April 2014 Favorites

Actually got my favorites in early this month. Go me! You can thank work travel for that. Ha!  Here's what I've been loving in April.

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette!!!! I hinted and hinted that this would eventually show up right? I got this back in February and was ready to shout from the rooftops my love for this palette lol!!! When I first saw promo pics for it, I was like nope I'm not getting it! Then I thought on it and thought on it. So I decided to get it. I made sure I kept my receipt because if I wasn't feeling it was going back! I've said it before, reviews are good but sometimes you have to get a product home and play around with it. I told Crystal (beauty pusha) on deeper skin tones it gives off a natural look suitable for everyday. But of course you can bump it for a more dramatic look with the darker shades in the palette. It described as rose toned neutrals but some of the shades have a purple undertone to me. And y'all know my love affair with purple. There are also some taupe shades as well. So I now have Naked 1 and Naked 3. I've probably get Naked 2 at some point. I said I was passing on Naked Basics. Let's see if that holds. If this palette has sparked your curiosity, check it out and swatch it at Ulta or Sephora. If you do get it, keep your receipt and if it doesn't move you then return it. But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this palette.

Whenever I use Urban Decay's The Black Palette, I love it all over again. This palette isn't for the faint at heart. These are black based shadows. I think my favorite shadows in the palette is the blue shadow called Sabbath. If you're looking for a palette that you can get an easy dark/smokey look then check this palette out. This is a good one for one eye shadow looks as well. I lucked up and got it on sale when I picked mine up at Ulta.

Lips

A lip color I'm always leery to wear is pink. Now I'm talking lighter/brighter pinks. I'm good with mauvey pinks, fuchsia pinks and deeper pink shades. I had seen The Power of Pink Moxie duo when it came out this past October for Breast Cancer Awareness month. I passed on it then. When I was in Ulta, I kept seeing. I kept looking at it and picking it up. I finally decided to get it.The two shades are Survivor and Tough Cookie. I've worn both shades and I really like them both. Come to think of it most of the brighter pink shades that I do like and comfortable wearing are either Bare Minerals glosses (100% Natural glosses, Buxom or Moxie).

A BRIEF mention on MAC's Heroine. I hadn't worn it a while. Wore it several times this month. I just love this doggone lipstick. I'm glad MAC came to their senses and made it permanent.

Face

Milani released four limited edition Rose Powder blushes. They released a rose blush before but I didn't get it. Once I saw these four shades I was like HELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!!! How freakin cute are these! The four shades are Lady Rouge, Tea Rose, Love Potion and Coral Cove. These are matte blushes. I saw reviews and they were mixed and I wasn't going to get them. But once again I was like you need to try them for yourself. I wasn't in the mood to go from store to store looking for them, so I ordered them directly from Milani's website. THEN I was wondering that if they would break. Saw Instagram post from someone who ordered from Milani and theirs broke. Mine arrived without any issues *sigh of relief* Just like with other Milani blushes I have, they are nicely pigmented and blend nicely onto the skin. These were the only blushes I used for the whole month. So I'm glad I picked them up. Miliani has been coming out with some great products lately. I want to try their new brow gel. I refuse to try the Anastasia one that everyone is raving about. I think it's around $20.

Nails

Three polishes from OPI's Muppets collection were favorites this month. Kermit Me To Speak, Chillin Like a Villain and Gaining Mole-mentum. Pictured about is Chillin Like a Villian with Gaining Mole-mentum.

Body

I mentioned last month that I picked up philosophy's Living Grace. I ordered the philosophy super-size embrace love and grace fragrance trio that was the Today's Special Value. The set has the Eau de Parfum, Olive Oil Scrub and Whipped Body Creme. This set was an awesome deal and I love the Olive Oil Scrub and the Whipped Body Creme. The Olive Oil Scrub is a a two in one. You get a body was and a light scrub that you can use everyday. The Whipped Body Creme is nice and light but it is moisturizing and sinks right into the skin. I've ordered other super size philosophy sets in the past. I always get them on auto delivery but usually end up cancelling. I am definitely keeping this one. The Living Grace scent is so nice, not overpowering and for me I'd wear it all year round. It's described as:

"Welcoming fresh neroli to uplift the senses; clean lily of the valley to inspire gratitude; and sensuous warm musk to embrace the beauty of today." from philosophy.com

Another philosophy scent I picked up is Fresh Cream. This scent has been a runaway hit for philosophy on QVC. I think I have mentioned in a previous post that I've been on the hunt for one shower gel that I could use with anything. Well this is it! It is so light and fresh. I had smelled the scent one day when I was in Sephora and I liked it then. QVC had a One Time Only Value that included a 32oz of of the bath, shower and shampoo and the scrub. I haven't tried the scrub. They have hinted that there will be a Fresh Cream TSV in June! I am SOOOO getting it!

HSN's Beauty Report on Thursday has gotten me in trouble a lot recently lol! I was watching on the third and they had a presentation for the limited edition Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy. It was available at event pricing and free shipping. While the presentation was on, I was digging through sample perfumes I have. I could have sworn I had a sample. I also thought I had smelled it before. I messaged one friend asking her had she smelled it. She said no then I text another friend. She said it was her favorite scent. It is described as a floral gourmand fragrance. The notes in the fragrance are:

• Top: Wild berries and mandarin
• Mid: Honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine
• Base: Amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and praline 

Viva La Juicy has a good combination of notes that I like in a fragrance. It wears nicely on me throughout the day. I can still smell it on my wrist at the very end of the day. It's a good everyday, all occasion scent in my opinion. So I'm happy with my purchase and will keep it (if I do return, I'll let you all know). I may pick up the  FLO Refillable Perfume Atomizer from HSN or something similar so I can have it in my purse.

Random Stuff

I rarely drink soda and if I do it's usually ginger ale. Anywho I had an out of town wedding to go to and there's an Exxon station that we always stop at. The have a banging pulled pork sandwich. I needed a caffeine jolt and I didn't want anymore coffee. I was going to get a Mountain Dew but then I saw Mello Yellow. I was like hello! I hadn't had one of these in a long time. They always run a 2 for $2 promo but I only got one. On the way back home we stopped at the Exxon station again and I got 2 lol.

Every now and then I become somewhat obsessed with a book or particular series. Years ago on an author's Yahoo Group, The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward was mentioned. They are these kick ass vampires who are the protectors of their race. These are not your Twilight variety vampires let me tell you! They love rap music are straight alpha males, you feel me? LOL! I borrowed the first book, Dark Lover from the library and was HOOKED. I was making plans on how I was going to go about purchasing the entire series. The newest release The King, came out earlier this month. There was a $1.99 ebook promo for the first 7 books in the series. I already had book 3 but you best believe I got the other 6 books. I've read 3 books from the series this month and these are not short books by any means. So if you're into paranormal books, vampires and what not check this series out! Searching the Black Dagger Brotherhood tag on Instagram, I ran across this. It cracks me up every time. Vishous is one of the Brothers.

Surprise Products of the Month

My skin care kick continues! Serious Skincare got me really good this month. They celebrated their 19th anniversary and the beginning of the month. They had a Today's Special, event pricing, special sets and everything in between. I ordered the Glycolic Extreme Facial Peel  and Cecilia's Over 40 Smooth and Clear Kit. I got both at event pricing. I've used the peel a few times, since you're only supposed to use it once a week. This is very very nice! I'm talking spa quality. It even smells like a fancy peel that you'd get in a spa.  Here's a description of the peel from HSN's website:

"Get ready for a more youthful-looking complexion when you make this extreme facial peel part of your skincare routine. Formulated with glycolic acid, AHAs, and fruit extracts, it helps improve the look of skin's texture in one simple step."

My skin was nice and smooth after using it. I did notice a difference in the texture of my skin as well. I'm glad I got it on auto ship!

The Smooth and Clear kit I had been eyeing for a while since it has some products form their C and Continuously Clear lines. The "over 40" part was throwing me off. I'm not in my 40s but then I looked at the individual products in the set and what they claimed to do. I've also used other vitamin C products in the past and I liked the way they performed on my skin. I mainly used all the product in the kit for about a week and a half. I liked all the products. Name of the kit is spot on. Here's a description on the kit form HSN's website.

"It's never too late to start taking care of your skin. Boasting four Vitamin C-enriched products and a feisty pair of blemish-fighters, this kit helps your skin look and feel moisturized, smooth and radiant."

My skin was smooth, clear and bright. The only thing I did not like is the packaging on the C Cleanser. The cap doesn't close tightly and the product runs into the cap if you store it upright. It becomes messy.

Looks like the event pricing for some items are still available. So take a look!

Meh Products of the Month

For giggles I picked up the elf $1 eye primer. I said why not. It's only a $1 and if works great. If not it doesn't work then it the trash it goes. Wellllll it went in the trash. I gave it an honest go. By like noon my eyeshadow was gone!

Nice and short this month :)