December 2013 Top ??

I hope that everyone had a fantabulous Christmas!!

Welp we've made through another year. Seriously where did 2013 go?? Lawdy! I've included some products I did not like for the month. There's a lot going on in this post and it's quite long. I tried to group stuff together. Also tried to do some formatting stuff but Blogger isn't cooperating *sigh* So I'm sorry that this is long but here we go!

Eyes

I played around with Tarte palette from the Bow & Go collection as part of my "Palette Play December 2013". I really enjoyed playing around with this palette. It's a great everyday palette where you can do a complete look and not reach for additional eyeshadows. Tarte eyeshadows are smooth, buildable and easy to blend. They are definitely in my top 5 for eyeshadows. I kinda of didn't want to put this away to use the next palette on the list.

Lips

I have mentioned this lip combo before. I reached my good old trusty Heroine lipstick by MAC this month along why Mary Kay's Nourishine Plus lipgloss in Berry Tart. These two pair nicely together. Also if you have been wanting to try Heroine, it is now a permanent lipstick to the line and no longer limited edition. Which is nice but for those of us who went through hell and high water to get it, I'm like -______-. Ok not really but if you have ever tried to purchase limited edition MAC products when they launch, then you know what a bitch it can be. I especially feel for those who went the eBay route and paid a lot more. I got both of mine at the regular price.

I pulled out two of my favorite Revlon lipsticks that are my instant favs when the cooler temps set in. Black Cherry and Va Va Violet are just bomb.com.

In the video Partition by Beyonce, she's wearing a dark vampy purple lip which is right up my alley. So I went and pulled out a couple of Maybelline lip products that were a part of their fall collection and are limited edition (booooooo!). I pulled out Midnight Plum lipstick and Purple Royale lip gloss. I enjoyed both but the lip gloss baaaabbbbaaayyee gave me LIFE EVERLASTING! These Maybelline glosses are fantastic. If you're looking for a good inexpensive gloss then try these. They have a definite favorite for year (that post is coming as well).

Face

I had this listed as a surprise product of the month but decided that this was a hands down favorite. I picked up Revlon's Nearly Naked foundation at CVS during their winter beauty sale. It was 75% off. I got for $2.39 or something like that. So my feelings would not have been hurt if it didn't work out for me. I got the shade Cappuccino which reminded me somewhat of the Warm Almond shade I wear in one of Bobbi Brown's foundations. So I put it on and it blends into my skin nicely. It doesn't look cakey, it is somewhat buildable, held up nicely on my skin and didn't break me out. I was really impressed. So much in fact that I went to another CVS and picked another bottle. I mean for $2 and change, how could I not?? Dare I say that I have found a foundation at the drugstore!!??!?! Color me shocked.

I've had Mally's Invisible Bronzer in Deeper for a while now. I got in in a TSV kit. I've mentioned in previous posts that Bobbi Brown's Bronzing Powder in  Deep Chocolate is my holy grail bronzer. I've hit pan on it but still have a good amount of product left. Buuuuut I got it when I wasn't really checking for items being limited edition which this bronzer shade was and I haven't lucked up finding another one online. Anywho...I pulled out Mally's bronzer around the middle of the month. I swatched it next to Bobbi Brown and it's a little lighter but not much. Like Bobbi Brown's, it is a matte bronzer that doesn't run red or orange. I use it to bronze the outside of my face and to contour. I've been loving it this month. I looked online for giggles (QVC and Mally's website) to see if it's available for purchase but of course I couldn't find it. But again between the two bronzers I have, I am good and don't need another one for a while.
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Milani's Baked Blushes in Fantastico Mauve and Red Vino were in heavy rotation this month as well. I saw Fantastico Mauve on sale at CVS. I think with a 50% off sticker on it. Both blushes are nicely pigmented, brown girl friendly and give a nice glow to the cheeks.

Nails

The Good Tidings We Bling Sephora polish was probably a favorite last December and will probably be a favorite every December until I use it up. It's the perfect red and green glitter polish from Christmas nails manis.

Another polish I enjoyed this month is Butter London's West End Wonderland. I think this is my favorite gold glitter polish because you can build it up. It's also easy to remove unlike some glitter polishes.

Body

Funny I mentioned Korres Mulberry Vanilla Body Butter in my January Top 3 post. I tried this out original in the Ultra Hydration Trio set that was a Today's Special on HSN and opted for auto ship. "It combines the scent of fresh mulberries with warm vanilla". I love pairing it with philosophy's Falling in Love fragrance.

I picked up Carol's Daughter Angel Cake body cream and shower cream in a set from HSN. It came with two of each product. I had debated on whether or not if I want to keep the second set of  body and shower cream. I had toyed around with the idea of giving it to someone for Christmas. Well let's just say I'm keeping the second set lol. I love this scent. The notes of it are nutmeg, Moroccan rose and Tahitian Vanilla. It's a sexy scent but not overpowering at all. I liked paring it with Kate Walsh's Boyfriend.

I got the Josie Maran Agran Balm in a set that was a Today's Special Value on QVC. I wasn't reaching for it since I was trying to use the Cocoa Butter Vaseline I had up. Once the Vaseline was done I went back to using the Argan Balm. I use it mainly on the drier areas on my body. I enjoyed using it this month and I like it. But when I use it up I don't plan on repurchasing it. For one, the price of this product is $42. Plus I get the same results using Palmer's Cocoa Butter and the Cocoa Butter Vaseline and they are waaaaaay cheaper. There a Shea Butter with Cocoa Butter product that I've come across that I'm interested in trying that's cheaper as well.

Other Stuff

Beyonce...Beyonce...Beyonce! If you've been living under a rock and hadn't heard, Beyonce dropped her 5th album on Friday, December 13. The internet and everything was a blaze that day. I mean who drops and ENTIRE album with no word? And videos. Still don't know how she pulled that off. Anywho...I gave it a quick listen and Partition became an instant favorite (judge me alllll you want *insert grin*). Rocket is another fav with my baby daddy Justin Timberlake harmonizing in the background, Then one morning I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep. So I popped my headphones in and gave it a thorough listen. I love it. It's definite something I can listen to from beginning to end and not skip a song. Love her or hate her, the chick is bad and doing the damn thing.

My favorite coffee creamer was back in stores. It usually shows up around Thanksgiving. When I saw it I was all over it. Been buying them two at a time. One for work and one for home. Peppermint White Chocolate is so good!

A Christmas Story!! Every year TBS airs it for 24 hours and I pretty much watch it for 24 hours. Alternating it with whatever channels are showing Elf and Home Alone, Home Alone 2 all day.

I made some white chocolate chip red velvet cookies this month for a cookie exchange and ended up making some more on Christmas Eve. They were so good and a crowd pleaser!

Surprise Product of the Month

I ordered the Lancome Tresor fragrance set from HSN when it was a Today's Special. The set came with the Tresor perfume and body lotion.  It's hard ordering a scent online you haven't smelled before. But currently HSN has an extended return policy. So I was fine with ordering it. The moment I got it and smelled it, I was like I've smelled this before. Then I got to thinking if one of my aunts or grandmothers wore it. I couldn't put my finger on it. The scent is described as "the elegance of rose, the sparkle of apricot blossom and the sensuality of sandalwood". Vanilla is one of the notes in this fragrance as well. If you haven't guessed I'm a sucker for scents with vanilla in it. So far I'm enjoying it. There are some other scents in the Tresor line that I'm curious about. May give them a smell next time I'm in Ulta.

I also picked up the Too Faced Pretty Rebel Eye Collection when I ordered the Tresor fragrance set. The set came with a quad, eyeliner and mascara. So needless to say I "cheated" during Palette Play December lol. I didn't put it together that the four shadows in the quad where from the Pretty Rebel eyeshadow palette. So I thought that was cool. The eyeliner is in espresso which is my favorite eye liner shade. I loooove a deep dark brown liner more so that black. The mascara is amazeballs! I'm talking one coat and you have lashes for days!!! One doggone coat!!!! I have never tried a Too Faced mascara. The wand is a rubber was with shorter bristles which I feel works best for my lashes. My lashes feel like my lashes which is the biggest thing for me when it comes to a mascara and it's easy to remove.

I had a sample size of Supersmile Whitening Toothpaste in Original Mint from a New Beauty Test Tube. I forgot I had it. I like the way my teeth felt after using it. It's a pricey products, so I doubt I'd get a full size tube.

I'on Like it at ALL!

I never really mention and products that I'm not like for the month since this is favorites. But there were a couple of products that got the strong side eye from me this month.

I picked up one of Maybelline's new eye makeup removers. They've been out for a while but they are still somewhat new. There were 3 kinds and I got the one that was more of a gel. I used it as directed with a cotton pad and just with my fingers. This joker irritated my eyes! It wasn't unbearable but it was annoying. When I opened my eyes they were red. I'm like really? Really!?!? I have yet to find an eye makeup remover that I like and I'm not looking anymore. Usually whatever face cleanser I use gets the job done. So I'm sticking with that and not wasting anymore money!

I picked up two bottles of the L'Oreal True Match foundation. They were on sale at Ulta for $2.50. So for $5 I wouldn't be hurt if I didn't like them or if they didn't end up working for me. I picked up shades 9.5 and 10. I am terrible at matching myself when it comes to foundation. This was no exception. Both shades were too dark for me. 9.5 may work for me in the summer *shrugs*. I just didn't like how it applied and the finished looked once I applied powder, bronzer, etc. I am SOOOO used to my Bare Minerals foundation and being BEAT TO THE GAWDS with little effort. The only liquid foundation that I LOVED was Bobbi Brown's Natural Finish Foundation but it was discontinued last year. I may go get a sample of her Skin Foundation. But then again I might not. But now that I've found the Revlon one, I'm good.

Another product I don't like is the Walgreens Textured Cotton Rounds. I ended up getting these when they were on sale. I like the premium ones with the black label. So I get these home and use them with my witch hazel toner and they pretty much fall apart on my face! I'm like really!?!? How do you jack up a cotton round! I didn't realize until recently that they were textured. Both sides are textured. I'm used to the ones were one side is smooth and the other is textured. Won't be buying these again.


Phew.....FIN!!!!!!!

I think for 2014, I'm may go back to categories. Who knows.  I probably will still do "surprise products" The top 3 things was cool but I felt liking I was restricting myself at times. But on the flip side I don't want to have a long list of things either. We shall see if I can find a happy medium in 2014.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has read, commented and shared my posts. I just get on here and babble. Didn't think folk would actually read what's going on in my crazy head and there's quite a bit ;) "See" you all next year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!