November Favorites

November Favorites

Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to enter my holiday giveaway for the Too Faced Sweet Indulgences Palette.  You can find all the info here. Thanks to everyone who's already entered!

Last month, I missed out on doing a monthly favorites post because of Hurricane Sandy and losing power for almost two weeks.

That totally bummed me out.

So I'm back on track this month with my November favorites - however, this month has a slight disclaimer. Because I didn't have power for the first 10 days or so of the month, I wasn't wearing a lot of makeup.  The rest of the month, I've been playing with some of the new products that I'd gotten in mid-October but didn't really get a chance to try before the storm.

That's a long, roundabout way of saying my favorites list is pretty short this month.  

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette is Available

Urban Decay's new all-matte Naked Basics Palette is now available on their website.

It's $27 and contains 6 shades.  One of the shadows, Foxy, is featured in the UD Naked 2 Palette, but the others are new to the Naked palettes.

If you want it, I wouldn't wait too long - these palettes always fly off the shelves.

And yes - I bought one. 

I just couldn't resist.

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Giveaway! Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette (CLOSED)

Too Faced Sweet Indulgence Palette

I love this time of year.

There's tons of yummy food, lots of parties, pretty lights and presents.

What's not to love?

But really, my favorite part of the holidays is giving gifts.

I love picking out the perfect gifts for family and friends and seeing their reaction when they open them.

It's an even better feeling that being set loose in Sephora with a wad of cash in my pocket.

So I'm really exited to do a giveaway in time for the holidays - and I hope you guys like what I picked out.

The Too Faced Sweet Indulgences Palette.

Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous TSV on QVC

Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous TSV

I've been meaning to get this review up for weeks but between trying to get caught up on work after all the time I lost after the hurricane and Thanksgiving last week, I just didn't get around to it.

Well, better late than never because you can purchase the Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous TSV from QVC starting at midnight tonight (or tomorrow, technically). 


The kit contains three separate boxes - one that contains four full-size Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Liners; one that contains four full-size Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Glosses; and one that contains 20 full-size Amazonian Clay Infused Shadows.

Cyber Monday Deals

If you're like me, you've already spent a ton this past weekend with all the amazing Black Friday/Thanksgiving day sales. 

Well, it continues today with tons of amazing Cyber Monday deals... so if you haven't finished holiday shopping for the makeup lovers in your life or you just want to treat yourself to get in the holiday spirit, here are some good deals worth checking out (this list certainly isn't exhaustive; I'm sure there are sales I've missed.  If you know of any good ones, please leave a comment below):


The Balm- 40% off site wide with code CYBERMONDAY. Good 9am PST Monday through 9am PST Tuesday

NARS - 20% off all orders (with the exception of single item orders of the pencil sharpener, sponge refill or foundation pump) with code NARSFF2012. Good Monday 12am EST through Tuesday 11:59pm EST.

Tarte - 25% off & free shipping on orders of $40 and up with code CYBER. Good until 11:59pm EST tonight.

Too Faced - Get a Mystery Grab Bag with 5 products that have a retail value of $97.50 for $19 on Cyber Monday.

e.l.f. - 50% off site wide on order $25 and up with code 50WIDE. Good until midnight tonight.



Happy Shopping!

The Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2 Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered The Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2 Giveaway.  I loved reading everyone's comments.

I am happy to announce that the winner is Sheen G.

If you didn't win this time, there will be another giveaway soon.  I usually try to space them about a month apart but the next one is for a holiday gift set item and I'd like the winner to get it in time for at least part of the holidays, so I'm thinking I'll do it next week.  Keep an eye out.

As always, thank you to everyone who reads the blog, leaves comments and sends emails. I love sharing my makeup obsession with the world at large, but you guys make it so much more fun. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you live in the U.S., I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends with plenty to be thankful for.

If you don't live in the U.S., I hope you're having a wonderful Thursday with lots to be thankful for too.

I am thankful for so many things that it would take hours to list them here... but I would like to express how grateful I am for everyone who reads this blog, takes the time to leave a comment or send me an email.  You guys make something that I love - makeup and all that it entails - and somehow make it even more fun. 

I really didn't think that was possible.

Thank you so much.
 

The Balm Is Back on HauteLook Tomorrow!

Starting tomorrow, Thursday November 22nd at 11 am EST, the Balm will be back on HauteLook.

As you can tell from the preview photo above, it looks like not only the totally amazing Nude'Tude Palette will be available but the fabulous Balm Jovi Palette too.  I adore both palettes and would pay full price for either in a heartbeat so when you can get a good deal on them like at HauteLook, it's a no brainer to pick them up.  I'll probably do a little holiday shopping myself.

I know that it's Thanksgiving here in the States tomorrow, but between basting the turkey and chowing down on pumpkin pie, you can find a few free minutes to pick up some goodies from the Balm. 

I know I will anyway.

If you aren't a HauteLook member yet, you can sign up here.

Happy Shopping!

Tarte Statement Lips 5-piece LipSurgence Collector's Set

(Note - just a friendly reminder that there's plenty of time to enter my giveaway for the Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2.  You can find all the info here. And a big thank you to everyone who's entered already!)

You're probably starting to realize that I have very little willpower when it comes to holiday sets, palettes and kits.

It is a serious weakness of mine.

I justify it by focusing on the fact that they're such good values - because seriously, it's hard to beat them.

I am a big fan of the Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tints - and at this point, it's tradition for me to pick up the holiday set.

And you can't break tradition, right?

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Enthusiast Set

Tarte Holiday Blush Set

One of the things that I love best about the holidays - and I love so many, many things, it would be impossible to list them all - is the value sets that so many cosmetics companies put out. 

Not only do they make great gifts, they're a great way to try new products or stock up on old favorites that you know you love. 

This year, instead of just putting out the standard lip gloss and eyeliner sets, Tarte realized that their Amazonian clay blushes are some of their most popular products and put out a fun set of four of the blushes -  the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Enthusiast Set ($35).

MAC Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kit in 5 Warm Eyes

MAC Fabulosness Holiday Eye Kit in Warm Eyes

(Note - just a friendly reminder that there's plenty of time to enter my giveaway for the Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2.  You can find all the info here. And a big thank you to everyone who's entered already!)

I'm a sucker for cute packaging.

It's sad but true.

So when I caught a glimpse of MAC's Fabulousness Holiday Eye Kits ($39.50), I knew that I was going to be the owner of one of those babies.

I mean the boxes alone are beyond adorable, but the compacts are just insanely cute. 

How could I resist?

MAC Glamour Daze Holiday Colour Collection

MAC Glamour Daze Holiday Colour Collection

 

 

(Note - just a friendly reminder that there's plenty of time to enter my giveaway for the Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2.  You can find all the info here. And a big thank you to everyone who's entered already!)


I had no intention of buying anything from MAC's holiday collections.

I'll admit that I used to get all caught up in them, but then MAC started putting out more and more limited edition collections throughout the year and adding more products to the holiday line and I just got overwhelmed.

This year, though, I got suckered into buying a few items.

Giveaway Time! The Balm Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2 (CLOSED)

The Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2

I am crazy about the Balm.  I'm sure you know that by now.

But of all of their products, my favorite just may be the Shady Lady Palette Vol. 2 (well, it's probably tied with the Nude'Tude Palette if I'm being totally honest.)

It's the one palette that I always, without fail, bring with me when I travel because it has the perfect shades for a daytime look, the perfect shades for a smoky evening eye, and even a couple of bright shades for adding a pop of color.

It is just such a fun, versatile and wearable palette. 

And since I am so in love with it, it only seems right that I share one with one of my fabulous readers.

Tarte Miracle of Maracuja AD Shipment #3

Tarte Miracle of Maracuja AD Shipment #3

(Note - this post was meant to go up last night, but I had trouble with our internet connection. I apologize for the delay and keep an eye out later today for another post - it's a giveaway!)

Another day, another Tarte TSV AD shipment.

Seriously, as big of a makeup junkie as I am, even I'm somewhat overwhelmed by having two entire new kits from Tarte to play with this week.

But I'm also excited.  New makeup always makes just a little bit happier.

Along with the What Has Your Makeup Done for You Lately? kit that I wrote about yesterday, I received the third and final installment of the Miracle of Maracuja TSV AD program from QVC this week. I haven't had much time to play with it, but my first impressions are definitely positive.

Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For Your Lately? A/D Shipment #2

Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For You Lately? TSV Box

You know that you have a serious QVC addiction when two new installments of a TSV show up on your doorstep on the same day.

And from the same brand no less.

That's what happened to me today - my UPS man dropped off the second installment of the Tarte What Has Your Makeup Done For Your Lately? TSV and the third (and final) shipment of the Tarte Miracle of Maracuja TSV this afternoon.

So yeah.  I know I've got a problem.

I just can't resist these deals. 

Seriously.

The Balm Liquid Time Balm Spot Concealer

The last time that the Balm was Haute Look, I predictably bought a few items.

At this point, I think that I have purchased every single item from the Balm that I'm interested in. Well, until they come out with some new products anyway.

Of the four products that I bought this time, the Liquid Time Balm Spot Concealer was probably the one that I had the fewest hopes for - and yet I may actually like this one best.

Getting back into the swing of things...

Well, I've certainly been gone much longer than I ever thought I would be.

As predicted, we survived Hurricane (or as they seem to be calling it now, Super Storm) Sandy without any real damage to the house. A tree fell at the front of our lawn onto the power lines so we did have a live wire laying across our front walkway (which went on fire several times and prompted two visits from the fire department.  That was seriously scary.)

And it took the utility company almost two weeks to get our power back on. 

Seriously.

We didn't get our electricity back until this past Friday - and when it did come back, only half the house had power. Bizarre, right?  I didn't even know that was possible. Fortunately, a crew came out today and fixed our remaining problem so we have full on power again. 

But in the grand scheme of things, nearly two weeks without power isn't really a big deal considering how much so many people around here are suffering.  I'm feeling incredibly grateful.  If you're interested in donating to those in need, the Red Cross is always a good place to start but I'll also mention New York Cares since it's a local organization.

Now that I have my power back, I'll be back to a regular schedule with posts.  Last month I bought quite a few products that I've been dying to tell you guys about and I think I have a couple of new installments of Tarte TSVs from QVC coming in the next few weeks so there's plenty of interesting stuff for us to chat about. 

Thanks for your patience.