What I Got for Christmas (Beauty Related) - Individual Items

I received an abundance of beauty products for Christmas.  So many, I’ve had to split my list into at least 3 posts.  Here is the first, what I’m calling the Individual Items.  These are items that are not kits or sets.  They may have more than one color, such as a palette, but are a single item when all components are held in your hand.

Top row: Fearless, Flawless, Firm, Flirty, Friendly, Fierce
Bottom Row: Fabulous, Faithful, Fit, Feisty, Funky, Fine

·         The Balm Nude Dude Nude Eyeshadow Palette – This palette has been out for a while, and gets great reviews.  It is a well-rounded neutrals palette with a good blend of mattes and shimmers, light and dark.  While swatching, it did seem that the shimmery shades were creamier, while the matte shades were drier, patchy, and somewhat difficult to swatch.  I will know more once I get to use the palette for some actual looks.

·         MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo – The kiddo put a lot of thought into this one.  I briefly mentioned this the other day.  She picked this lipstick to go along with one of the FunkoPops she picked out for me, and insisted that I open them back-to-back.  I love her imagination and the wordplay (Ruby Woo and Ruby Rhod).

·         MAC Matte Lipstick in Evening Rendezvous – This was another one from the kiddo, and was a huge surprise.  I didn’t know anything about this one, and it’s gorgeous!  I love the packaging, love the color, love everything about it!  It’s limited edition and had to be ordered, since even after asking she couldn’t find it in-store.

L to R: Brown Powder, Taupe Powder, Brow Wax

Kit includes the powders, wax, mirror, and tool kit

·         Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Tool Box – This cute little kit is included here because it is basically just an eyebrow duo like you could pick up in the drugstore, but better quality, and with a great set of tools.  There’s a brow was, and both brown and taupe brow powders.  The tools include tweezers, a brush, and a spoolie, and are contained in a small, pop-out compartment.

L to R: High, Dirtysweet, Radar, Armor, Slanted, Dagger, Black Market, Smolder, Password, Whiskey, Combust, Thirteen

 ·         Urban Decay Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette – Thank you so much Santa for listening to me on this one.  This is the only Naked palette I’ve ever wanted.  I really like the deeper, richer colors of this palette compared to the more subdued neutrals in the other Naked palettes.  I usually wear gold eyeshadow as a base most days, but then change up my other colors.  This should provide me with those options.  (Also available here and here)

Stay tuned for at least two more beauty-related Christmas posts.  What was on your holiday wishlist this year?  Did you get any of it?

Favorites – December 2015

Happy New Year!  I’m trying to get a whole bunch of posts written fast and furious-like, and this is the one that makes the most sense to come out next.  There are still more “What I got for Christmas” posts, and a 2015 Favorites posts, plus the standard December Empties coming (and that one’s going to be long!), so stay tuned…

There have been some great products that I’ve really relied on this month.  I love being able to share them with you here.

The Body Shop Brush on Radiance in Apricot – Speaking of finishing powders, I have been loving using this as one.  It doesn’t add too much shimmer or color to add to the whole face, and generally seems to just perk up my face a bit.  I think it also helps liven me up since I’m so pale and wear the lightest shade BB cream, which can look a little ghostly in certain lights.  The kiddo got me this for Christmas last year and I’ve used it off and on as a highlighter, but for me it works better as a finishing powder.

Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanilla Extreme rollerball – I got this as a GWP from Birchbox, and it has become my go-to weekend perfume.  The GWP was a choice between three different vanilla scents from this brand, and the Extreme was not actually my first choice.  The description mentions that it is a blend of vanilla and exotic spices, and that originally made me shy away from it.  My oh my, I am so glad I got this one!  You really don’t smell spice, but they enhance the vanilla scent.  Every time I wear it, someone winds up asking me what I’m wearing or what smells so good.

elf Acne Fighting Spot Gel with Aloe – This has been a great discovery thanks to Jessica from the YouTube channel JAMbeauty89.  This spot treatment contains Salicylic Acid and has been working really well.  Since it’s a clear gel, I’ve used this under makeup with no problems, which means I’ve been able to use it more than once a day.  Another good thing to try out for just a couple of bucks.

elf Complexion Brush – I’ve been using the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer for my base many days, but I find that it leaves a slick feel to the skin since it is silicone based.  I’ve been setting my makeup with either Benefit Dandelion powder or The Body Shop Brush on Radiance in Apricot, and up until recently I’ve used the elf Powder Brush.  It’s worked ok, but then I picked up the Complexion Brush, thanks to the raves by Emily from the Beauty Broadcast YouTube channel.  The Complexion Brush is softer and its rounded top makes it easier to apply the finishing powders over large areas.  I definitely recommend adding this to your collection, especially at only $3 each.

LOC Love of Color - I purchased the entire set of the One & Done Shadow Sticks, then I got one of the lipsticks (Glam Life, a great matte berry color) in my November 2015 Birchbox.  Let me tell you, I use these so much!  I use the eyeshadows just about every day, so much that I’ve had to sharpen some of them at least 3 or 4 times already.  The lipstick stays put and doesn’t feather on me, which has been more of a problem recently.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Tightlining Eyeliner in Black Brown – I received this as part of a gift kit purchased from QVC.  It is the perfect combination of color, creaminess, and staying power.  It lasts really well on my waterline, and is a great alternative to black since that’s not my favorite.  I like how skinny it is, though that did make me to go through it faster.  In fact, I think this is the fastest I’ve ever gone through an eyeliner, especially with using more than one at a time right now.

To borrow from The Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favorite things.”  What were your standouts this month?

QVC Beauty Favorites Advent Calendar – 2015

This year, my hubby decided to surprise the kiddo and me with an advent calendar from QVC.  (Do you shop from QVC?  What are some of the best things you've picked up?)  He had never done the calendar thing before, but knew that I had liked the various QVC favorites and sampler sets he’s gotten for me in the past, and thought this might be a fun one to add to the collection.  

This one is set up in a very nice box with a latch closure.  Each numbered day is randomly located across both sides of the box when it is open like a book.  You have to break through a perforated layer to reveal the product nestle in its molded plastic compartment.

Let me tell you, it has been so much fun!  Each night, the kiddo and I try to guess what the day’s item is based on the shape of the perforated area.  There have been a few times when we’ve actually gotten it right, but most of the time we’ve been WAY off.

So here’s what was included:

Days 1-6

Days 7-12

1. Bare Minerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara in Intense Black (deluxe sample)
2. Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Black Velvet (full size)
3. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer in Neutral Medium (travel size)
4. It Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Clinically Proven Mascara (deluxe sample)
5. Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush in Flirt (full size)
6. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (deluxe sample)
7. Nest Fragrances Midnight Fleur Eau de Parfum (sample bottle; same size as rollerball sold at Sephora)
8. Wen Cucumber Thyme Treatment Oil (travel size)
9. Calista Tools Embellish Texturizing Definer (deluxe sample)
10. 2-Sided Mirror Compact
11. Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer (deluxe sample)
12. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (travel/”to-go” size)
13. QVC Brand Complexion Blending Sponge
14. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream (deluxe sample)
15. Formula X Nail Color in Monumental (sample size)
16. LashFood Conditioning Lash Primer (deluxe sample)
17. Clark’s Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream (deluxe sample)
18. Molton Brown Ylang-Ylang Body Wash (sample size)
19. Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel (travel size)
20. Color Wow One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream (travel size)
21. Mally High Shine Liquid Lipstick in Orchid (deluxe sample)
22. Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil (deluxe sample)
23. Clean Skin Rollerball (deluxe sample)
24. Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Peeling Gel Gel Exfoliant (travel size)

Days 13-18

Days 19-24

So, to summarize, we got:

• Makeup: 2 mascaras, 1 eyeliner, 1 concealer, 1 blush, 1 lash primer, 1 lip gloss
• Skincare: 1 moisturizer, 2 body washes
• Facecare: 2 exfoliants, 3 moisturizers, 1 face oil
• Fragrances: 2 perfumes

• Nails: 1 nail polish
• Hair: 1 hair oil, 1 texturizer, 1 styling cream
• Tools: 1 mirror, 1 makeup sponge

There are some fabulous items included in here.  There is only one that I will absolutely not use just (the Wen product, because the scent is overwhelming), so this seems to be a fantastic deal.  You do get some full-size products, but I also love sample sizes because I get to try so many different things.  Also, many of the sample sizes are of luxury skin care items, so you get to feel pampered for a very reasonable price.

Did you have an advent calendar this year?  Was it a beauty one or a more traditional one?

Tarte Mascara Trio

What can I say, I have the best hubby.  During one of his hospital stays, he got addicted to QVC and now buys me all kinds of beauty items when he sees a good deal.  Do you watch QVC or HSN?  If you didn’t know, Tarte has a deal with QVC, so you can grab all kinds of great bargains and exclusive sets and have then delivered directly to your door.

First up is this bargain set from Tarte.  For many, the Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara is their favorite Tarte mascara, and among their favorite overall.  This set came with 3 full-sized tubes of the mascara in a pretty box for a much better price than you would normally get buying them individually.

Last I checked, the trio was no longer available, but there is a duo on the website.  If this is you HG mascara, you can order this on auto-delivery so that it will arrive automatically every 3 months.

Also, if you love Tarte mascara but the Lights, Camera, Lashes isn’t your favorite, check the QVC website because they most likely have what you’re looking for.  A single tends to be about the same price you would find in stores, but multipacks are a great deal.

While this isn't necessarily my favorite mascara of all time, I do find it workable.  I have to be careful that the somewhat wet formula doesn't clump on my lashes, but otherwise this gives a good amount of volume.

What’s your favorite mascara?