May 2014 Favorites

Time for some favorites for the past month!  Let's get to it.

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning (review) -- I've been using this every other night to give me some color on my face and décolleté.  It's light and milky, and feels kind of refreshing.  A great, gradual self tanner.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation -- True story: I needed a new foundation to match my newly self-tanned face, and I didn't want to spend too much money on one because I wasn't sure how often I was going to self-tan, or even if I was going to like doing it.  So, I went to CVS and looked for the cheapest (or close to it) foundation and discovered this one for $6, plus I had some Extra Bucks, so it cost me $2.  I hadn't done any "homework" on it, so I was buying it with only having read the ingredients on the back (I liked the fact it has titanium dioxide for sunscreen).  I took it home and immediately slapped it on my face, and discovered it was a light, liquidy, comfortable foundation with light to medium coverage.  It was a win!  I've been wearing it almost everyday, and think it is rather great.  The packaging, however, leaves something to be desired.  It is a glass bottle with no pump that is narrower at the bottom than the top, so it is quite tippy.  Chance of me spilling it: near 100%.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder -- I have already repurchased this powder.  It gives a nice finish to the skin, doesn't look powdery, and it isn't drying.  Inelegant packaging, but whatever.  It works.

Too Faced à la mode Eyes -- This palette has nothing but shimmery shadows, so I have to supplement it with matte shadow from somewhere else, but I don't mind.  The colors are so springy/summery and just feel right for this time of year.  My favorite colors: Jardin (shimmery peach), Cannes (shimmery and sparkly copper), and Soleil (shimmery plummy brown).  De La Mer (shimmery navy blue) makes a great liner color.

MAC Lipglass in Water Deities from the Alluring Aquatics Collection -- This is a very shimmery "light bronzy pink" (according to MAC). It has the signature Lipglass vanilla scent and tacky texture that makes it long-wearing.  Gorgeous color.  Pretty packaging doesn't hurt either.

This is only a small part of the garden!

My Garden! -- The garden is looking lush and full now that all the plants are up.  Plenty of spring flowers have been blooming over the past month, and it's really fun to see what blooms when, what starts growing when, and where I need to add more plants!

I'd love to hear about some of your recent favorites!

January 2014 Beauty Favorites

I'm a little late with this post.  Maybe I should call it "The polar vortex/I'm fed up with winter favorites" post.  Wait.  That sounds like I'm fed up with winter favorites.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette -- I've been using this almost everyday either by itself, or in conjunction with some other shadows.  My favorite colors: Limit (for the crease mostly), Nooner (to darken the crease), Buzz, and Trick.  Blackheart is a great liner, too.

from left: Limit, Nooner, Buzz, Trick, Blackheart

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation -- I like the texture of this.  It's smooth and thin and feels light on the skin.  I would say it has medium coverage, but it can be built up for more.  It doesn't separate or break down on my skin, and it seems to have good wear time.

Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar -- This has been a long-time favorite of mine.   I've been using it more lately because I feel like warming up my skintone and pretending like I've been outside.

Maybelline Color Sensational The Elixir Lipgloss in 095 Blush Essence -- Balmy and shiny and a color that looks good with everything and I wear it almost everyday and this has turned into a run-on sentence.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Rose Aurora (limited edition from spring 2012) -- This is so perfect with the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  The lipstick is a shimmery rose that compliments the colors in the palette wonderfully.  Too bad it was limited edition.

from left: Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar, Maybelline Elixir lipgloss in Blush Essence, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in Rose Aurora

Thanks for visiting and have an exquisite day!

I almost forgot a non-beauty related favorite!  The new blanket my sister made for me!  It's made of fleece, and one side is Detroit Tigers material and the other side is Michigan State Spartans material.  How awesome is it?!

Recent Beauty Favorites

Here are a few of my latest makeup favorites:

Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara -- This has become my go to mascara.  I can put a thin coat on for more natural lashes, or apply a few coats for lots of volume.  It leaves the lashes soft, doesn't move or flake on me, and isn't difficult to remove.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse -- I use this foundation much more often in the winter.  It slides off my face in the summer, but it is nice and creamy, which I find works well for my skin in the winter.  Depending on application, coverage can be sheer or almost full.

Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir in Blush Essence (review) -- I really like the formula and color of this gloss.  I've been wearing it almost daily because it seems to go with everything and it is so comfortable to wear.

Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette -- I have found this palette to be surprisingly versatile.  The neutrals are wonderful and very wearable for everyday, and the shimmery/sparkly colors are really fun for something more dramatic.  I will admit, the hot pink is so pigmented that it intimidates me slightly.

NARS Blush in Orgasm -- For some reason I've been reaching for this peachy-pinky gold-infused blush lots lately.  I used to wear it ALL the time (I'm on my third one).  I've forgotten how much I like it.  I think I'm going to have to break out the Super Orgasm blush (the one with the gold glitter) for Christmas and New Year's.

Orly Nail Laquer in Shine -- I have been wearing this sparkly foil polish on all ten of my nails.  I think it's an interesting silver with the extra little sparkly bits.

I'm sort of amazed how many Maybelline products I'm using (I didn't even include the Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser concealer which I love and use every day).

Thanks for visiting and have a brilliant day!

Recent Empties and Repurchased Products

Since my favorites haven't really changed within the past month, I thought I would do an empties post instead (which I've never done).  Besides, these kind of work as favorites because I don't think I would use up something I don't like!

Skincare

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes
     Repurchase:  Yes.  I've been using these for ages.  They are really easy to use and effective.  I keep them on my bedside table.

Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil
     Repurchase:  Yes.  I've been using this oil for a few years and absolutely love it.  It's so soothing and moisturizing.

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer
     Repurchase:  Already have.  It is has a lovely lightweight texture, and is hydrating and gentle with broad spectrum SPF 40.

Makeup

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation
     Repurchase:  Yes.  I've actually repurchased this a couple of times.  It's a sponge-on foundation that gives adjustable coverage depending on how much you put on the sponge.  I sometimes go without concealer when I wear this because I can get pretty full coverage when I pat it on a spot instead of swiping it across the skin.  It feels light on the skin, and has a satin (not dewy, not matte) finish.  It does not contain sunscreen.

Sephora Mattifying Foundation
     Repurchase:  I would, but they repackaged and may have reformulated this.  I decided to try some different pressed powders for summer, to see if they would control oil better than this for the warmer months.

Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara
     Repurchase:  I think so.  I have a bunch of mascara samples to try, and I was thinking about trying the Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal mascara, but I've been pretty happy with the Full 'N Soft since it gives nice volume without making my lashes feel stiff or crunchy.

Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss in Lychee (a sparkling very light (almost white) pink)
     Repurchase:  Yes, but most likely in a the holiday set the put out in November-December.  I've bought the set the past two years they offered it, and have actually used up three or four of the glosses in them (to finish a gloss is unusual for me!) which I think says a lot about the formula.  It is really smooth and slightly sticky, but very moisturizing, which is why I like it so much.  I use these more because I like the formula and not so much for the colors because they all look pretty similar on my lips.


Any favorites you've repurchased numerous times?

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation

So, I have been in the market for a new foundation.  I decided that there were times when I wanted a little more coverage than what my Stila tinted moisturizer gave me.  I had been considering purchasing the new Benefit "Hello Flawless" Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation, but after using a sample of it for about a week I realized it wasn't for me.  It seemed to make my skin oilier and separated a good deal by the end of the day.  I had also thought about trying the new Urban Decay Naked foundation, but I read some reviews that said it started out nice and semi-matte, but slipped quite a bit after a few hours of wear.   Then I saw a new Becca foundation on Sephora's website.

 I read up on it on the website which says: This sophisticated silicone emulsion contains sebum-absorbing properties that provide a perfectly natural look and even complexion all day. The soft, smooth texture glides on seamlessly, reducing imperfections with buildable coverage that easily blends over the skin for a radiant finish. The formula contains Ejitsu Rose, which helps to improve elasticity and radiance while providing anti-inflammatory properties; mineral pigments that help color stay true on the skin; and vitamin E to enhance moisture retention while protecting against pollution and free-radical damage.

And: This non-drying, water-resistant foundation won’t settle into fine lines or pores and is suitable for normal, combination, and oily skin. It is hypoallergenic and free of alcohol and fragrance.

Sounds good!  I was looking for a foundation that helped to control oil without being a matte foundation because sometimes they can be a little heavy and have more coverage than I want.   Well, the Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation is fantastic.  It smooths over skin beautifully and sets to a semi-matte/satin finish.  Hence the name, I suppose!  It doesn't look flat like many truly matte finish foundations can look.  You need just a few dots on the face to get medium coverage, and can sheer it out if desired.  It doesn't settle into fine liness or pores.  In fact, it seems to blur the look of them.  I do get a little break through oil on my forehead and nose when I wear this alone after about 4 hours (without a setting powder, which I almost always wear), but with a setting powder (like Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder) I get about 8 hours of wear.  I do wish it had some sunscreen, but I think that the lack of sunscreen is one of the reasons it has such a nice texture.

The packaging is a simple brown squeeze tube with a silver screw-off top, and a see-through stripe so you can see the color of the foundation inside.

The other great thing is that it comes in 18 different shades ranging from very light to deep with various different undertones.  I got mine from Sephora.com since, unfortunately, my local Sephora in JCPenney's  didn't carry Becca in the store, so I kind of had to guess at the color (I chose Shell, which is the second lightest color and is described as "fair beige with neutral undertones").  Luckily, I think I picked the right one (the descriptions of the colors on the website help).  I think probably most stand alone Sephora's carry Becca though, so it might be worth a trip to find one to get properly matched.

Pros:  Many shades to choose from
          Minimizes the look of pores and fine lines
          Smooth texture
          Anti-aging and anti-inflammatory ingredients
       
Cons:  Expensive

It is pricey at $42 a tube, but it seems like it will last a long time since so little is needed to get good coverage and a nice finish.  You can find it at Sephora and Beccacosmetics.com.