Christmas Day Makeup

Christmas is almost upon us! Are you excited? I know I am.
I haven't been that blogger that does the FOTD or OOTD posts. Mainly because I'm hopeless at taking pictures of myself, and don't like having my picture taken, but that doesn't mean I can't share what I planning on putting on my face on Christmas day.
Christmas is going to be at our house this year, so I'm not going to be to worry about touch ups, if I need to pop in my room and reapply lipstick its no big deal.

 So I'll start with the base-ics. I will be squeezing the last of my NYX Photo-Loving Primer and applying is all over my face. Followed by my new favorite foundation Maybeline Fit Me! Matte-Poreless. I will be using this to get the highest level of coverage it will give, using a makeup sponge.
Then for concealer! I will be using my Physictions Formula Concealer RX to cover any and all spots. And my Rimmel Match Perfection Conceal-Highlight for under my eyes, my forehead, and the bridge of my nose.
I will bake the concealer and every thing I highlighted with my Coty Airspun Loose Powder for as long as time will permit, probably ten-fifteen minutes.
Once I have removed all the excess powder, I will do my eyebrows. I have falling back in love with my ELF Brow Kit, finishing off with my Benefit Ready, Set Brow!.

Next will be the finishing touches.
I know in my monthly favorites I said that I have been loving pinky shades on my eyes, which is completely true, but can you really not wear some kind of shimmery copper or gold on Christmas? So The Too Faced Shadow Insurance is currently the only eyeshadow primer I have, so I will be using that.I've picked my Too Faced Gingerbread Cookie Palette, the shades Ginger Cream, Maple Syrup, and Gingersnap to be specific. I will probably also use the bronzer Gingerbread that comes in this palette as a light contour shade.
Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Blushing Bride has been my blush of choice this month so I will be using that.  And Too Faced Candlelight Glow in Rosy Glow on my upper jaw line, the center of my eyelids, and my cupids bow.
And last but not least it eyeliner and mascara. I think I will go for a little wing using my Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner. And the wonderful Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara from Tarte.
And Finishing it all off with my new NYX Lip Lingerie in Lace Detail.

From Right to Left: ELF brow powder in Medium, Fit Me! in Natural Ivory, True Match, Concealer RX

Blushing Bride, Rosy Glow, Maple Gingerbread, Gingersnap, Maple Syrup, Ginger Cream

Eyeko liner in Black, Lace Detail.


So nothing to complicated, just a light glam look.
For the most part I listed these products in the order I use them, but I switched around a couple to make things flow better. I may do a How I Do My Makeup or a, Everyday Makeup post some, saying not just what I'm using but how I'm using it.

What are your Christmas day makeup essentials?

NYX Born To Glow vs Benefit High Beam

I think every beauty blogger loves finding dupes for high-end beauty products, and I am no exception. when I picked up the NYX Liquid Illuminator at Ulta I wasn't thinking it would be a dupe for the Benefit High Beam liquid highlighter, but the next day when I used it I said to myself " this seems familiar"

The only major differences in these two highlighters are the price, and the packaging. The Benefit highlighter comes a glass bottle and has a small brush applicator, and the NYX highlighter comes in a squeezy tube.
Benefit High Beam Liquid Highlighter $26.00
NYX Born To Glow Liquid Luminater $7.49

The Benefit highlighter has a very creamy texture, and once its blended in just  leaves a lovely glow.

The NYX highlighter has a bit more of a metallic look when first applied, and takes a little longer to blend, leaving a glow as well as a tiny bit of a shimmer.

High Beam on the left, and Born To Glow in Sun Beam on the right.

If this post seems a bit short it's because I really had a hard time finding any differences in these two products, they are both amazing, and I don't think you could go wrong with either of them.
Personally I would be way more likely to repurchase the NYX one because of the price.

Have you tried either of these highlighters?
Do you prefer powder and liquid highlighters?
Anna.

September Favorites

I haven't done a favorites post in a couple of months, and in all honesty I've really missed them. I feel like the month isn't quite complete without them.
Speaking of months! Is it just me or did September go by super fast? It seems like the best ones go by the fastest.
There are so many products I have been loving lately that I really had to narrow it down to my absolute favorites. after much deliberation I finally got it down to nine of the products that I have been using pretty much every day.

After hearing a lot of good things about Pixi I decided to try out one of their products, the Pixi Skintreats Lash Nourish Makeup Remover Pads to be exact. Pixi isn't the easiest brand to get your hands on in my area since you can only get it in store at Target, and I hardly ever go there.  I have been on a bit of makeup remover kick over the last couple of months, and this one is at the top of the list.
This Pearlessence Cucumber Water Face Mist is a wonderful and refreshing product. This has quite a light, fine mist. The only thing I don't like about this product is that its in a glass bottle, which means I can't take it in my bag
 I was a little skeptical about ThisWorks In transit Camera Close-up because it says it is a mask, moisturizer and primer one, so I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do with it. The first time I used this was as a primer and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I definitely notice a difference in how long my foundation lasted over it, and it made my skin feel really nice. Because of its softening and blurring affects I have been using this mainly as a stand alone product on the days when I'm not wearing any other makeup.
   I have had a bit of a love hate relationship with this Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Foundation. The first time I used it did not go well, after a couple of hours it was cakey, heavy, and all over felt really awful. Needless to say was disappointed, I had heard so many great things about this foundation that I was sure it would work.
By now you are probably wondering why this is in my monthly favorites if I dislike it so much. Well long store short, one day I had run out of the foundation I had been using and didn't want to wear my Born This Way foundation to work, so I decided to give this another go. I found that because its a whipped foundation what I needed about half of what I had been used to using for foundation. Once I figured that out I really did like it, the coverage is really nice a natural and the shade (Porcelain Ivory)is spot on.
 I got this Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer deluxe sample for free the last time I was in Ulta ( my mom actually got it) and it was love at first sight. This is dare I say the best bronzer I have ever used? I think I do because it really is lovely, the color look very natural on my skin tone, and since it is matte it is perfect for an everyday contour. Plus it smells like cocoa! What's not to love!
Yet another deluxe sample, I have been using this Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Cheeks Blush everyday for the past couple of weeks, and am loving everything about it. Its a beautiful peachy color with a bit of gold undertones.
Have y'all heard enough about all of Benefit's brow collection? I know I have, but I still really wanted to try some of it out. I had just ran out of brow gel so I thought it would be the perfect time to try out Benefit's Ready, Set, Brow! This is a 24hr shaping and setting gel, I honestly don't know who would wear there makeup for 24hr so it doesn't really matter if it lasts that long to me. As for the product its self I can't really tell if the gel is different from any other I have used in the past, but the packaging is way better. When this came in the mail I wasn't completely prepared for how amazing the container would be. it is by far the coolest looking product on my dressing table.
   I know I have talked about this  Banana Republic Wildbloom Rouge perfume before, but I don't think I have talked about how perfect it is for Autumn. Its a very deep floral scent, but not super strong.
  I stole this Clinique Different Lip Stick in A Different Grape from my mom about a year ago, it is everything you could ask for in a lipstick. As you probably know berry lipstick is very popular this time of year. I wish the picture showed off the color of it better, its a beautiful deep reddish purple color. It feels lovely on and doesn't make my lips feel dry.

That is about it for my September favorites.
Have you tried any of these products?
What are have been some of your September favorites?
Have a wonderful weekend.
Anna.

My June Favorites

 June is almost over and that means it's time for another month of great products. I have nine to share with you this time, so I don't think I will do to much reviewing just short little blip to tell why I love them.

 Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride

This was my very first Tarte product( I'm sure it won't be the last) and I absolutely love it. It is a tiny bit darker than I would normally go for in a blush, so I have to use a light touch. I got this on PoshMark brand new for $12.00, which as you can imagine, I was super happy about. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer Mini 

I had heard so much about this bronzer from other blogger as well as YouTube, that I know I had to give it a try. I had originally planed on getting the full sized one, but I had purchased quite a few other thing that day, so I saved a couple of pennies, Yay!

Anyway, I really do like this bronzer, since I dropped my Rimmel one on the floor this one has become my go to.

Benefit High Beam Highlighter

 This is a wonderful highlighter! There really isn't much more to say. I was a little worried that I wouldn't like a liquid highlighter, but it turns out, I do!

Jesse's Girl Natural Nudes Palette

I did a full review with swatches and everything HERE.

Rusk Thermal Serum

Since I have been curling and blow drying my hair more lately it has become really important to use a heat protectant. And this one makes my hair feel soft and smooth, so definitely a great product.

Kenneth Cole Reaction For Her Body Mist

I have had this body mist for a while now but hadn't really used it that much. I go through phases where I use the same perfume over and over and never use the others. 

This has a very light, fresh scent, so it's perfect for these time of year.

Grace Cole English Rose Body Lotion

I'm not a big fan of scented lotion in general, but this one is a so nice and light that it really doesn't bother me at all. It's such a lovely light creamy lotion, it makes me feel so elegant using it.

Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream

Sally Hansen is probably my favorite brand when it comes to nail care, and this cuticle cream is no exception. It leaves my nails and cuticles feeling so soft and happy. It also smells really nice, a bit like orange cream.

L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Julianne's Nude

This is my fancy lipstick, it's quite simply gorgeous. Everything about it, from the case to the lipstick it's self it elegant and classy. I love the way it smells to, just like proper lipstick should.

From the top:

Hoola,

High Beam,

Blushing Bride,

Julianne's Nude. 

Well that's it for my favorites this month. I feel a bit weird that there wasn't an Essie polish this time, but I guess there can't be one every month.

What are some of you're favorites from this month?

Have you tried any of these?

Have a wonderful day,

Anna.

Don't forget to check out my May Favorites.

Sephora & Ulta Haul

 Hey Everybody!
Sorry this post is a little bit late, my advanced planing skills really weren't working this week.
Yesterday I went shopping with some friends at a not to distant mall, and I had been saving my pennies for certain products, so of course I picked up a couple of them. 

 Sephora was our first stop, and so that's where I'll start. I had quite a few thing I have been wanting to try, so it was a little hard to finally decide on the two thing I came away with.

 Smashbox Photo Finish foundation primer

Benefit High Beam luminescent complexion enhancer

Benefit Hoola bronzing powder mini

Soap&Glory Sugar Crush body wash  

CHI Helmet Head extra-firm hair spray 

Yes To Cucumbers soothing facial wipes 

 L'Oreal Collection Exclusive lip stick in Julianne's Nude 

                              Hoola bronzer, Julianne's Nude

 So far the only ones I have used are the L'Oreal lip stick and the cucumber facial wipes, so I am super excited to try all these out over the weekend. I will probably be doing some reviews of these products in the next couple of weeks, so keep you're eyes open.

Do you have any of these products?

Which do you prefer, Ulta or Sephora?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and safe travels if you are visiting friend or family.

Anna.