Ask Me Anything!

Happy Friday! I've done a fair amount of tags and share some personal things in posts, but wanted to do a proper question and answer on the blog! I'll answer anything (within reason) whether it's about beauty, music, books, my life, the world, etc. Either comment on this post or tweet me @rpolansky77. You'll of course be recognized and I'm hoping the post will go up next Wed. or Fri.
Hopefully you'll enjoy getting to know me more and I look forward to answering your questions :)

Wearing the new Marc Jacobs Primer and Full Coverage Foundation (reviewed here)

So go ahead, comment or tweet me. You know you want to...

Givenchy Glow Products

Givenchy is one of those brands I've never thought to try. I'm no stranger to designer beauty and have no problem paying the higher price tag if it's worth it but for some reason Givenchy just never made it on to my radar. One of the perks of being home is having access to many Sephoras with many brands and these two items caught my eye the other day.

Mister Radiant. This is marketed as an "innovative face gel". The little beads burst upon application, providing a tan glow that might seem intimidating but easily sheers out. There's not enough color in my opinion to be used as anything but a primer, and the gel texture makes it great for that. There isn't really any color once applied all over, but it still gives a nice glow. I can see myself wearing this alone on no makeup days when even a tinted moisturizer is too much.

Healthy Glow Powder in Shade 1 Première Croisière - tan beige. Although it's supposed to be a bronzer, I was instantly drawn to shade 1. It's a light beige shade that can be used as an all-over face powder and I can't see it being used as an actual bronzer on any skin tone. It's so finely milled and I love the finish it gives, whether wearing it alone or with foundation. The powder is a baked gel, which is a first to use for me. I really like it and the glow it gives, and can see myself wanting a darker shade for a bronzer in the near future (although my wallet is screaming no). As you can see from the swatch, it hardly shows up on my skin and just gives a very subtle sheen.

Healthy Glow, Mister Radiant

Have you tried anything from the Givenchy line? I'd love to know your recommendations!

Marc Jacobs Full Coverage Foundation and Coconut Face Primer

I love Marc Jacobs Beauty. In addition to extremely sleek and luxurious packaging, the products themselves are wonderful. I've raved about the eyeliners, which are probably my favorite item, but I also own a mascara, some lip glosses, concealers, etc. So you can bet I was super excited when I learned they had a new primer and foundation launching. I ordered the primer online and got the foundation at a Sephora near me at home -- it's so new it wasn't on the shelves yet, but they still helped me find a perfect match.

First, let's talk about the Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Primer. I love the luxurious glass bottle and love even more that it comes with a pump. This is meant to be hydrating and nourishing, which helps when dealing with a fuller coverage foundation. It's supposed to make you look younger (which isn't really a concern for me) as well as smooth out imperfections. I'm loving it so far. 

I have the Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate (that's a mouthful) in Bisque Medium, which is for fair skin with neutral undertones. There are a lot more shades than the original gel serum foundation, so I would suggest swatching this in store. It's a full coverage foundation, so you only need a few jobs. I'm not crazy about the dropper applicator but it makes do. It reminds me of a thicker version of the Cover FX drops -- a little goes a long way. Although it's more matte than dewy, I find it sinks into my skin perfectly and provides great coverage. It's lightweight yet long wearing and would work for any skin type.

Coconut Primer and Full Coverage Foundation

Even though these launched less than a week ago, have you tried them? Let me know if you have any other Marc Jacobs product recommendations! 

Upset At Ulta and Heading Home

Hi all, so I know I had said this next post would be a part 2 of my Catrice Beauty haul/review and believe me I wanted it to be. The second half of my items came yesterday and one of the eyeshadows I was excited about was completely shattered. They're sending me a new one but what makes me even more upset is that two of my items still haven't shipped! The order was placed a week ago and they said they can't tell if the items are sold out or not... wouldn't you be able to tell? And don't have the items for sale if you don't have them! Needless to say, I'm quite upset and figured it would be dumb to do a post only featuring three items so I am sorry that's not up.

On another note, I've been loving channeling the 90s vibe with black choker necklaces, like this one I got from Forever 21. Plus it's been a while since I've posted a selfie and don't want all of you to forget what I look like ;p

I'm heading home for the next two weeks and blog posts should still be normal. The week after next I will be away on vacation. I'm going to try to either pre-schedule posts or write when I'm there, but there might be a small decrease in posts. Sorry for such a boring post but just wanted to rant and update you all on where I'm at!

New In: Catrice Beauty (Part 1)

Before I get into the post, as you can see, lots of exciting changes are being made to the blog. You'll now see that I have an actual domain (Makeupmusicbooks.com) and have dropped the blogspot part, as well as snazzy graphic changes. Bare with me as things may get a bit funky but the finished result will be worth it. Anyways, onto the fun stuff...

I'd actually never heard of the brand Catrice Beauty, until one of my favorite bloggers Nouveau Cheap announced the brand landed at Ulta. Maybe it's just psychological, but I tend find that the harder it is to get a product, the more I want/like it. Catrice Beauty used to be exclusive to Europe, and I found all my products on Ulta.com. They're super super affordable and have quite a wide range. This is just a first impressions haul/review, with a part two coming Friday (hopefully) since my other shipment is arriving today.

 

Catrice Ultimate Stay Lip Liner in Rosy Rose and Mauve Me Tender. So I have a love-hate relationship with these. I don't really like the rose shade -- it was drying and tugged as I applied it. It's also more pink than I typically like, but that's what I get for purchasing it without swatching. I like the mauve shade though but it's nothing super special.

Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Karate With Bronze Lee. I like this, but again, not crazy about it. It's not as pigmented as I would like, although I only wore it on the water line. It needs to be built up a little but does apply pretty well.

Illuminating Blush in I Am Nuts About You and Kiss Me Ken. At only $5.99 each, my only regret is not purchasing the coral color. I really like these and although I was afraid the Ken color would be too pigmented, it's a gorgeous raspberry that starts out sheer and can be built up. I prefer "Nuts About You" because I'm a sucker for nude blushes, but both shades are silky and provide a subtle luminosity and glow.

Color Correcting Mattifying Powder. Shades of pink, purple, beige, and green combine for an all-over sheer powder that color corrects, brightens complexions, evens redness, and more. I only wore it once and wasn't overly wowed, but it did a pretty good job of setting foundation and toning down redness.

Multi Color Compact Powder. Although the swatch is hard to see, this is a slightly-darker-than-my-skin powder that can be used as a subtle bronzer, blush, or even all over powder with a light hand. I'm not 100% sure of it's true purpose but it's a solid powder.

Fine and Prime Anti Redness Cover Stick. This is an item I (surprisingly) don't really have in my collection. I don't get red spots too often, but I figured it would be handy to have a color correcting stick in my collection to help conceal. It seems pretty creamy and decent.

L-R: Bronze Lee, Rose, Mauve, Nuts About You, Kiss Me Ken, Multi Color Powder, Color Correcting Powder, Anti Redness

Now, my only gripe about Catrice being available exclusively at Ulta is their horrendous shipping times. First of all, you have to spend $50 to get free shipping--which can take over a week to come. If you want it faster, you have to spend $10 for 2 day shipping, which doesn't include processing time, which means it can take 4-5 days to come. You would think with competitors like Sephora offering free 2 day shipping that they would step up their game! I love the range of products and especially since there is no store near me, I wish it was easier to get to you!

I'm done with my rant... have you tried anything from Catrice? Anything look appealing? Share your thoughts!

My First Time Tag

I'm always down for a good tag, and I saw Dulce Candy do this with her husband last week, so here ya go. And not to burst your bubble, but it's a lot less dirty than you may have thought ;)

1) Do you still talk to your first love? I do not. We had a messy breakup in high school and haven't really talked since.
2) What was your first job? Besides babysitting, I was a camp counselor and worked at a bagel place at the same time.
3) What was your first car? A gold Subaru forester--I still have it four years later.
4) Who was the first person who texted you today? My mom
5) Who's the first person you thought of this morning? My boyfriend who I woke up next to :)
6) Who was your first grade teacher? Mrs. Rosenberg--she was amazing!
7) Where did you go on your first airplane ride? I don't remember it but I know I went to Barbados when I was younger, so I'm assuming that's it.
8) Who was your first best friend & do you still talk to him/her? Her name was Hana and she lived up the street from me, unfortunately she moved in 3rd grade and then we drifted apart. 
9) Where was your first sleepover? I think Hana's house? 
10) Who was the first person you talked to today? My boyfriend
11) Who's wedding were you in for the first time? I've actually never even been to a wedding, let alone been in one!
12) What was the first thing you did this morning? Checked my phone
13) What was the first concert you ever went to? Avril Lavigne! 
14) First Broken Bone? I've never broken a bone, but I've fractured my nose and sprained my ankle.
15) First Piercing? My ears, which I had to wait until fourth grade to do.
16) First Foreign Country? Europe--Paris and France
17) First movie you remember seeming in the theaters? Oh wow remember? I know I must have seen a lot of movies but my first real vivid memory is Finding Nemo.
18) When was your first detention? I was a pretty good kid but I did have to stay after school in sixth grade once.
19) Who was your first roommate? Her name was Zoe, freshman year of college.
20) What was the first lesson you ever took? I think swimming.
21) Who was the first beauty related person you watched on youtube? Ayydubs!

Let me know if you have any other tags you want me to do, and if you do this tag, let me know!

July 2015 Glossybox

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven't had the best experience with subscription boxes. I actually received my June Glossybox last week and then the July box today. You can still sign up and get the July one, which is why my review is (hopefully) still relevant. I have the month-to-month service, which means I can cancel my subscription any month. They promise luxury beauty samples that are either deluxe or full size, which at $20 a month it better be. I think my favorite part is the actual box, they're quite durable and pretty, plus great to help organize makeup.

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm. Meh not super excited about this. I guess it's always nice to have a new lip balm but I tend to always have a bunch and this one is nothing special. It's natural with a peppermint feeling, but doesn't even provide an SPF.

Hey Honey I Peel Good. Now this is an item I'm excited about. I love honey based products and you're supposed to leave this cream peel on for 2-3 min. so it can improve skin's elasticity and texture. It's for all skin types and if you massage it on, the benefits improve.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. I haven't tried many Laneige products, although since they're sold at Target I'm always tempted. Yet again, this is another product I don't really need but seems nice to have--an overnight sleeping mask that plumps and hydrates skin.

Kueshi Anticellulite Booster. This product is full sized and retails for $22.60, which is already more than the cost of the box. That means basically everything else is a bonus (which is quite honestly how I feel about them). Sometimes I think these things can be gaffs, and I've yet to try it, but it's supposed to smooth and reduce swelling. Can't hurt to try and if anything it can psychologically improve body image, right?

Face Stockholm Eye Pencil. Everyone received these in different colors, and unfortunately (or fortunately) I received this in brown. It's definitely just an eyeliner shade, not a lip shade, which is sucky because the texture seems a lot more suited for lips. Swatching didn't provide high hopes.

So I'm kinda meh about this, but I think I'll give it another shot or two. Do you get Glossybox? Let me know about your experiences! 

Memebox Intro to XO Youtubers Box

I haven't had the greatest experience with subscription boxes in the past. I tried Birchbox and Ipsy and while I think they are great services, I found the products were either not for me or too small to be worth it. I actually signed up for Glossybox and as soon as my July box comes you can bet a review will be up (I've heard good things). Anyways, the great thing about Memebox is that most of the boxes are one time purchases at great values. You get to see what's in them ahead of time as well. I've purchased a few things individually (as you can do with all items in the box) and this was my first value kit. The Intro to XO Youtubers Box would cost you $97 if you bought everything individually, but costs only $35 (plus there are a bunch of promo codes online). Here's a first impression of each item, but let me tell you upfront, this box would be worth it even if it only had half the items included.

Pony Shine Easy Glam 3 Eyeshadow Quad #03 Orange Bloom ($18). There's nothing super special about this--colors are decently pigmented and not really "orange" but more of a coral brown combination. The pans are quite large and they do blend well together.
Yeondukong Easy Shading Stick #01 Contouring Brown ($12). I really like this. It's not too orange and is the perfect cool contouring color. I wish the stick itself didn't have such a large surface area--I think the best way to apply it is to swipe some on your brush as opposed to your face. Since it's so creamy, it does blend out quite well.
Yeondukong Fix Lip #01 Red Orange ($12). I'm not normally a red lip wearer, but this true red hue is a nice foil to the marsala shade included. It's supposed to be a 3-in-1 balm, lipstick, and primer combo. I haven't worn it on the lips yet but it swatches quite nice.
Soyoung Lovely Concealer #01 Beige ($11). This is a great creamy concealer that can either be worn alone under the eyes or on top of another shade to brighten up. It has a great texture and seems quite hydrating.
Dayeong x Memebox XO Black Face Brush ($22). If you've always wanted the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush but don't want to splurge on its $40 price tag, I suggest you get the box just for this. I used it to apply my foundation and with the exception of being a little less soft, they are exactly the same. Dupe alert!
Kyungsun Bad Girl Volume Mascara #01 Mad Black ($12). Now here's something you don't see too often on the US Beauty Market--a dual mascara with wands for both top and lower lashes. I'm often quite lazy about doing my lower lashes but with a brush included it's so easy to do! I really really like the top lash mascara--it gives quite a sultry, full and lengthy effect.
MakeupByEvon #HDReady Cream Matte Lipstick #03 Daring Marsala ($10). Oooh this is a gorgeous mauve shade! I've only worn it on the lips so far but imagine it could also work quite well on the cheeks. It provides a semi-matte finish.

If you're bored of the products on the US Market, or are a bargain hunter, this box will work for anyone! The amazing price point makes each item less than $5 if you use a promo code, with free shipping to boot. There are no duds in the box, which is quite rare. Memebox you have outdone yourself!

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

The most highly anticipated launch of the summer has finally landed. Details were released about the Naked Smoky Palette about 2 months ago and everyone went crazy. I got the first Naked Palette a few years ago and although I love the shades, I'm not crazy about the cardboard packaging. I also own the Naked 2 and 3, with the rosy tones of the Naked 3 being my previous favorite.

This palette is everything the hype said it would be and more. There are a variety of matte and shimmer shades that can create endless possibilities for the ultimate smoky eye. I own way too many neutral palettes, so I'm glad Urban Decay decided to release something that would change it up. Each shadow is so pigmented and creamy, and although I've only played with this for a day, I know it will soon become a favorite. Plus, the double-ended brush that is included is one of those rarities that's actually good quality. There are both shimmer and matte shades, and the shimmers aren't overly glittery while the mattes aren't overly chalky. It's a winner.

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

I ordered mine directly from Urban Decay last week, and fortunately it came in two days with a special offer of free 2 day shipping. Unfortunately, it's out of stock on the website and not in stores yet but you can get it online at Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, etc. Don't miss out -- you need this palette in your life.

I Like These Things

Now this isn't a favorites post per se. These are just some products that have become every day staples to my daily routine (plus they didn't make it into the favorites so I'm throwing them in). But what makes it different is that these will be used for many months to come, as opposed to just on rotation for that month. Let me know if you like these types of posts, as it's something new and I like sharing my most used items with you all!

Kiehl's Iris Activating Treatment Essence. "Treatment essence" sounds kinda hokey but just think of it as another type of serum to put on before moisturizer. The bottle is HUGE and you only need a few drops (I love how there's an actual hole so it doesn't come spilling out). It's marketed as an anti-aging process, but I find it softens my skin and gives me a glow. You can use it morning and night and although it's reasonably-ish priced to begin with, this baby will last you a loooong time.
Foreo Luna Mini. Although this little gadget is pricy, you can it get on HSN for four monthly payments of less than $40, which isn't bad at all! This is like the next generation Clarisonic. I love my Clarisonic Mia but sometimes find it can be a bit much for my sensitive skin. I love the Luna Mini because it's way better for sensitive skin, using gentle sonic pulses to deep clean your skin. I've noticed a huge improvement using it the past month or so. The best part is that one charge of it lasts up to 300 uses and you don't need to replace a brush head or anything.
L'Oreal Nutri Shimmer Shine Spray (this is a detangling spray, mine is more of a finishing spray that I couldn't find online). I picked this up in a whim in Montreal and am so impressed. The nutri shimmer line is targeted for normal to fine hair, but I find that my thick dry hair also loves it. I use this as a finishing spray to my haircare routine and notice things seem shinier and less frizzy. I'll definitley pick up the conditioner next time I'm in Canada.
Garnier Summerbody Moisturising Lotion in Light. I've harped on and on about my obsession with British beauty products, but fortunately Feel Unique makes it possible for some of them to make it over the pond. This lotion is amazing. It's not a self-tanner, so you can apply pretty liberally and not have to worry about streaks. It gives just a hint of glow that can be built up, and is great to extend a tan.

Makeup Revolution Blush and Contour Palettes

Prior to last week, I had never really heard of the brand Makeup Revolution. It's a crazy affordable UK brand that used to only be available there. I was browsing social media last week and noticed that it is now exclusively available to Ulta.com in the US. Unfortunately, they don't have the full line (boo) but I picked up the two pieces that seemed the most affordable and unique to me.

 

I got the Ultra Blush and Contour Palette in Hot Spice and Ultra Bronze Palette. Both are an incredible bargain, with 8 pans at just under $10. I've always been a big eyeshadow palette fan but never really done a blush or face palette. These are great for travel, because they're slim with a mirror, and you have so many options to choose from. The blush palette also has a pink option, but I chose the peach one as the colors are more subtle and better suited for me. The bronzer palette has a good variety of contour and overall shades which can work for many skin tones. Both palettes have a variety of shimmer and matte shades, with the last two shades being highlighters. I just got them yesterday, so I only had time to swatch them and have yet to see how they wear on the face. Some are quite pigmented, while others do need to be built up a bit.

Even if some shades aren't as pigmented as I would like, the price point certainly makes up for it. You just really can't beat the price for the quality. Based on other reviews I've seen online, they seem to have decent wear time. The eyeshadow palettes certainly intrigued me (they look like good Naked Palette dupes). I'm hoping we get more of the collection soon, as I saw many things available to the UK not available to us.

Hot Spice Palette (Swatches are clockwise from left shade)

Ultra Bronze Palette

Have you tried anything from the Makeup Revolution line? I'd love to know your product recommendations!

Why I Love Makeup

Despite what this blog might have you think, I haven't always loved makeup as much as I have. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I ever hated it, but my first true love was always books. I grew up as a voracious reader, frequenting the library multiple times a week. By the time I was in first grade, I was reading at a fourth grade level. Since then, I've probably read upwards of at least 200 books a year. As I get older, I find I don't have as much time, but because I am able to read so quickly, I can still read 2-3 books a week (as opposed to 5 or 6).

 

As a young child, I always loved getting my face painted. Shoulda known then!

I remember one of my first makeup purchases--I was in 6th grade and figured it was time to wear some makeup, so I bought a couple of NYC products at Target. I thought it was cute to wear purple eyeshadow all the way up to my brow bone (lord no). After that, I spent the next few years wearing a basic routine of a single wash of shadow, bottom eyeliner (super heavy black in middle school), and mascara. In high school, I pretty much kept to the same routine. I would buy something at Sephora or the drugstore if a cool product caught my eye, but I never really scoured the shelves for anything. High school was okay, but my biggest thing was not having a hobby or something I was truly passionate about. I did softball freshman year (needless to say that didn't pan out) and theater since middle school. I liked theater and it was something fun to do, with a group of friends, but it still didn't feel like something I was super passionate about. 

Enter my first year of college, with a bit more makeup, but still nothing to brag about. I randomly stumbled onto a beauty vlogger's page after looking up a hair tutorial, and continued to sporadically watch her videos throughout the year. Through her, I found more. I was hooked on their videos. I felt like this was something I could get into. By the middle of sophomore year, it hit me. This was what I loved. I was subscribed to quite a few channels. I had started out the year with a single small three drawer plastic container of makeup, and my collection was rapidly growing. 

I've wanted to work in marketing for a while, but didn't really know what I wanted to do with it until a year and a half ago. I realized I loved these bloggers and vloggers because their unique voices and reviews could easily persuade me to buy or try a product. Why can they do it while others can't? Why am I so intrigued with their lives and spend hours a day watching their videos? Through answering these questions, I know why I love makeup and want to share this love with other people.

Now, I'm not a super fancy makeup artist who can do amazing eye looks like you see on Pintrest. And I still struggle with winged liner. But I do consider myself somewhat of a walking makeup encyclopedia. I spend so much time reading blogs, watching youtubers, and researching products that I do have some pretty vast knowledge. But the makeup world is constantly changing and evolving, so there's always something new to keep me on my toes. Makeup is a form of art and expression; one day I may feel like rocking a sultry smoky eye, while the next I might just want to wear one cream shadow. It's not permanent, so you can change it even many times a day.

I'm not saying by any means that you need makeup to look beautiful. I strongly believe everyone looks perfectly fine without makeup, myself included. But I use makeup as a tool to enhance what you already have, and perhaps show you what was missing (it's amazing what filling in brows can do for someone's face). I choose to spend loads of money on products because this is my hobby, my passion, and I know once I graduate I want to enter the beauty marketing world. I view it as an investment and something that's important to me. Not everyone may feel that way, and there are plenty of good products at the drugstore. Nothing makes me happier than recommending a product to someone and knowing that they love it.

Sorry for this post being so long and rambly, but I hope you all enjoy these type of heart-to-heart posts occasionally. I've loved blogging the past year and here's to many more posts and reviews and recommendations to come.

The Summer Tag

Seeing as it's the Fourth tomorrow, I figured it was time for another tag! If you do this, make sure you comment below and link to your blog.

1. WHEN DO/DID YOU GET OUT OF SCHOOL?

I get out the first week of May! And I start at the end of August... it's crazy getting an extra month of summer in university.

2. BEACHES OR POOLS?

Depends on location... If I want to go swimming, I prefer a pool because it's usually cleaner and more temperate.

3. ARE YOU GOING ON ANY SUMMER VACATIONS? IF NOT, WHAT'S YOUR DREAM SUMMER VACATION?

I believe I may be going to Cape Cod in a month, not super exciting but something to do.

4. S'MORES OR ICE CREAM?

Ice cream all the way!

5. WHATS YOUR MOST FUN SUMMER MEMORY?

I've been to so many camps I can't even keep it straight, but about five years ago, I went to a pre-college camp at Yale. It was a great experience to get a taste of independence and college and I had so many amazing experiences.

6. DOES YOUR SKIN TAN OR BURN?

It used to tan but now it sometimes burns :/

7. HOW DO YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR IN THE SUMMER?

 I work inside at an office, so pretty much down in the same style.

8. FAVORITE SUMMER NAIL POLISH?

I haven't seen them pop up in too many places, but my favorite nail salon at home uses something called Vinyl Polish. It lasts as long as gel and isn't nearly as bad for your nails. I like the color Cake Pop.

9. WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND A DAY OUTSIDE IN A POOL OR INSIDE WATCHING NETFLIX?

Can I have both? If it's super hot, I'd rather be inside with AC.

10. SUNGLASSES OR HATS?

Sunglasses.

11. WHAT IS YOUR SONG OF THE SUMMER?

I've been loving Someone New by Hozier for the past few months and it's still going strong.

12. DO YOU HAVE A SUMMER BUCKET LIST? IF SO, SHARE SOME THINGS ON THE LIST.

I would love to go on a hike and take advantage of more of the outdoor activites in Vermont since it's my last summer here.

13. BIKINIS, TANKINIS OR ONE PIECES?

Bikinis.

14. MUST HAVE SUMMER MAKEUP PRODUCT?

Oh god too many to count! SO many new brands release their lines during the summer -- anything long lasting is always good.

15. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SUMMER?

Hmm I wanna say no schoolwork, but at this point, my job is taking up more hours and I'm feeling less stimulated than the school year. A steady cash flow is nice though.

June Beauty Favorites

I've had so many favorites this month it was hard to choose! There are only more good things to come in the beauty universe (I'm looking at you Urban Decay Smoky Palette), so expect some good favorites in the next few months. I split up my non-beauty and beauty favorites this month, so let me know if you like that format or would prefer one long post.

Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette. Oh my gosh. I'm an eyeshadow junkie but I LOVE the colors in this. So so smooth, so pigmented, a great variety of colors (I love the middle cranberry shade), what else can I say? It's also quite slim and great to bring for travel. My only complaint is that since it's coming from Germany, shipping is a whopping 16 bucks. I also forgot to put a picture of it, but along with the palette, I got the Luxe Fan Brush. It makes applying highlighter to the high points of your face oh so easy and I can't believe I've never owned a fan brush until now (they're harder to find than you would think).

Gerard Cosmetics Star Powders in Marilyn, Lucy, and Audrey. Order these now. You won't regret it. First, let's talk about the packaging. They have a cool plastic overlay that swings on top and protects the precious highlight inside. Lucy is a rose gold shade that isn't as intimidating as it looks in the pan. If you found the Becca Copper Highlight too much for you, check this one out. Marilyn is a more golden highlight, and Audrey is a bit lighter with a champagne base. The packaging is amazing, if a bit bulky, but I just wish shipping didn't take so long (it is free over $50).

Rodial Instaglam Contouring Powder. If you're new to contouring, look no further. This grey-toned powder mimics shadows and is virtually impossible to mess up. I personally love that the packaging has a giant "R" on top (for Rachel duh) and it's easy to add to your everyday makeup routine.

Maybelline Color Blur in Plum Please. A great drugstore matte lip? Ya found it here. These were highly anticipated, and although I only tried this color, I'm very impressed. It's a vampy plum color perfect for fall and it's so creamy that it doesn't dry out lips. What makes it different is the cool blurring tip on the end which you can use to smudge out the middle and create more of an ombre effect.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Mona Lisa. I know what you're thinking -- 32 dollars for one creme eyeshadow? But as with all Charlotte Tilbury products, these are a cut above the rest. You can use this gorgeous taupe-brown-purple shade as a base for a smoky eye or on its own to add a little more depth to your eyes. It's far more moussey/whipped than something like the Maybelline Color Tattoos.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Vanilla. Normally I shy away from medium to full cover foundations, because I find they can get cakey and I only need to cover up redness. This one claimed to be undetectable and providing great coverage, which it certainly does. You can't even tell I'm wearing it and my skin just looks so so good. It's quite affordable, especially with the luxe packaging. I also love the color range, and I just heard they're adding 2 lighter and 2 darker shades, so anyone can find a color match.
Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve. Unfortunately, you can't get these in the US, but I definitely would get all 6 if they were here. They're super affordable and reminiscent of the Hourglass Ambient Light Blushes. This one reminds me of Mood Exposure, my favorite of the bunch, and gives a soft natural glow.

What were your favorites for June? Any recommendations? Let me know!