November 2015 Top 5

I feel like this is the work travel edition of my top 5. These were some of the items that I took with me to Florida and continued using once I got back.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

In my November Product Play post, I mentioned that I was thinking about taking the Naked 2 palette with me to Florida. I did take it along with the Naked Smoky palette. I reached for the Naked 2 palette more so. Of all the Naked palettes, this one doesn't get a lot of love but it's really easy to use. This was good for quick and simple looks. The two shades I wore a lot on their own are Tease and Busted. They are very pretty one shadows looks. Urban Decay is another brand that I've been impressed with this year.

NYX Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand

I picked this up during some sale at Ulta in Nutmeg. I swatched it against Bare Mineral Stroke of Light and the shades matched. So I was happy there. The consistency of this is thicker since it's a concealer and Stroke of Light is an eye brightener with a thinner consistency. I've used this for a while and I really do like it. It has nice coverage and blends out nicely. I would definitely repurchase this concealer and you can't beat the price. Its funny one morning after doing my face makeup (primer, foundation, concealer and powder), I realized each item I used was a drugstore product. I never thought there would be a day when I would be able to do my face makeup with drugstore products. So shout out to the drugstore for increasing their shade ranges. They can still so better but they're getting there.

Colour Pop Ellarie Lip Liner

For the girl who has used brown lip pencils 100% of the time, has found a new favorite in the Ellarie lip pencil from Colour Pop! Ellarie is described as blackened violet. I've seen people say it's a dupe for MAC's Nightmoth. It pairs nicely with so many different shades! I've worn it with reds, berries, mauve, purple and pinks. I should try it when different shades of brown. It's just bomb. It gives so much definition to whatever color you pair it with. It's even nice on its own. I'll be due for a replacement soon. Shoot I may order two. It's that good. Colour Pop lip liners in general are SO GOOD and only $5! I can't even. I just can't.

Black Radiance Soft Focus Finishing Powder in Milk Chocolate Finish 

I thought I had talked about this powder a lot more. I mentioned it back in February but I promise you I have gushed about this powder to others lol! It's just good stuff and it pairs beautifully with the Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless foundation. It has about 8 claims listed on the back and I swear all of them hold true. It evens out the foundation, gives you a hint more coverage, mattifies your skin, it sets everything and it makes my skin look FLAWLESS! FLLLLLAAWWWLESSSS! I do have it in the two lighter shades and they are nice to play around with to under my eyes. You can see that I've made a nice dent in the powder. Pan is near! That's it. I'll stop here. I'll keep on gushing about this doggone powder lol! Another great drugstore find for me this year.

Dooney & Bourke Multi Color Nylon North/South Triple Zip Crossbody

I took this bag with me to Florida. I usually try to take a smaller bag with me on work trips. I never took this bag with me because I couldn't fit my wallet in it. Which really was stupid because I carry a larger wallet. I do have a smaller wallet that I carry from time to time for work travel but haven't used it in a while. This bag has three compartments and I love it. I used the smallest compartment as my "wallet". It held my ID, debit card and cash. The middle compartment held my room key, hand sanitizer, hand cream and things like that. The main big compartment held my cell phone, tissues and lip product of the day. While travelling it held my boarding pass, shuttle pass and even my Kindle fit. It's a small bag but it holds the essentials that you need while travelling. Also it was never too heavy, no matter how much I packed in it. The crossbody strap on the bag is nice. Usually they are short on me and the bag hits me at an awkward position. I also used the bag when I ran quick errands and did not necessarily need my everyday bag when I got back from Florida. I'm definitely keeping this bag nearby, so I can grab it when I need it. I got it from QVC. It's no longer available but I'm sure you can find this similar style elsewhere

And there you have it. Short and sweet.

On to December. I can't believe it! Seriously where did 2015 go??!

November 2015 Yays! & Boos!

Here are my yays and boos for November!

Yays!

tarte Holidaze of Giving 15pc. Gifting Collection

Once the November QVC Insider was ready, I could not wait to see what the November TSV was going to be from tarte. I flipped through and didn't see anything. I said wait a minute. Flipped through it again and saw this set. The set is currently at sale price and the available easy pays on the set have varied since it launched. I got it on 4 easy pays. They did something different this year since it's their 15th anniversary. The set it a good value but at first glance I wasn't interested. Then I saw a YouTube video on it and the swatches of the lip products made me take a second look at the set. Even if I only kept the lip products, the set it still a good deal since the Lip Surgence lip pencils are $24 each and the glosses are $19 each. There are 3 Lip Surgence pencils and 2 glosses in this set. So I said what they hey and ordered. I'm so glad I did. tarte has really impressed me this year with the sets they've brought to QVC. The shadows in this set are beautiful along with the two blushes. The eyeliner are nice and smooth. I'm already a fan of the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. The lip products are nice too. I've tried the eye cream and it's nice. I may gift it. This is your full face. I cannot wait to travel with this set. Between this set, the Ulta set and the Sephora set, I'm glad I got this one. If you're a Tarte fan or want to get a good mix of products to try from the brand then pick up this set. It's not pictured about, so check out QVC's site for pics and the presentation video.

Jack Black Intense Lip Balm in Shea Butter & Vitamin E

I think I got this sample size in a promo set from Sephora with some other items. When I first used I did not like it at all. Something was like try it again and if you still don't like it then trash it. I've been using in the morning to prep my lips and I have really been enjoying. It's not too moisturizing or overly greasy to interfere with the various lip products I've use it with. It makes my lips nice and smooth. Right now I can't say if I would go and purchase a full size since it does what the Neutrogena lip balm does for me and it'a cheaper product. I do like that it has a higher SPF of 25. The Neutrogena lip balm has an SPF of 15. I see on Sephora's site that there a mint one and I do like mint lip balm annnndddd there's a set of 4 available *covers eyes* Abort, abort!!!! LOL!

Love by Sofia Vergara 4-piece Fragrance Gift Set

This set was a Today's Special and it was of Sofia Vergara's new scent. Of course I jumped up on it since I enjoyed her first fragrance so much. I really like the new scent. But what surprised me was how much I liked the Shimmering Body Lotion and Creamy Shower Gel. Usually items like these in a fragrance set are throw away items. The lotions on me are never moisturizing enough and the shower product is usually runny and doesn't lather up well. This is not the case with these two products in this set. If you're looking for a fragrance gift, I highly recommend this set. It's currently on 4 flex payments and has free shipping. With HSN you currently have until the end of January to return or exchange purchases which is nice.

Boos!

Wen Fragrances

Chaz recently launched two new fragrances to his line. Now I RAVED over the 613 fragrance in my June surprise products post.  But I already knew what 613 smelled like from the cleansing conditioner and I always loved the scent. I ordered the Eau de Parfums of Fall Tuscan Pear and Sweet Toasted Almond when they launched on QVC. Eau de Parfums are supposed to be long lasting. These are not. Well on me they don't last long. The Fall Tuscan Pear scent reminded me of Bath and Body Works A Beautiful Day even though it more of a apple scent. The body mist last longer on me than the Fall Tuscan Pear EDP. I did like the Sweet Toasted Almond scent a bit better from first sniff. But the more I smelled it, one of the notes just did not agree with me. So both went back. Needless to say, I won't be trying anymore additional scents from Chaz. He is developing a signature scent. I am curious about that one but I will try to stick to my guns and not order it. I have no need for anymore fragrances.

Essence Beauty Box

I was beyond excited when I saw that Essence was coming out with their own beauty box. I pre-ordered in September and I got my first box in October. It was ok. There was a full size Tarte brow product that I wanted to try. I wasn't necessarily over the moon for the other products. Then The Posh Blog did a Periscope on the second box (she did one of the first box as well). I hadn't gotten my box yet when I watched. Before she even showed the items, she said she was not happy. I was like oh Lawd. As I watched I could see why. The products were lackluster. At least for me. Hair products were included with the two boxes I received which is cool. However they are more do geared towards someone with natural hair, which I do not have. Now I have used products geared more so towards natural hair with any issues. In the second box a mini size (and I do mean mini) of a Black Opal lipstick was included. I was like seriously we couldn't get a full size? Then a sample size of a Smashbox mascara was included that I could get from Sephora or Ulta. So needless to say I was not impressed and did not even want to bother with a third box. I emailed them and cancelled my subscription. Maybe the boxes will get better but right now, I'm not here for it. The Target Beauty boxes I have purchased have been more exciting and better deals than the two Essence Beauty boxes I received.

Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel Brush Cleaner

I came across this at Ulta and wanted to give it a go. It's just ok. The Dawn Simply Clean dish soap I picked up from The Dollar Tree is better and double the amount of product. If your brushes aren't super dirty then it gets the job done. I wouldn't use it on brushes with a lot of products on them like foundation or concealer. I'll probably just use it on my eye brushes and maybe blush brushes going forward.

Burt's Bee Moisturizing Lip Balm in Mint Cocoa

This was another random Ulta purchase. I was actually looking for the Pumpkin Spice one but didn't see, so I got this one instead. I'm not impressed. It's doesn't seem all that moisturizing to me and there's nothing mint about it. It kinda smells weird too. Dah well.

On to December!

#ManicureMonday Butter London The Sweet Spot & Revlon Nude Graffiti

Back again with another Manicure Monday post wooho!

I wanted to go lighter with my nail polish. Today I'm wearing another nail polish from the Allure & Butter London collection in The Sweet Spot. It is described as a dusty pink creme. I'm wearing two coats. On top I am wearing one of the Transforming Effects Top Coat polishes from Revlon in Nude Graffiti, which is a pink nude glitter polish. I was able to build the polish on my nails without it becoming too thick. I've recently purchased 4 of these Revlon polishes and I have really been enjoying them. I may pick up two more. I think these two pair nicely together.

For those who do celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that you have a fantabulous Thanksgiving! For those of you who will be traveling, be safe. If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that you have a nice relaxing day doing whatever your heart desires. If you partake in Black Friday, may the force be with you lol. Please be safe and mindful of your surrounding. I will be at home. I may indulge in some online shopping if the mood strikes me ha!

TTFN - ta ta for now!

#ManicureMonday Butter London Front Row

Happy Monday!

I'm back from my work trip and totally wiped out! Jeez! Plus for some reason I thought I had an extra week thrown into this month. Thanksgiving is next week! *gasp* Any who...

Today I am wearing Butter London's Front Row from the collection they did with Allure. It's described as a wine creme. I wearing two coats and it was easy to apply. It's very pretty and very appropriate for the season.

Short and sweet. Just wanted to get a little something up since I've be MIA for a while. I'm still toying around with the idea of doing Blogmas in December. I think I have about 15 ideas. Now to come up with 16 more. Oye vey.

Here are a couple of pics from my room in Florida. One pic was when I arrived. The other pic was my last night there and I caught the beginning of the sun setting.

TTFN - ta ta for now!

Product Play November 2015

Daylight savings time! Booooooo! It's going be dark at 4 o'clock *sigh*. Anywho...

Here's what I'm playing around with for November.

Palette Play

I have a work trip this month *sigh*. Usually I'm done in the summer but circumstances have changed that for this year boooo! If I was in the position to quit my job right now, I would. For my work trip I am going to take the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette that I gushed over in my October Top 5 post. I'm also taking 4 Mally shadow sticks in Trailblazing Brown, Gunmetal, Plum and Saddle Shimmer. I may also take the Naked 2 palette for giggles.

When I get back, I HAVE to make any effort to play around with my Bare Minerals Ready shadows and decide whether or not they are staying in my stash. I still love their loose shadows but for some reason, it seems that I have fallen out of love with their Ready shadows. If I do decide to get rid of them, I have NO idea on what to do with them *sigh*. I don't mind giving stuff to people but I don't want to give them to someone who is not going to use them. I might as well keep. We shall wee.

Polish Play

I had NO business picking up this Allure & Butter London Arm Candy set from Ulta. It was just sitting there in a display at the register saying hey, hey girl, look at meeeeeee! Buuuyyyy meeeee! So I got it. The shades in this set are So Major! (loden-green shimmer), The Sweet Spot (dusty-pink creme), Violet's Revenge (blue-purple creme) and Front Row (wine creme). I may add some other Butter London polishes as well.

Out of My Face

Here are the items I used up in October:

• Bath & Body Works Lemon Vanilla Body Wash
• Wen Remoist in Tea Tree
• Bonus: Bare Minerals Matte Foundation in Golden Deep - woohoo! This was an unexpected surprise to use this up. I was going to hold off repurchasing another jar but I've already picked up another one with a 20% coupon from Ulta II received. 
• Bonus: Wen Fig Cleansing Conditioner 16oz
• Bonus: Wen Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner 16oz
• Bonus: Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Clothes (10 count)
• Bonus: Duri Miracote Super Fast Dry Through Top Coat
• Bonus: Bath & Body Works Sugar Plum Dream Ultra Shea Body Cream

Looking at this list, I've used up a lot of stuff in October. Woot!

Here's what I'm adding to my use up list:

• Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Hair Masque
• Murad Clarifying Mask
• Wen Winter Cranberry Mint Cleansing Conditioner
• Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy foundation

Let see how this month plays out!