Where Have I Been?

Long time no blog! A combination of not feeling inspired and travels means I have seriously neglected writing here. This is the longest I've gone without writing, but after having this blog for over two years, I don't want to completely abandon it. I'm not at the point where I'm ready to get back to two posts a week, but I'm hoping to start out with a two-month favorites post soon. What has been happening in the mean time?

*I graduated college! After four years at University of Vermont, I have completed my dual degree in Psychology and Film/Television Studies.

*I went to Israel and Vienna! The day after graduation, I went to Israel for 10 days and Vienna for 4. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad I got to do it with my best friend from school.

A mural in Israel

A palace in Vienna

*I'm officially moving to LA! I bought my plane ticket last week and will be leaving mid-July to start my new life.

All of my travels and walking around led to the development of some major calluses on my feet. Fortunately, I was kindly sent the Emjoi Pedi Callus Remover. It's so relaxing to do. The whirring pumice glides over your calluses and scrubs away dead skin. It's been a life saver.

If you're new to the blog, hopefully you continue to come back for more beauty posts. And if you're a long-time reader hopefully you've enjoyed this update and thank you for bearing with me.

April Favorites

Cue the obligatory "Where did the month go?". In less than a month, I will have graduated college and be on my way to the next chapter of my life! Lately, I've been wondering what that means about the future of my blog--I've been writing almost two years, and although I love it, lately I've been feeling uninspired. That might mean less posts, but I would hate to abandon this all of a sudden. Anyways, before I get too emotional, let's get on to what you're here for--the favorites!

Sephora Collection Dry Clean Instant Brush Spray. When I first saw this, I thought it had to be a gimmick. But after seeing a review on Beautezine, I was sold. I'm super lazy about cleaning my brushes, so this comes in handy. A quick spray (like a dry shampoo for brushes) does a quick little refresh to spot clean brushes, especially if you use the same brush for the same product every day. It extends the time between deep cleans, which I am all about. And it's pretty affordable too.

Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick. Earlier this month, Estee Lauder launched a new collection geared towards younger audiences. I was intrigued, but as I'm trying to cut back on buying new makeup, nothing really caught my eye. Until I tried a sample of this and had to get the full size. The concept seems kind of weird--a stick with a tinted core that you can apply before or after makeup to reduce the look of pores. But holy moly, does this stuff shrink my pores like nothing else. Of course, it's temporary, but as someone with drier skin who also suffers from enlarged pores, this makes them disappear under makeup.

L'Oreal Mythic Oil. This stuff smells seriously amazing. Like all the good things about a hair salon. It's a hair oil that I like to apply as the first step when my hair is wet, or on day-two hair when the frizzies are in full force. It's pretty weightless, so my hair doesn't look greasy, but is so so good at adding shine and reducing frizz (plus a whole bunch of other benefits).

Kylie Liquid Lip in Posie. I did a whole review on these a couple of weeks ago, so I won't get too into detail, but this has been my number one lip shade this month. It seriously lasts all day, isn't super drying, smells amazing, and this is a gorgeous rosy pink that makes my makeup look just a little more put-together.
Viseart Theory Palette in Minx. Again, this is another one that I recently reviewed, but just can't stop using. I like it so much that I ordered the last theory palette (Cashmere) that I didn't have. The six shades are so pigmented and stay all day--I keep getting compliments on my "golden eyes". If you don't own any Viseart palettes, or want a new warm-toned palette, add this to your collection.

Books: The Nest by Cynthia Sweeney, All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage, The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter

Music: Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears and God Only Knows by The Beach Boys

I hardly ever post about fashion, but just wanted to give a quick shoutout to this Scala Hat, kindly sent from Lipton Publicity. It's slouchy and lightweight, so perfect for the spring transition we are currently having--it just snowed here two days ago! When will the warm temps be here to stay?

As always, I'd love to know what your April Favorites were! Share below and let me know what you couldn't get enough of.

Ofra x Manny MUA Liquid Lipsticks

You'd think I'd be sick of the liquid lipstick trend by now, but despite the fact that more and more brands keep bringing them out, I'm on board! Ofra is a lesser-known cosmetics brand that is now on the rise after a collaboration with Kathleen Lights and now one with Manny MUA. I've tried the formula and love it, so knew I would be a fan of these. I actually haven't watched many of Manny's videos, but again, bought into these purely due to social media hype. The lip sets sold out within a couple hours, but should be restocked semi-frequently. There are plenty of 30% off coupons floating around, which makes these reasonably affordable.

The formula of these lipsticks is amazing--it almost has a whipped texture, but it dries down totally matte. The moussey formula keeps it from feeling too drying, and as long as you don't eat or drink right after applying, it should last quite some time. Now on to the three colors! You can buy them individually or all three together (which I did). Aries is my least favorite of the bunch, just because I find these light pink nudes harder to wear. I can see it working on top of a darker lip liner, but on its own I almost look like I have concealer lips. Charmed is my favorite--a MLBB pinky nude for "those who enjoy a more subtle lippy". And I also adore Hypno--a darker vampy shade that leans more burgundy, but isn't so dark that you can't rock it during the day as well as night.

Aries, Charmed, Hypno

Overall, I'm very impressed with the Manny MUA collab and can see myself reaching for these all the time. Did you pick up any of the shades? Share below!

Two New Launches From Hourglass

I've been feeling in kind of a blogging rut lately--maybe because there haven't been many new makeup launches I'm excited about. But these two new products from Hourglass kind of came out of nowhere and pleasantly surprised me. When the Ambient Lighting Blushes launched, I think I got all of them, and I'm also a fan of the Ambient Lighting Powders. So when a new Ambient Lighting PRIMER got released, I was all over it. And a new contouring trio came out as well, so I figured why not. These both arrived just yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to wear them, but these are my love-at-first-swatch impressions.

Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Luminous Light. I'm all about glowy primers, especially ones that double as correctors. I like to use the Luminous Light powder all over my face to add an extra glow, so that shade called to me the most. It's a golden champagne shade that blends so easily into the skin. You can wear it alone, since it's subtle enough that you won't look like a disco ball, but I plan on using it under foundation. I can't speak to how it does underneath makeup, but I'm impressed so far with the swatch. There is a more pink shade, as well as a more natural radiance shade.

Luminous Light

Illume Sheer Color Trio. My first warning about this is that it's expensive--if you're looking for a more affordable cream contour/blush/highlight product, I also love the MUFE one. But these seem to be even creamier and blend out so naturally. Despite the name of "sheer color", these can be pretty pigmented, but are sheerer when applied. The contour is a perfect shade for me and the blush is a traditional just-flushed sort of color. The highlighter was a bit too subtle for my taste, although the whole point of this palette is natural color that you can apply with your fingers.

Illume Sheer Trio

I'm graduating a month from the day this post goes up, which is so insanely hard to believe. Along with graduation, I'll be leaving Vermont and heading to LA at the end of June/beginning of July. Before that, I am heading on a two week trip to Israel and Vienna, so blogging may be sporadic but there will be lots of stories and pictures to come!

Viseart Theory Palettes

Lots of people rave about the Viseart Palettes, but at $80 a pop, I could never bite the bullet. Enter the new Theory Palettes. At $45 for 6 pans, my mind views that as a lot more affordable (although since I bought two, I ended up spending around $80 anyways). I ordered these during the Sephora VIB Rouge Sale, so was able to get them for 15% off, which made them a little more justifiable.

I love the packaging on these. Despite being cardboard, they don't feel cheap at all and are sturdy enough for travel. They're so slim, but the pans are quite large. I wish it had a mirror, but that only really bothers me when I travel with these. Each palette is designed in a different color family--Minx is a warm-toned neutral palette, and Chroma is cooler, perfect for a smoky eye. Upon first swatch, I fell in love. Even the lighter shades swatch so evenly, and the pigmentation is something else. Each palette has three mattes and three shimmer shades. As someone who normally shys away from mattes, I can see myself using every one of these. It's hard to find a creamy matte (contradictory, I know), but these take the cake. 

Minx

Chroma

These cute little palettes live up to their illustrious Viseart reputation, and I can see why everyone goes for the splurge. Whether you like warm neutrals or cooler smokey colors, these palettes can suit anyone's need (there's a third one I didn't get with some more cool-toned neutrals). And the best part? The shadows are removable and magnetic if you want to create your own, larger palette! Have you tried anything from Viseart? Comment below!

Kylie Lip Kits

No, you're not experiencing deja vu from Monday's Post about the Kylie Lip Glosses--the lip kits are in a league of their own. I tried to get them a few weeks ago, to no avail, and was able to score Koko K and Posie K. Since I didn't want to wait for another restock, I ordered Kourt K from a third-party seller on Instagram for only a few dollars more, and they all arrived around the same time. Spoiler alert: they're pretty great.

Each lip kit is $29, which includes the liquid lipstick and lipliner. If you think about it, that price isn't horrible, since some liquid lipsticks are around $29 on their own. The lip liners are very creamy and do not budge--my only complaint is I wish they were self-sharpening, but they do sharpen easily in a regular sharpener. Now for the liquid lipsticks. These things seriously do not budge. Despite eating and drinking throughout the day, they were still clinging to my lips. They can feel a bit drying, so I make sure to exfoliate before and sometimes apply lip gloss when some cracks are showing. Posie K is a pinky rose shade that I thought would be a bit garish, but still seems neutral enough that I can wear it everyday. Koko K is the perfect light pink nude that's perfect for those who hate anything brown toned. And despite being the hardest to apply (it took a few layers and wore slightly unevenly), Kourt K is a vampy purple shade that I can pull off surprisingly well. But if you have a paler complexion, you may want to steer clear.

L-R: Posie K, Koko K, Kourt K

As of now, there's no word of another re-stock, but even if you just go for one shade, these are a must for any liquid lipstick lover. There is a dark brown shade, as well as two more bold red shades that I wasn't interested in, but my experience with these so far may change my mind. She also recently teased metallic liquid lipsticks, which I definitely want to try since I don't own anything like them. If you want to see some swatches of other shades, as well as how they wear real-time throughout the day, check out this lovely in-depth review video from Lily Pebbles. Have you tried any of the Kyle Lip Products? Comment below!

Kylie Lip Glosses

Despite claiming I don't keep up with the Kardashians, I admit I have a soft spot for any beauty product they create/endorse. They do look pretty damn good most of the time. Especially when that beauty product is the now infamous Kylie Lip Kits, which have literally broke the internet. I tried a couple of times to get my hands on the liquid lipsticks/liners, and finally got three (expect a review next week when they arrive). But I thought it had to be an April Fools Joke when Kylie was releasing glosses last Friday. I logged on social media at the perfect time to grab all three. The Kylie Lip Glosses are currently sold out, although she seems to restock a couple of times a month. At only $15, they're basically a steal compared to the lip kits, but shipping is steep at $8.95.

The design is basically the same as the lip  kits-- a slim tube with the black paint and Kylie's signature. These are a little bit thicker than the traditional "gloss" and actually quite pigmented, which surprised me. They can feel a bit heavy, so be careful, but they don't look overly tacky on the lips. Of course, they do only last a couple hours as most glosses do, but they also don't disappear right away. So Cute is a light pink that can wash me out if I wear it built up on its own, but looks great over a matte lipstick or liner. Like is my favorite of the bunch--a mauve nude that seems the most Kylie. And Literally is a "warm toned peachy nude".

Like, Literally, So Cute

Are these a must-have for every makeup lover? Not necessarily, but owning something that causes the internet to freak out every couple of weeks (you should see the comments she gets on her Instagram posts, which is how she keeps in contact with her audience). If you're a lip product junkie, or Kylie lover, it may be worth finding out when the next restock is and just happening to be online right around that time. 

MAC Future Forward Collection

A couple of years ago when I first began my makeup addiction, I was intrigued by all of the new MAC collections. They would sell out in a couple of minutes, or I would be the first one at the store, but lately they just haven't been doing it for me. Fortunately, now MAC anticipates its limited-edition audience and seems to have a larger stock. The Future Forward Collection was the first one in a while to have some pieces that caught my eye--they just came in earlier this week, so here are some first impressions.

Otherearthly Mineralize Skinfinish. Can we just take a second to appreciate how cute this is? I know when it was teased on social media a few months ago I knew I had to have it. Beyond the unique design, it features three shades (a bronze, a pink tone, and a pearl tone) that can either be swirled together or used individually.  Despite it being shimmery, when swirled together they all create a light pink flush that I've enjoyed using for a subtle blush. I make sure to use a light hand though, as I find that sometimes the more shimmery skinfinishes can emphasize pores.  

Ray Beam Blush and Cosmic Force Blush. MAC Mineralize Blushes are some of my favorite formulas, so although I didn't plan to purchase these, I figured why not. Cosmic Force is described as a "dirty nude" which has a hint of shimmer, and is a great dark rose shade. Ray Beam is a "soft pink" that's a little bit lighter and may not show up on darker skin tones, but gives such a soft glow that I love it.

Cosmic Force, Raybeam, Other Earthly

This collection has restored my faith in new MAC Collections, and I know I spotted a couple of exciting ones coming out for spring/summer. Did you pick up anything from this collection?

Face of the Day #6

Every couple of months or so, I like to do an updated "face of the day" post to let you know what I've been wearing regularly. Some of the products are everyday staples, but I like to change it up as much as possible. I've been going for really natural, simple makeup lately--here's what I wore on my face this past weekend.

Hylamide Blur Primer

Clarins Instant Light Perfector Base in Champagne

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in Sand

YSL Touche Eclat Perfector in Bisque

Hourglass Corrective Concealer in Natural

Maybelline Illuminating Eye Primer

MAC Ellie Goulding Halcyon Nights Palette

Ardency Inn Black Eyeliner

Barry M Liquid Eyeliner

Laura Mercier Baked Vanilla Highlighter

Lancome Cils Booster XL

L'Oreal Volume Million Mascara

Tarte Mascara

Marc Jacobs Glow Stick

Zoeva Rose Golden Blush Palette

Soap and Glory Glow All Out Cheek Stick

Charlotte Tilbury Microfinish Powder in 01

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder

What makeup have you been wearing lately? Share below!

March Favorites

How are we already a quarter through the year? In less than two months, I'll be graduating and then who knows what life has in store for me (a move to LA is most likely in the cards). March was a pretty weird month, so I haven't been using a ton of new products, but here's what I loved.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. This is one expensive item that I splurged on last year, and stopped using for a while. It's too expensive and good not to use, so it's been my go-to moisturizer every day the past few months. It's incredibly hydrating, makes my skin dewy, and provides a great base for makeup. There are also anti-aging properties and it's so light on the skin that if you have the money, it's worth the splurge.
Hourglass Corrective Concealer in Natural. I think this may have been in a previous favorites of mine, but it's such a good concealer that I've been using it again. The stick formula makes it easy to apply and it subtly brightens with a pretty full-coverage base. It hardly creases and comes in a decent variety of shades, which is always a plus.
Jordana Sweet Cream Matte Lipstick in Creme Brulee and Tiramisu. These are--dare I say it?--my favorite drugstore liquid lip. At less than five dollars each, and smelling like vanilla, these perform just as well as anything from Sephora. I got the two more natural shades, and they seriously last all day. They feel comfortable on the lips, although they can be a bit drying after a few hours, but adding another coat or a gloss takes care of that problem.
Make Up Forever Pro Sculpting Face Palette in Light. You're probably sick of the contouring trend by now (believe me, I am too), but this is a game changer. The contour shade is one of my favorites that I've ever used and it blends so well. The blush is a great natural shade, and the cream highlight gives a subtle glow. I don't use the matte highlight a lot, but the other three shades make it more than worth it.

Music: Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez and I recently re-listened to an All Time Low album... I forgot how much I used to love Dear Maria, Count Me In

Books: I read so many great books in March--check out this post for more in-depth reviews of the five I loved this month.

What did you love in March? Let me know!

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette

This just came in the mail today, so I've only just begun to play with it, but am so excited. The entire internet has been waiting for the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette for months. I missed the original launch on Too Faced but was able to snag it last week (as of right now, it's available online at Ulta).

They aren't kidding when they say Sweet Peach--there's definitely a peach scent to the shadows, but nothing intensely overwhelming. If you're not a fan of scented makeup though, I would probably stay clear. The packaging is similar to the Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palettes. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do individual swatches, but there are a good mix of cool and warm shadows. Even if you already own a lot of neutrals, there are enough unique orange/brown/purple shades that make this worth it. As always, the texture and pigmentation are on par with the exceptional quality Too Faced always has.

If you'd like to see a more in-depth view of this palette, check out this video one of my favorite bloggers Really Ree put up. Are you going to be purchasing the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette? It's limited edition, so act fast if you want it!

What Have I Been Reading Lately?

Well it has certainly been a while since I've done a post strictly dedicated to books. Part of this is because I haven't read anything so amazing that it deserved a spotlight, and the other half is time. But life is slowing down a bit lately and coincidentally, I have been reading some fantastic books. Whether you prefer short stories, essays, or novels, hopefully you're inspired to read one of these (they're all great but for different reasons).

So Sad Today: Personal Essays by Melissa Broder. I think this was the book I was the most excited about it. Melissa Broder runs my favorite twitter account, So Sad Today, and is also a writer. This book of personal essays is written in a similar tone as her tweets (think: cynical yet relatable), but gave more of an insight into her life. As someone also struggling with anxiety, it was refreshing to hear it written about in such a cavalier yet poetic way. She spoke to me in a way that has probably changed or confirmed how I think about the world, and it's such a quick read, I breezed through it in a night.

Why We Came to the City by Kristopher Jansma. As someone who isn't the biggest fan of New York City, this novel did a wonderful job of portraying it in such a realistic sense. Lots of novels with New York City as a main character tend to glorify it, which parts of this did, but also weren't afraid to shy away from the grittiness. The novel centers on five friends dealing with a tragedy (I won't spoil it), and is separated into what I would call mini-novellas. Each "chapter" centers around one of the individuals, letting you peek into their minds. All characters are so unique and richly developed that I felt as if I easily knew them.

American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers by Nancy Jo Sales. I have this wonderful book to thank for making a long flight from LAX to Boston somewhat enjoyable. Sales is such a fantastic author for actually making sociological data interesting--she interweaves shocking facts about social media and all the horrors related to it (sex, drugs, self-esteem issues) with stories, both positive and negative, from teenage girls. I was a teenager just when social media was beginning to come into play, but it's shocking to see how much has changed just in five years. Even if you think social media plays no role in your life, reading this book will give you a new perspective.

Why They Run The Way They Do: Stories by Susan Perabo. Short story collections can be very hit-or-miss for me, because they're all usually amazing or just lucklaster. This one falls into the captivating side, dealing with making the ordinary into the extraordinary. Perabo examines the everyday life of a variety of ages and genders, like middle schoolers blackmailing their art teacher and witnessing a plain crash. If you find yourself unable to make it through a whole 300+ page novel, each of these stories reads like one--albeit a lot shorter.

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad. In a way, this novel reads almost like a short story collection. Each chapter about Lizzie's life is written from a different time, setting, and sometimes even perspective--which of course are the different "ways of looking at a fat girl". It's heartbreaking to see her obsession with weight and how it influences her relationships and life choices, but each is told so matter-of-fact yet poignant that it's hard to put down.

Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick

Too Faced is probably one of my favorite brands because they can combine cute and whimsical products with winning formulas. I love the Melted Lipsticks, but have a hard time finding colors I like. So of course when I heard they were launching Melted Matte Lipsticks in a million colors, I ordered them with next-day shipping from Sephora (haven't done that in a while, promise). I'm glad I did, because it seems that despite being available for only VIB and VIB Rouge, most colors are sold out. 

I've only worn them a few times, but I'm already sold. The formula is a perfect combination of actually drying down matte without leaving your lips feeling like the Sahara. The color seems to hang around quite a while and die down in a subtle way. Naturally, I gravitated towards the four nude/pinky brown shades. Child Star is a "matte soft nude", Sell Out is my favorite of the bunch, a "matte soft pinky-brown", Queen B is a "matte soft mauve", and Cool Girl is a "Matte True Nude". These seemed to be the four shades I felt the most comfortable with, and I'm glad they were pretty similar to description. 

L-R: Child Star, Sell Out, Queen B, Cool Girl

Even if nude shades aren't your thing, they have plenty of other colors, from traditional reds to even a blue! Once they're available to anyone, they're worth picking up. I'm currently waiting to review my forthcoming Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette, which I just ordered yesterday (their summer collection is killing it). Let me know what Too Faced products are your favorite!

Zoeva Rose Golden Blush Palette

I remember first hearing about Zoeva around a year ago--everyone was raving about the Cocoa Blends Eyeshadow Palette. I finally caved and got it, and was extremely impressed. Zoeva is a German brand that does ship worldwide, which is the good news. The bad news is that shipping sets you back $16, so I recommend ordering in bulk. Fortunately, most products are pretty affordable, and in the case of the Rose Golden Blush Palette, the actual item cost less than the shipping.

I'm drawn to anything with rose gold in the title, so naturally I snapped this up. It's quite compact, which makes it perfect for traveling (although I wish it had a mirror). The pans are quite large and the formula of the blushes is very similar to the eyeshadows--buttery, pigmented, and hardly any fallout. Palace Door is the truest rose gold shade in the palette and it's a quite shimmery blush. Darker skintones can use this as a highlight, whereas it gives more of a flush on lighter skintones. Glowing Still is an extremely pigmented white highlight, although it sheers out more on skin. Heavy Crown is a great bronzer that isn't too orange and is warm enough to use all over, yet can still be used for contouring.

L-R: Palace Door, Glowing Still, Heavy Crown

Even with expensive shipping charges, this beautiful little palette will still only set you back around $30, and that's well worth it. Some highlights that are even smaller than one of the pans can cost more than that. I know I'll be reaching for this a lot. Have you tried anything from Zoeva? Share below!

Jordana Made to Last Liquid Eyeshadows

Long time, no blog! I was in LA last week for spring break and took a mini-vacation from blogging. I was feeling a bit uninspired, but lots of new makeup launches have me feeling revived! There were a couple of new launches from Wet n Wild and Jordana that I was hoping to find at a Walgreens out there, but unfortunately I only found one of the three items i was looking for. Fortunately, it was a fully stocked display, so naturally I grabbed all the colors.

 The Jordana Cream Eyeshadows are so new that I can't find them anywhere online, although they can also be found at some K Marts if you're lucky. They were only $5, which is quite affordable. They may look like a lipgloss, but don't be deceived--they are gorgeous cream eyeshadows. They have a doe-foot applicator, and the formula is quite wet. It dries down to a more creamy texture. So far, I've only worn one as a primer, and it did a wonderful job of intensifying my color. The formula reminds me of the Rimmel Liquid Eyeshadows, and is also comparable to higher-end formulas like the Armani ones. Forever Sand (01) is a champagne shade and Not A Wink Pink (01) is a more pink, rose gold shade. Immortal Metal (03) is, as the name applies, a more metallic brown. Uphold Gold (04) is the most golden shade, Dusk Til Bronze (05) is a more taupey, bronze brown and Around Town Brown (06) is a deep true brown.

I'm glad I got all 6 shades, since I love the formula and can see myself reaching for these neutral shades quite a bunch. If you can find them anywhere, I highly recommend snatching them up--you won't be disappointed!

February Favorites

February is already over? It feels like January just started. As sad as I am to see my birthday month leave, I'm very excited to head to LA this upcoming weekend for a fun spring break. Although I've been in a bit of a blogging rut lately, lots of products I've been anticipating are launching soon. But enough about what's to come, here are the things I loved this past month.

Too Faced Mr. Right Powder Brush. Too Faced isn't kidding when they named this brush Mr. Right. It's so soft and the dome shape makes it perfect to apply basically anything. I use it mainly for powder, but when I travel, I can use it for blush/bronzer/highlight as well. The design is quite cute which puts it slightly above any other brush I own.

YSL Touche Eclat Neutralizers in Violet and Bisque. I've always loved my Touche Eclat, but sometimes felt like it didn't do enough to cover up my under eyes. These correctors have been my saviors. I use the bisque color first as a peach/orange corrector, then use violet on top to brighten. The brush makes it so easy to apply and the formula is creamy and long-lasting. They're slightly pricy but well worth it.

Rosie for Autograph Eyeshadow Palette in Copper Gold Rush. I guess I lucked out because the amazing Rosie for Autograph collection (which launched in the UK a few weeks ago) only allowed me to ship to the US for a week. I placed 2 orders, tried to place another one last week, and it sadly won't allow me to ship them to the US anymore. But the rose gold packaging in the collection is very reminiscent of Charlotte Tilbury, with product quality being just as similar. These are gorgeous shades for a nude eye with a pop of purple. If you can get your hands on this collection, I highly recommend it.

Charlotte Tilbury Airspun Powder in 01 Fair. Speaking of Charlotte Tilbury, this is one of my all-time favorite powders and I've been reaching for it a lot lately. It doesn't give a ton of coverage, but is so buttery and adds a nice even tone to skin. It looks extremely pale but works well when a foundation can be a bit too dark for me. As you can see, I've just hit pan, which you know means I love it.

Elcie Micro Silque Foundation in 03 Vanilla. Jaclyn Hill raves about this foundation, so of course I had to see what the hype was about. It's a light-medium foundation that sits somewhat between a dewy and matte coverage. My dry skin loves it, but I think oily skin types would love it as well. It lasts a fairly long time and claims to be water-resistant (although I haven't tested that yet).

Music: Brazil by Declan McKenna and Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones

Books: Somebody I Used To Know by David Bell and The Gilded Razor by Sam Lansky

It was kind of a crazy month, so sorry for the lack of music and book favorites. Let me know what you loved in the month of February!

Dose of Colors Hidden Treasures Palette

I was kind of wary about purchasing this palette at first. I've tried a few lip products from Dose of Colors and was very impressed, but after seeing some photos of this palette, I was on the fence. I need a new eyeshadow palette like a hole in the head but after taking the plunge, I'm so glad I bought this. Unfortunately it is sold out at the moment, but may be restocked soon.

The packaging is a bit weird for me... I don't love the way all of the shadows are scattered randomly, but it is slim and does have a good mirror. Now, on to the real surprise--the amazing shadow quality. I am absoloutley blown away with how pigmented and glittery these are. Coin is a beautiful foiled copper shade, Pearl a shimmery vanilla highlight, Crown a burnt orange foil, and Gemstone another foiled rose gold shade. Onyx is a creamy true black, Locket a great brown transition shade, Diamond another more copper foiled shade, Map a brown matte, Ruby a burgundy foil shade, and Key a dark brown transition. The foiled shades really steal the show--they are so creamy and pigmented, really adding dimension to your eyes. All of these shades were swatched only once without primer!

Coin, Pearl, Crown, Gemstone, Onyx, Locket, Diamond, Map, Ruby, Key

I'm so glad I bought this palette, and hopefully it will be re-released so others can try it. Did you pick this up? Have you tried anything else from Dose of Colors? Share below!

Beauty Blogger Tag

I've been feeling a bit uninspired lately, so I figured I would let the questions do the work for me and prompt something worth reading. I found it randomly on google and hopefully you enjoy it!

*Not my makeup collection, but drooling over the organization.

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

Naturally very wavy/curly

2. What is your natural hair colour?

Dark brown

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I dyed my hair black in a salon a few times last year, but it's growing out to natural brown again.

4. How often do you wash your hair?

Usually every other day

5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

I change it sometimes, although leggings are an everyday staple for me. Some days, I'll just throw on a t shirt and others put more effort into what I wear.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I usually get them done at salons every couple of months and touch it up on my own in between.

7. How often to you change your nail polish?

Whenever it chips, so usually every week or so.

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer?

All year round!

9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?

Anywhere between 10-20 minutes.

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

I do my foundation, eyes, and then go back to finishing up my face.

11. Do you "collect" makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

If only I could just buy what I need when I need it... I'm a collector for sure.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Never!

13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

Almost always during the weekdays, but on weekends I either wear nothing or the bare minimum.

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?

Not if I'm just hanging out.

15. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Yes, and people usually ask if I'm tired or okay when I have a bare face.

16. How many high end products do you have?

Probably about half of my collection, so a decent amount... but mostly high end things that were worth the price tag.

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Only every couple of weeks, which I know is bad...

18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

I sometimes think about what I'm going to wear, but it's usually just decided when I get dressed.

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Almost never, I use my Rebecca Minkoff crossbody practically every day.

20. What time do you get up & go to sleep?

I usually go to sleep around 11-12 and wake up around 9-9:30.

21. How often & when do you workout?

I plead the fifth...

22. Left-handed or Right-handed?

Right-handed.

23. How tall are you?

5'7"

24. Do you speak a foreign language?

Despite years of Spanish, a year of Italian, and a year of French, I think I still have to say no.

25. How many pets do you have?

None sadly :(

26. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Definitely--certain bloggers have an "effect" on me where I want to try basically anything they love.

27. How did you come up with your blog name?

It just kind of came to me. I knew I wanted it to be "beauty" something because it doesn't limit the things I can talk about on my blog. "Beauty" can be a multitude of things. 

28. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

Pretty much just my iphone.

29. How often do you clean your house? (Daily, weekly, other)

I try to clean my room as I go, so I don't have a ton to clean at one time. Now the kitchen on the other hand.... that should definitely be cleaned more.

30. What is your favourite colour?

Purple

31. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?

Hmmm I like Glamour or People Stylewatch.

32. Do you swear?

Yes

33. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

Working today for a few hours then I'm not sure what the rest of the day has in store!

If you do this tag, comment below and share your blog!

Colourpop x Kaepop Collaboration

Colourpop is one of, if not the ultimate, best affordable brand. Everything is under $10, and the quality far exceeds the price point. With the exception of Kathleen Lights, I usually don't know most of the people Colourpop does collaborations with. However, I'm a sucker for limited edition collections, and the Kaepop items looked too good to pass up. They came in last week so here are my first impressions.

Eyeshadow Quartet. The eyeshadow texture is so cool--almost like a spongy texture that starts as a cream but dries to more of a powder finish. I love the little boxes they give you when you order a quartet, but they can be a bit bulky (it would be impossible to put the shadows in a palette though). The four shades are: "Wilshire (Mid tone warm peachy beige in a Matte Finish); Crenshaw (Warm saddle brown in a Matte Finish); Beverly (Deepened blackberry in a Matte Finish); & Sunset Blvd (Warm golden bronze in a Pearlized Finish)." My favorite is, of course, Sunset Blvd--I'm much more of a shimmer than matte fan, but the matte shades work great for crease colors/blending.

Bronze Me Matte Bronzer. Like the eyeshadows, the cheek products have a similar finish. This is a great warm bronze that I actually like to use for subtle contouring--using my fingers makes it so easy to blend, and although it's warm, it isn't orange.

 Flush'd Blush. Colourpop describes this color as a "rusty deepened peach". I think this would work well on all skintones--it's dark enough to show up on deeper tones, whereas lighter girls like myself can just use this sparingly for a flushed and natural look.
Glo Up Highlighter. Of course my favorite piece in the collection is the highlighter. It's a deeper, champagne gold shade that has some shimmer to it. It's quite pigmented, although on my skintone, it can be a bit intense, so I have to use it sparingly.

L-R: Kaepop, Beverly, Sunset Blvd., Wilshire, Flush'd, Bronze Me, Glo Up

There are also three new ultra matte lip shades and matching pencils, although I'm trying to resist the temptation of lip products for a while. Have you tried anything from the Kaepop collection? What are your favorite Colourpop items? Share below!

YSL Black Opium Gift Set

Sorry for not posting on Friday--I hate when I miss a post, but sometimes crazy life gets in the way. It was my birthday, so at least I have a good excuse. I received this set as a gift and wanted to share my first impressions, since I think it's a great value. Most perfume gift sets usually come with some sort of body product like lotion or body wash, so I was very glad that this came with makeup. I have another YSL perfume, as well as some makeup, and am always impressed.

I guess since Valentine's Day just passed, this gift set is actually sold out! I remember it being around $80 for a $110 value, so you basically get the lipstick for free. The star of the show is, of course, the YSL Black Opium. I haven't bought a new perfume in a while (although I certainly didn't need one), and this deeper, spicier scent is perfect for winter. Sephora describes it as "Notes: 
Coffee Accord, Orange Blossom, Cedarwood Essence, Patchouli Essense.  Style: Addictive. Floral. Energetic." The bottle is a traditional black, with a subtle glitter. It's surprisingly sophisticated, since sometimes glitter can make a perfume bottle look cheap. The scent has great lasting power and is pretty different from most of the other products I own. I can't find the eyeliner online, but it's a kajal with a long tip. I find it kind of difficult to apply, since the black smudges on my eyelid, but it is a nice black shade. The lipstick has limited edition packaging with the heart on it, but I believe it is the Satin Radiance Lipstick in Le Rouge. I love YSL Lipsticks, and this is no exception. The color is a classic red that I know I'll get a lot of use out of.

Although I can't seem to find the giftset anymore, YSL Black Opium is a lovely perfume for someone who wants to change up their usual scent, or likes deeper notes. Although the eyeliner is just meh, the lipstick is also worth a purchase on its own. What's your favorite perfume? Share below!

The Balm Manizer Sisters Palette

I love The Balm and definitely don't give them enough love on my blog. They have some amazing eyeshadow palettes (The Balmba quartets are great), as well as cute blushes and new shadow sticks I have my eyes on. Everyone raves about their highlighters, and I have kind of a weird experience with them. Mary-Lou Manizer was actually one of my first highlights, but this was before I was super into makeup. I actually didn't like it (not sure how), and then my Cindy-Lou Manizer actually broke. Nevertheless, I thought it had been long enough that I should give them a second chance. And that's how the Manizer Sister Palette came into my life.

Each individual highlighter is around $20, and although they're bigger than the pans here, these pans are each quite decent themselves. You get all three for only $28, and I don't see myself running out of of one any time soon. Although the packaging is cardboard (as is most of theirs), it doesn't feel cheap, and it's quite compact. The mirror is a nice addition too. Mary-Lou Manizer is a gorgeous champagne gold shade--again, not sure how I ever felt anything but adoration for this. Cindy-Lou is a more pigmented pink shade that could be used as a light highlight or even a blush. Betty-Lou would work lovely on darker skin tones, and will probably be my least used one. It's a rich bronze pigment shade, so I have to make sure I use a very light hand so as not to appear muddy. 

L-R: Mary Lou, Cindy Lou, Betty Lou

Even if you already own one of the shades, I think this trio for only $28 is such a good value. Each shade is creamy, pigmented, and will give a lovely sheen without chunky glitter. The Balm has quality products with creative packaging and semi-decent prices--what's not to love?