have to do without it for washing hurt my feelings. 

I just ordered a new Body Fantasies Cotton Candy body lotion off of Amazon because it's been discontinued.  Normally when something like this happens I just move on to a new scent. That's not possible with this one.  It smells so sweet. I love it. If i luck up and find this lotion in the store, I'm buying all of them. 

I try to always add one non cosmetic item to each month -- you know, to broaden your horizons. This month it's the Lt. Blender's Peach Bellini Wine Freeze. Mom and I saw this in the Sam's club. I don't remember how much these were because Mom and I split 5 of them between us but man! These are so good! You just add wine and water and shake and freeze. You could even do it without wine. I mixed wine and water and then topped my frozen goodness with a little bit of ginger ale. It was slap your momma good (although U wouldn't do that). I truly enjoyed it. 

What have you been loving this month?

June Faves

Hey there!

I really had a hard time picking my June favorites. I tried so many things that I didn't really wasn't able to give things enough time to see if I loved them or not. If I say something is a fave, I really want to be able to stand behind it and show it love. So, while I liked quite a bit of stuff this month, here are a few things that I loved.

    

                                                                                                   

Have you been to Wal-Mart and tried the new Glade Something Sweet collection? I like to use plug-ins so I try new scents every now and then. Y'all know I love my cotton candy scents so when I saw the new Something Sweet - Cotton Candy plug in, I had to purchase it WITHOUT A COUPON! I don't pay full price often! This plug in smells so good! I have a plug in by the front door and one by the back door and between the two smells so delicious. I also take them to work (I mean I can't light a candle at work so this is the next best thing!).

I also have been loving the Bath & Body Works Watermelon Lemonade candle. I wish I had bought this one in a 3 wick. It smells sweet and sticky like lemonade tastes. I really love it.

When the kiddo was preparing for prom, I bought several inexpensive face powders to try for that night. She doesn't wear powder normally, so I didn't want to spend $25 on something that she'd wear once, maybe twice. I picked up the Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Honey Amber. It was a tad bit light for the kiddo so I put it in my drawer. Earlier this month I pulled it out and tried it for myself. It's a perfect match for my summer self. It controls shine well, wears beautifully and is almost as good as my MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (I know, right?!). The Black Radiance was $4.19 compared to $27 for the MAC. MAC is great though. BR is a close second in my book.

I received a NYX Butter Gloss in Crème Brulee in my Ipsy bag this month. I already owned a ka-gillion others but it reminded me to pull these sweet smelling concoctions out of their drawer. These are the two that have been in my purse ALL month. Crème Brulee and Vanilla Cream Pie have stayed on my lips. As a matter of fact, in typing this post, I pulled out the Vanilla Cream Pie (sniffed it - you know you sniff these vanilla scented goodness glosses) and then coated my lips. It is all I can do not to sniff my lips all day. Really, if you haven't tried these, I need you to get $4.99 out of your wallet and go get one.

I just published a post about these nail treatments. The Revlon Treat and Boost and Sephora X Nail Hydrator are wonderful nail treatments. Totally worth the money spent.

I have also mentioned the BareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow. This eyeshadow/highlighter is wonderful and I have used it every day since I got it. I haven't given anything else a chance! It's the perfect accompaniment to my eyebrows, whether I have used a pencil/powder or not.

And last but not least, my e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush. This one is my clean one. I have 2 of these bad boys at all times. I looked back over my posts to see if I have touted the attributes of this wonderful brush -- I have not! That is a total slip up on my part! I used the brush to add my BareMinerals Well Rested Powder under my eyes most days. I then use it to add a hint of e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder to the area. This brush is perfect for that area. The brush is soft enough to use in this delicate area yet no so flimsy that it doesn't put the powder in place.

What are you loving this month? What are you hating this month? What are you going to try to use up this month? Tell me what's going on!!