Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Best and Worst of 2014

It's the end of the year, and everyone is putting out their “best of the year” lists. So, rather than a December Favorites, this month you get my Best of the Year list.

Best

I was so impressed by this lipstick. It totally lived up to the internet hype around it. I have since tried other colors from the line, and none have impressed me like this one did. This is now my go-to, HG true red.

OK, even I'm getting tired of seeing me gush about how much I love this. :) If you look at my pot of this eyeshadow, you would see just how well-loved it is. This makes for an easy single shadow look, yet also makes a great base for a more complex one. While the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded is very similar, I actually like this one better.

This is another product that lived up to the internet hype. I have actually used a good portion of mine up, and that is pretty rare. This is my go-to concealer on days when I wear a lighter foundation, like a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. On good skin days I'll even use this alone. I found that this actually works OK on blemishes and other facial imperfections like dark spots. I will almost definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out.

What can I say about this that I haven't said already? How about that I found a gift set on sale for half price at Rite Aid the day after Christmas and couldn't pass it up. Now, not only do I have a backup perfume, I also have shower gel and lotion. Totally rocks!

Where would I be without this cream? I would be a giant, scaly mess, that's where. This cream single-handedly saved my face from increasingly dry, scaly, red patches that were making it impossible to wear makeup, weren't responding to anything else, and were on the verge of cracking. I have used it at least once a day since I bought it, and have already bought a replacement for when my tub runs out.

Hair oil has become a staple in my daily routine. I have found several that I can apply to my damp hair, and it will help tame frizzies as it dries naturally. And needing so little, I can add a little more to the ends later in the day on days with really bad fly-aways.

Book: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (completed 3/18/14)
This was, hands down, the best book I read all year. The story struck close to home in certain ways, and I was definitely fully invested in the lives of the characters. The movie was a very good adaptation, but like most, it just couldn't compare to the book. I laughed out loud and cried real tears, which meets my qualifications for a good book. This was one of the few that did that this year.


Movie (fiction): The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (viewed 1/4/14), Chef (viewed 5/16/14), Whiplash (viewed 11/22/14)
These three movies are all different, yet all similar in that they are stories of men searching for themselves. Walter Mitty does so by taking a trip around the world in search of a photograph for work. In Chef, the main character finds his passion again, for life, cooking, and family, by opening a food truck and driving it across the country. And in Whiplash, a young man strives to be the best drummer in the world, by pushing himself and by being pushed by a strict professor. Each of their stories are different, yet, at their core, they are the same.

Movie (documentary): One Last Hug (viewed 4/19/14)
I haven't been able to get this short film out of my head since I saw it in April. Maybe it was because it struck close to home. Maybe it was because it gave me ideas for the future in case they become needed. The film is about a grief camp for children who have lost a close loved one. The camp takes place over the course of one weekend, and focuses on children in all stages of grief who lost loved ones from several different means. I was so moved by the film that after, I looked up the featured camp and grief camps in general.

TV: TGIT
I talked about this a few months ago, and it holds true today. I've been watching Grey's Anatomy and Scandal since the beginning, and they continue to hold their own if not improve each week. But the newcomer this year, How to Get Away With Murder, had some real stunner moments so far this season. I'm interested to see what they do when the show comes back after the winter break.

Trend: Matte Lips
I love that this has come back around full force. I was semi-into this in the 1990's, and now that I'm older, I feel more confident to wear it proudly. I love being able to wear a matte purple lip and not look totally out of place.

Other Greats from 2014: Wet and Wild (so much better than when I was a teen); shopping the sales; high end sample sets (get to try out products without spending a fortune on full-size products I don't know if I'll like); reaching Platinum level at Ulta and VIB at Sephora (although feel a little guilty about that as well); beauty boxes in general (Birchbox, Ipsy, Target, Walmart).

Biggest Disappointments of the Year: Cancer (should be on the top of the list every year); perfume samples in non-spray testers (I have so many I haven't used up because of this); trying to find a foundation as a fair-colored neutral (everything seems to be either too pink, too yellow, or too orange; BB creams have worked best, and yellow can be made to not look so sickly)


What tops your list this year? Anything at the bottom that I should make sure to stay away from?

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Walmart Beauty Box Winter 2014/2015



Back in October, I tried to grab the Fall Walmart Beauty Box, but they had already sold out. In doing so I automatically signed up to receive future boxes starting with the winter box. These currently go for $5 each with free shipping.


The items included:

Pond's Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream (travel size/sample) – I plan on using this once my current night cream runs out, which should be pretty soon. Funny (and sweet) story: when I was showing both the kiddo and my hubby the box (separately) and I pulled this one out, they both said “but you don't have wrinkles”. It was really sweet if totally not true.



Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash; Dove Oxygen Moisture Conditioner for fine, flat hair; and Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo for fine, flat hair (all travel size) – These all seem to go together as kind of a nice set. I'm sure I'll use these at some point. I've used similar Dove products before without any issues.




CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lipcolor in 626 Canyon (full size) – This one, I'm really excited about. This is the only full size product in the box, and luckily it is a color that looks very promising. I can't wait to try this out!

Pond's Wet Cleansing Towlettes in Original Fresh (travel size) – I think I mentioned in a recent post that I use face wipes every night, so these will be put in the rotation.


Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder (sample) – This is a small sample on a cardboard insert, and on the flip side was a coupon. So, OK, a powder sample is nice and seems to be about the right shade for me. But really, couldn't they spring for a coupon that expired a little more than 2 weeks from when we received the box?

Overall, I thought this was kind of a weak box. I will use the products, and the lipstick alone was worth more than $5, making the box worth the cost. However, compared to other similar boxes for similar cost, this was the weakest of the bunch. Also, it really kind of irked me that they sent a coupon that expired within 2 weeks.


Did you pick up the Walmart box? What did you think?

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas Gifts 2014


I must say, this was a very beauty-centric holiday! I received some great gifts from my wonderful family that I can't wait to share. Santa must have thought I was a very good girl this year. ;)

Beauty:

Bath and Body Works A Thousand Wishes Fragrance Mist – The kiddo got me this year's scent, which we had talked about grabbing before but it hadn't been released yet. A little fruity, a little flowery, definitely feminine.

Lush Happy Christmas set – A gift from my sister after what I had asked for was sold out and told her to surprise me with something she has liked. I have heard great things about Lush, and this kit seems like a great way to get to know the company. Included in the box are:
  • Santa's Lip Scrub – This has little hearts in it! On first try, this does seem to have more of a cola smell and just a hint of taste, but is still very nice.
  • So White Shower Gel – Smells like apples :) I did try this out, and I think it smells more like cola than tastes like it, as advertised.
  • Baked Alaska Soap – My sister said she has this at home and loves it, and it was one of the main reasons she grabbed this box.
  • Rub Rub Rub Shower Scrub – They give several suggestions for using this salt scrub, one of which is as a part of pedicures. Might be using today in a little pampering session.
  • Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion – The lemony aroma of this lotion fills up the entire box, so that it's the first thing that hits you when you open the lid.
  • Each Peach and Two's a Pair Massage Bar – I'm interested to see how this works. The instructions say to massage this bar into dry skin and it melts right in.  I'm a little worried about it being peach since I'm not fond of that scent, but the smiley face is adorable.

Philosophy Red Velvet Cake Set (sold out) – This set definitely smells like what it says. It comes with Red Velvet Cake Shampoo/Shower Gel/Bubble Bath, Sweet Creamy Frosting Body Lotion, and Red Velvet Cake Lip Gloss. The lip gloss looks deep in color and smells like chocolate.

The Body Shop Brush on Radiance in 01Pink – The kiddo picked this one out for me, and totally surprised me with it! I can't wait to try out this new highlighter.



Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box o' Blushes (sold out) – A present to myself... I had been wanting to try out the Benefit Box o' Powders, but hadn't been able to pick just one, and hadn't really been able to justify any of them since I don't use a lot of powders right now. This was of the a great way for me to try them all out for the price of right around one. I got one of the 15 minute lessons at Sephora a few weeks ago on Blush and Bronzer, and we specifically focused on this palette.

Honey by Marc Jacobs Rollerball – I've been wanting to pick this up for a while, but Ulta doesn't carry it. Grabbed this when I got Dod for the kiddo for Christmas.

Smashbox Try It Kit – This comes with mini sizes of Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Filter (Vanilla, Sable, and Sumatra), 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer, Full Exposure Mascara, ad Photo Finish Foundation Primer.


Top to Bottom: Algenist, Doll 10, It Cosmetics, Bare Minerals

Top to Bottom: Laura Geller, Peter Thomas Roth, Tarte, Mally

QVC Lashtastic Mascara Discovery Collection (sold out) – Since the hubby was in the hospital, he became addicted to QVC, and has picked up some great things from there. This joins the Liptastic set he recently got for the kiddo and me (post coming soon). This kit contains 7 mascara samples and one eye gel from well-known brands. Included are:
  • Algenist Firming & Lifting Eye Gel
  • BareMinerals Lash Domination 10-in-1 Volumizing Mascara
  • Doll 10 Beauty Defining Mascara 360º for Lower Lashes
  • It Cosmetics Hellow Lashes 5-in-1 Volumizing Mascara
  • Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara
  • Mally Limited Edition Volumizing Mascara
  • Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For: The Mascara
  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

MallyGolden Rule of Beauty kit – In a gold zippered clutch, the kit came with Mally's Baby blush, Brownstone eye shadow, Black Volumizing Mascara, Just Heaven Liquid Lipstick, and Midnight Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner with sharpener.

BareMinerals Chandelight Glow kit (sold out) – Turns out, this is also a QVC exclusive. This kit comes in a sparkly gold clutch with a magnetic closure, and contains:
  • Chandelight Glow Illuminator (neutral, pinky-gold highlighter)
  • Morning Glow Eyecolor (satin white to off-white)
  • Nightfall Eyecolor (shimmery brown)
  • Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Sure Sable (brown)
  • Sweet Romance Blush (a warm rose color)
  • Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Dim the Lights (a pinky nude color)
  • Soft Glow Face Brush
  • Double-Ended Plush Brush & Shadow Brush

Other:

2-Piece Cookie Monster Sleep Set – Super soft with fleece pajama pants and one of those T-shirts that feels like it's been worn for years. So comfortable!

Multimitts: A Glove that Does it All – These are fingerless gloves that have a flip-over mitten covering for the fingers. Also, the tip of the thumb flips off, all of which makes texting and doing things in general easier. These also have a zippered pocket on the back of the hand for keeping small items in a pinch.

What did you get for the holidays this year?  Is there anything you are looking forward to trying?


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!


Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate, and Happy Holidays to those who don't!

 I wish everyone health and happiness for the upcoming new year. I urge you to take the time to reach out to loved ones near and far, and remember those we have lost as they would have wanted to be remembered.


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Ipsy December 2014

The theme of this month's bag was “Thinking of You”. Compared to the last two month's, I'm not quite sure how it all works together, but really, that's ok.



This month, there were a lot of full-size items in the bag. The products included:


  • Bumble and Bumble BB Straight Blow Dry for coarse, curly or frizzy hair (sample) – I don't know what I'm going to do with this. I never blow dry my hair at home, or heat treat it in any way by myself.


  • Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish in #5 Orchid (full size) – This is a beautiful color, and I'm looking forward to trying it. I have tried other loose eye powders before which have been somewhat messy, but the applicator on this looks like it may help with that.


  • Crownbrush C476 Crease/Shadow Brush (full size) – I'm looking forward to trying this out. It seemed like a decent brush, and also looked like it might fit in the Urban Decay Smoked palette.
(with flash)

(without flash)


  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara (sample) – I'm actually using this mascara now and have had a lot of trouble with it. So many people love it, but it has clumped all over the place on me. I have figured out a way to make it work, so I should be able to use this one too. But I wasn't excited to see this one in the bag.



  • NYX Butter Lip Balm in Ladyfingers (full size) – Love NYX. Love lip balms. Love tinted lip balms. There's really not much more to say. :-)

So far, I'm really enjoying Ipsy and I think it's worth the $10 per month.


What did you get in your Ipsy bag this month?