Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate

Back when I posted my thoughts on Too Faced Summer Eye Palette, I mentioned that I'd gotten some other goodies as well.  I'm not sure what's taken me so long to discuss the Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate, but better late than never.

April Favorites

Quite a few favorites this month...

 I know that I'm a little early with my monthly favorites list, but I always feel like I should do it when I think of it since I've been having a little problem with forgetfulness lately. 

And April's practically over  - I'm pretty sad to see it go because it's been a pretty good month.  Well, the Mets have played better than expected anyway and makeup wise, there were quite a few products that rocked my world.

It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Whisper

Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Whisper

I think that I've made it pretty obvious - like here and here -  that I am a huge, huge fan of Hourglass Cosmetics' Femme Rouge Lipstick formula.

Even though I'd only tried one shade - the wonderfully peachy-nude, Grace - I could see why Hourglass gets away with charging a whopping $30 per lipstick.  Smooth, creamy and completely non-drying, it's like heaven on the lips - and without question, the best lipstick formula I've ever tried.

This and That: BB Cream Update, Red Lips & Tarte/Sigma Giveway Update

I'll warn you ahead of time that this post is going to be all over the place. There are a couple of things that I wanted to mentioned that don't really warrant a post of their own, so I thought I'd combine them all in an odds & ends sort of catch-all.

Oldie but Goodie: Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Pacific Heights

BE Loose Eyeshadow in Pacific Heights

Lately, I've been making a concerted effort to show a little more love to products in my collection that I haven't used in a while. Since I have a ridiculously full drawer of loose BE shadows that haven't seen the light in ages, I figured that was the best place to start.

I've had fun playing with all the shadows that I bought in haste when I first started using BE back in college, but it's also made me realize how beautiful shadows I've forgotten all about and consequently neglected since my transition back to mostly pressed products.

I mean, it's got to be a sin to forget about the loveliness that is BE's Pacific Heights, a muted gray-lilac color that adds surprising depth to the eyes. 

Favorite Eye Liners

My Favorite Eye Liners

Of all the makeup products that I own, the item that I tend to vary least on a day to day basis is eye liner.  While I have quite a few to choose from, I always find myself reaching for the same five or six depending on what the rest of my eye makeup looks like.

I figure that if I keep reaching for the same several liners, they must be my favorites, right?

You'll notice two things about my list: 1) They're all pencils.  After nearly 15 years of wearing makeup on a daily basis, I'm still spastic when it comes to putting liner on.  I can't do liquid liner to save my life and gel/cream products are tricky as well.  Pencils just seem to work the best for me.  2) There's no black among them.  While there are a few black liners that I'd recommend, I'm not a fan of the way it looks with my fair skin.  I'll wear for some nights out, but I don't often use black liner during the day.

Lip Combo of the Moment: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Coral Gleam & Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Barely Legal

Maybelline Coral Gleam & Too Faced Barely Legal

If you've been reading along with this blog, you've probably realized that I've got it bad for coral and peach makeup products.

Mainly because I can't seem to shut up about it.

Well, I'm at it again since my favorite lip combination of the moment involves - you guessed it! - a coral lipstick and peach gloss.

Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit

Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit - Lots of goodies and for a good cause too!

Because I am ultra fair and suffered a few pretty bad sunburns as a kid, I am obsessed (Some might also say paranoid about...) with sunscreen.

In addition to whatever SPF my moisturizer, primer, and foundation may have, I religiously wear a dedicated sunscreen with SPF 50 every day - even if  I don't plan on spending any time outdoors.  It's the one thing in my skin care/beauty routine that I am never lazy about. It's that important to me.

So when I saw that Sephora had their Sun Safety Kit out again this year, I had to pick it up.

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Frisky (Or: Why You Shouldn't Judge Lip Products By Their Covers)

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Frisky - looks scary, right?

If I'm being completely honest, I tend to make snap judgements.

Now, even if my gut instinct is right about things 9 times out of 10, I know that's a bad habit to have. 

I'm working on it.  Really.

Still, when I got my most recent Beauty Test Tube from QVC (if you're not familiar with it, it's essentially like Birch Box except it comes out about once every three months and contains more products, including at least one full size item) and pulled out the Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Frisky, I once again judged the proverbial book by its cover.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream vs. Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm

These days, it seems like everyone and their mother has a BB cream out.

Smashbox, Too Faced, Clinique, Stila, Dior... and the list goes on. (I just received a sample of Dr. Brandt's new BB cream the other day, but haven't had a chance to try it yet)

Now, I didn't get on the BB cream bandwagon when it first started so I've yet to try any traditional Asian BB creams. I think that I've been hesitant to try them because, while they are supposed to be these magical a million-in-one products, they just seem like tinted moisturizers to me - which are products that I like, don't get me wrong, but I've already got enough of those that I enjoy.  Many of the BB creams are also a one-color-fits-all kind of product, which I'm always leery of, and I've read that others have a grayish cast, which kind of freaks me out.

But I was at Sephora a couple of weeks back, and found myself a little curious about the BB creams put out by some of the major makeup companies. In particular, I was interested in the offerings from Smashbox and Too Faced, simply because I'm a fan of both of those companies.

Stila on HauteLook

Stila Backstage Palette is on sale for $12 (originally $28) - I have this one and it's gorgeous!

Starting today at 11 am EST, Stila is available on HauteLook.

If you don't know what HauteLook is, you can read about it here, and if you're not a member, you can sign up here.

There are a quite a few palettes on sale, but individual shadows, liners, and glosses are as well.  I think that there are even some concealers and foundations available as well.

If you pick anything up, share below.  I'm trying to be a good girl and not buy anything from this sale.

Happy shopping!

Current Obsession: Peachy/Orange/Coral Nail Polish

So many pretty peachy/orange/coral nail polishes, so little time...

 It's probably obvious by now, but I am totally crazy about peach, coral and orange-y makeup shades.

Whether it's lipstick, gloss, blush or even eye shadow, I just find myself drawn to peachy shades more and more.  My current obsession, though, is peach, coral and orange tones in nail polish. It's the perfect manicure for spring and summer when I want something lighter and brighter, but don't want to go the route of a traditional baby pink or nude shade. 

There are a ton of beautiful peach, orange and coral polishes out there, but here are a few of my favorites.

Buxom True Hue Blush Review

Buxom True Hue Blushes

So the very generous and very wise Easter Bunny brought me a Sephora gift card - and he was even kind enough to bring it a little early so I could hit the store this past Saturday afternoon while I was away for Easter weekend.

Gotta love that Easter Bunny.

Now, as I mentioned before, lately whenever I'm let loose in Sephora, blush is the only thing I can think about. I tried to be open-minded as I roamed the aisles on Saturday, I swear, but somehow it was always the blush that caught my eye.  I thought about getting some more Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes or adding another Nars stunner to my collection. I also had another of the LORAC Baked Satin Matte Blushes in my hand at one point, but ultimately, I decided to go with a couple that I've had my eye on for a couple of months now.

Buxom's True Hue Blushes.

Urban Decay on Haute Look

Starting today at 11 am EST, Urban Decay will be on Haute Look.

I've written about Haute Look several times before, but if you're unfamiliar with the site, it sells high end and designer items at discounted prices.  For example, the last time that Urban Decay was on Haute Look, I got their tinted moisturizer for $3 and a set of their mini shadow pencils for $12.

If you want to sign up as a Haute Look member, you can do so here. 

I definitely recommend the Book of Shadows IV palette for $24 (I think it was originally $64, if you can believe that) - it's my favorite of the ones I have because it's got a great combination of bold colors and gorgeous neutrals. The Primer Potion's also available for $9, which is a pretty good deal if you need to stock up.

Are you planning to pick up anything?  If you do, let me know what goodies you score!

Happy shopping!

Five Minute Face

One of the few things I get more excited about than makeup - David Wright (and the rest of the Mets!)

There are few things that I'm more passionate about than makeup - the New York Mets and the start of the baseball season tops that short list.  All the experts may have already written the season off for the Amazins, but I've had today marked on my calendar for months.

Gotta love Opening Day (and they won, so I'm loving it a little more right now).

However, because the game started at 1pm - and all the festivities starting even earlier - I was really pressed for time today.  I wanted to get some stuff done before the game too, like my workout, laundry, and a couple of work-related things, but I didn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn - which meant that I didn't have much time for showering, dressing, and doing my makeup before the game.

So I decided to rely on old faithful - my 5 minute face routine.

Bare Escentuals Bare Luxury TSV - 2nd Shipment

Bare Escentuals' Bare Luxury TSV Second Shipment

Back in November, I ordered the Bare Escentuals Bare Luxury TSV from QVC - and because I'm a glutton, I signed up for auto-delivery so I'd get 3 additional kits in the future.  Today, my best friend the UPS man showed up with the second shipment and I have to say, I think I like this kit a little better than the first. 

Of course, I've only swatched and played around with the product so far, so I reserve the right to change my mind.

While both kits contain the same products, the colors are different and this second shipment just seems perfect for spring.

Too Faced Summer Eye Palette

Too Faced Summer Eye Palette

When it comes to makeup, I tend to make snap decisions.

For example, I'll see a photo of a new lipstick shade or swatch of a new blush online and within seconds of seeing it, I've either decided that I love it and cannot live without it or it's just not pretty enough to be part of my collection.

Crazy, I know.

Mainly because when I rush out and buy (or don't, in some cases) whatever item it is that I've decided I love, there's always the risk that it won't live up to the expectations I've created in my head and I come away disappointed.

That's happened more than once, unfortunately.

It doesn't seem to stop me from being impulsive.

Case in point - the moment I caught a glimpse of Too Faced's new Summer Eye Palette, I knew that I was going to buy it.  The colors looked gorgeous in photos, I was drooling over swatches on other blogs, and I adored the fun packaging that just screams summer.

I was a goner.

Too Faced on Haute Look

Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette

Starting today at 11 am EST, Too Faced is available on HauteLook. 

If you're unfamiliar with HauteLook, I gave a brief rundown of the site here, but basically it's a site that offers really good deals on a variety of high end and designer products. You need to be a member to purchase from HauteLook, but membership is free.  You can sign up here.

The Smoky Eye Palette is available - I've had my eye on it for quite some time and at $17 (instead of the usual $35!), it might finally be time to get it. 

If you pick up anything, let me know what goodies you score.

Happy shopping!