2016 Handbag Favorites

I was going to include these in my top 10 for 2016 but decided to a quick post on my two handbag favorites for 2016.

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

I mentioned this bag back in November 2015 and it has gotten a ton of use since. When it comes to a handbags the bigger the better! I'm a big bag girl. But I have enjoyed using this bag when I run errands, work travel, on the Metro or just when I don't want to carry a big bag. Even though it is small, you can fit a lot into it. I also love the color and the fabric. It's very neutral and goes with just about nothing. The fabric is nylon. It's very durable and easy to clean. Some options are available on ILoveDooney. This bag is available is in other versions besides nylon. If you're looking for a good crossbody bag then check this one out.

Emma Fox "Jutland" Leather Tote

I picked this tote up in Smoke/Black when I had a coupon. I got it home and carried it for a while and LOVED it! I turned around and got the Cognac/Black option when I had another coupon. This is a great everyday tote! With nothing in it, it's very lightweight. Once I added my items, it never felt super heavy. I like that it's a north/south tote vs east/west. It lays nicely against the body and it never feels like it's in the way or overwhelming. It's a workhorse bag. I carried this tote for a quite a while. I had to make myself switch out of it to go through some other bags I'm deciding on in my stash. I'm very tempted to get the Black/Cream Plaid option. If you're looking for an awesome tote bag, check this one out on HSN. It's currently on clearance and free shipping.

2016 Top 10

Ok I lied again lol!

I mentioned my grand plans of how I wanted to do my favorites for 2016 with a top 5 in different categories and ummmm yeaaaa...

I've had some stuff going on that really hasn't allowed me the time to my 2016 favorites in categories. Then I really didn't have 5 absolute favorites in each category. I didn't want to list stuff just to have five items in that category. I started to get frustrated. I was all over the place as usual. This is supposed to be fun and easy for me. I had to regroup and said ok let's just do a top 10 like I did in 2015.

So here are my top 10 favorites for 2016.

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

This is probably the palette that got the most use in 2016. I traveled with it and kept it in easy reach when it was at home. You can do a variety of  looks with this palette from a barely there neutral look to a dark and smoky look. And it has a purple shade. I mean come on! LOL! I just think it's  very versatile palette with good quality eyeshadows.

tarte Tarlette Tease Palette

This is another palette that got a lot of love from me in 2016. It's an easy palette to use. I like that it doesn't have a ton of shades and that all the shades pair nicely together. Heartbreaker is the shade that I have gotten the most use of it. It's the perfect matte brown shade for a one shade look.

Laura Mercier Artist Palettes

I mentioned in August that I contemplated on sending these two palettes to Glambot.  I'm glad I didn't. I have constantly reached for these two palettes. I've used them on their on or paired them with other palettes. Especially if I need some darker shades. I also like that the packaging is slim and compact. It makes them easy to store and travel with. So it's safe to say that these are definite keepers in my stash.

tarte Shape Tape Concealer

This concealer right here is holy grail! I got it for giggles based off of all the hype I had heard on both YouTube and Instagram. It is well deserved hype! This concealer has awesome coverage and the u staying power is phenomenal. I originally picked it up in Deep to use under my eyes. More shades have been released and I picked up Rich to use on the rest of my face. I enjoy both shades. If you are looking for a new concealer, I highly recommend this one. It is pricey but you can catch it on sale and you a ton of product.

MAC Taraji P. Henson Collection

I rarely loose my mind over MAC collection nowadays. Well I lost my mind over this collection. I picked up 2 of the lipsticks and both MSFs. I was tempted to pick up backups of the MSFs. Not like I really need backups. These items were in heavy rotation for a good while. The lipstick (Strip Me Down) is a very pretty nude and you can have some fun pairing it with different lip liners. The MSFs (Highlight the Truth and Taraji's Glow) are pigmented and blend nicely onto the skin. I also like that this collection didn't have a TON of items like some MAC collections. Hopefully they'll do another on with her in the future since this one was so popular.

Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Hot Toddy

I first mention this back in July and I just mentioned it again in December. It has gotten a lot of use on its own or with other lipsticks. Buxom glosses are my absolute favorite lip glosses because they give you more than just some color on your lips. They are conditioning and good for your lips. Hot Toddy is a good everyday shade. It's described as toasty nude and it's super pretty on. If you're looking for a new nude lip gloss to try, pick this one up.

LORAC Alter Ego Lipgloss in Secret Agent

I first mentioned this gloss back in March when I got it from Ulta on sale along with  Jet Setter. I have reached for Secret Agent the most. Secret Agent is described as a plum brown. Whenever I've worn a purple eye look, I instantly reach for this gloss. I've always had trouble finding the right lip color to wear with a purple eye and this pairs nicely with a purple look. I've also reached for this gloss when I don't know what to put on my lips. On me it's a nice nude shade that goes nicely with my skin tone. I pair with Colour Pop's liner liner in Too Lips.

Serious Skincare Vitamin A Line

If you've been following my Shop My Stash posts. then you would have noticed items from this line showing up a lot. I started using the line around June and I have enjoyed every item I have used. It has really been a game changer for my skin. It has helped smooth out and clear up my skin. If I had to pick only one item to stick with then it would definitely be the A Force Serum. If you're looking to incorporate Vitamin A into your skin care routine then I highly recommend the Vitamin A line from Serious Skincare. The items I have picked up have been from HSN.

philosophy Purity Made Simple Mask

I picked this mask up back in March from Sephora and it has been my go to mask. It is easy to apply and remove. You only have to leave it on for a couple of minutes. Once I remove it my skin is so soft, bright and clean. It does not have that tight feeling an my skin does not feel dry after removing. This is a product that will remain in my skincare arsenal.

philosophy Pure Grace

I got my hands on Pure Grace back in June from QVC and I have continued using it. It an easy fragrance to wear. It's a no frills scent. You just smell nice and clean. Also for me it's a calming scent. It's a scent that I'm plan to keep within easy reach.

And a non-beauty bonus fav is Beyonce's Lemondae! I mentioned this back in May and I'm STILL rocking out to it. It's just that good and definitely my album of the year.

I was going a separate post on my top brands for the year but I'll just throw it in right here. My top 3 brands for 2016 are tarte, philosophy and Serious Skincare. No surprises here.

Not a bad list if I must say. I probably could have added 5 more products. I tried to keep it short and sweet. Thanks for following me along, commenting and sharing. Let's see what 2017 brings.

December Top 5 & More

Here's what was going on in December for all things beauty and we have a couple of non-beauty items too. Let's get to it!

Top 5

Trish McEvoy 24-Hour Eyeshadow and Liner Duo - Smokey Quartz and Topaz

I purchased this duo from HSN. The duo is currently sold up but the shades are available individually for purchase. I scooped this duo up when I had a coupon. I was tickled by the fact  that Mally Beauty has shadow sticks with the exact same names. I don't know who came out with theirs first. Smokey Quartz is very similar between the two brands. Topaz is different between the two brands. Smokey Quartz is described as a shimmering raisin and Topaz is described as a shimmering golden bronze. I LOVE Topaz! It's a bronze shade that not too warm and doesn't run red. When I first got these I swatched them on the back of my hand and the staying power was absolutely crazy! I washed my hands several times and these jokers would not come off! I was shocked. When I wore them on my eyes the staying power was good especially since I have oily lids. So I highly recommend these if you can catch them on sale or if you have coupon code. There aren't a ton of shades. So I may check out the others at some point.

L.A. Girl Pro Face Matte Pressed Powder

A friend was nice enough to pass on to me the three deepest shades available in these powders. I have Toffee, Chestnut and Cocoa. Toffee is the shade I use all over to set my face. Chestnut is on the warm side. I've used it to set my under eye concealer and I was surprised by how much I liked it for that. Cocoa is the deepest shade and I figured it would be too dark for me to use to set my face right now. I may be able to use it during the summer months. Looking at it, the shade kinda reminded me of Bobbi Brown's Bronzing Powder in Chocolate that was my holy grail. So I said let me use it as a bronzer/contour and I really it for that. These powder have given the Black Radiance powsers that I have raved a run for their money. These can also be use on their own for a "soft radiant look."  I have not tried them on their own yet but I'm looking forward to it.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

I got this little guy from Ulta as a freebie with an online order. It's so tiny and cute! For some reason I thought that Opal wasn't for deeper skin tones. So I never really looked at in store. Opal is described as a golden opal pearl and it is so pretty! When I put it on my cheeks I was like oh hello glow! It's not an extreme highlight. It just gives a nice glow to the cheekbones and wherever else you put it on the face. So score for this freebie! It should last me a while.

Lip Combo - MAC Whirl Lipstick and Buxom Hot Toddy

I mentioned Hot Toddy back in July as a favorite. I thought I had previously talked about Whirl but I guess not. MAC's Whirl lipstick is a matte and it is described as a dirty rose. To me it's more of a warm brown shade. Or it appears that why against my skin tone. It's one of MAC's lipsticks that everyone talks about. A friend was nice enough to pass it on to me. It has been a lipstick that I reached for a lot lately because it's so easy to wear and goes with just about any eye look. Recently I have been pairing a lipstick with a gloss for later in the day. In the afternoon I don't always want to reapply my lip color. So I've been reaching for lip glosses with some color and that are conditioning for my lip. Buxom Lip Cream fit the bill! Buxom's Hot Toddy is described as a toasty nude and pairs beautifully with Whirl. If you're looking for a new nude lip combo to try then check these two out.

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Krystal

This gloss had been on my wish list for a while before I got my hands on it. It had been discontinued, so I took to eBay to see if I could find one. Then I lucked up and found a Buxom set with this included. I've used it here and there but recently it was just sitting in my basket. Since I've had more no makeup days than wearing makeup days, this is what I have thrown on my lips and I love it. I'm already a fan on the Buxom glosses. This is just nice for some shine on your lips, along with hydrating and treating your lips. When I run out of this I hope I can find another one. Buxom needs to stop playing and add it back to their line up!

Bonus fav - Bruno Mars 24K Magic

I've been good all year sticking to five favorites but why not add an extra for December! I loovvve me some Bruno Mars and I picked up his new one 24K Magic. I have been playing it non-stop in my car. I'm kinda bummed that it's only 9 songs *shrugs*. The two songs I have been playing on repeat are Chunky and Versace on the Floor but I enjoy the entire album. I so want to go see him in concert. Maybe I can make that happen this year.

Yays!

Turkey Haymakers Hill Tea in Sweet

I randomly picked this up from Safeway when it was on sale. I've picked up multiple bottles since then. It's different. It's not overly sweet and tastes really good. It has ginger, honey, molasses and vinegar in it. The vinegar part is interesting to me. I don't taste it. I do taste the ginger and I like it. I think I saw a lemon version that I may pick up next.

Boos!

L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer

This isn't a total fail but more of I'm not sure about it. The same friend sent me the pressed powders alos sent me two shades of this concealer in Toffee and Fawn. I feel that these two shades may be too light for my skin tone. I did make them work and used them with the Pro Face Matte Pressed Powder in Chestnut. So it didn't look bad but I feel like it was a lot of "work" to make them work. If that makes any sense. I don't like my makeup routine complicated. I just want to apply the products and keep it moving.. If I'm comparing this concealer with other inexpensive concealers I've tried then I'd say go for the NYX HD or Maybelline Better Skin concealers. I know these L.A. Girl concealers have a cult following but they're just not my cup of tea. I may try the deeper shades, if I ever see them when I'm out and about in stores. Otherwise I have other concealer favorites that I enjoy.

Trish McEvoy No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk 9 Eau de Parfum

Yea so this was an impulse buy from HSN. I was getting some Christmas gifts and this was on sale for $85.50 (original price is $135) and on free shipping and said what the hey. It's 3.4 fl oz so you're getting a lot of product. I got it, gave it a sniff and thought this is just like philosophy's Falling in Love which is one of my all time favorite fragrances. I  noticed that over the course of the few days I wore it that the scent didn't last. I was like ooook. So I took to the internet and read reviews and saw people commenting on the staying power. I also saw others saying that it's similar to philosophy's Falling in Love. So after some thought I decided to send it back. This is pretty pricey even at the sale price I purchased it at. You can get a Falling in Love set with multiple items and layer the scent vs what you'll spend on this fragrance. Plus I don't have any issues with the staying power of Falling in Love.

Reading

I'm a nerd and I track how many books I read each year. My whooping grand total for 2016 was 35 books. I'm used to reading way more. Dah well. It happens. *shrugs*

And there you have it! Let's see what January brings.

December 2016 Out of My Face

Happy New Year! 😎

I've been toying around with posting empties in a separate post. Some stuff I use up I don't necessarily talk about in other posts. Also  my feelings may change about a product as I use it that may have been a past favorite and such. So there you go. There may not be a post every month. Depends on how much I use up in a month. Some of this stuff takes forever to use up!

So here are my empties from December!

• Serious Skincare A Force XR Serum Concentrate 1oz
• Wen Treatment Oil in Tea Tree Eucalytptus 4oz
• Serious Skincare Olive Oil Body Butter 4oz
• Serious Skincare Glycolic Cleanser 16oz
• Serious Skincare 4 Million IU A Cream XR 2oz
• tarte Maneater Mascara 
• Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream
• Serious Skincare Vitamin C Ester Pads 60 count
• Wen Replenishing Treatment Mist in Tea Tree 12oz
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Cream Riche 
• Wen Replenishing Treatment Mist in Winter Vanilla Mint 6oz
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent
• Serious Skincare Mega Force Liquid Exfioliant
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask 

Everything on this list I have mentioned before in past posts and they'll stay in my rotation. There are two newcomers on the list. The first newcomer is the Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream. I got a small bottle of their Daily Lotion in one of the Allure Beauty Boxes. I left it on my desk at work and used it on my hands. I really liked it and was curious if they had a hand cream. I hopped on to Ulta's site and sure enough they had one. It's only $9.99, so I said what the hey. This is a really good hand cream! I've already purchased two more tubes. It has a nice thick consistency but it's not too thick. I doesn't have a scent that lingers or tickles my nose. It feels so good and makes my hands super soft and moisturized but not greasy. If your'e looking for a hand cream then check this one out. Now I'm curious about other products in the line. The second newcomer is the Serious Skincare Vitamin C Ester Pads. I think I got these in a larger Vitamin C kit from HSN. I've used them here and there but not on a consistent basis. I've been wanting to incorporate Vitamin C into my routine since it's a powerhouse skincare ingredient. I really enjoyed using these pads. They are a nice size, nicely saturated and do not leave a sticky film on my skin. I definitely noticed my skin looking brighter, smoother and I felt like I had less breakouts. I have already ordered more.

And there you have it!

2016 Top.....

For 2016, I'm going to do a top 5 for each category for eyes, lips, face, skincare, nails and body! I'm toying around with don't one just for eyeshadow palettes. I got the idea when emilynoel83 did her 2015 favorites. She broke them up into categories and did a top 10. I am going to stick to 5 items. I'm not sure if  these posts will go up at the end of December or early January. I'm still planning on doing a Top 5 for December. Oye vey. So there's a lot going on. For this I need to make a good old fashioned list! Started writing before I snapped a pic. HA!

Let's see how all this goes! Stay tuned!

November 2016 Top 5 & More

Sorry for the delay but life things have popped up and life is currently in progress. It happens. But I need to take my mind off some things. So I decided to go ahead and finish up this post. Another month has come and gone. Here's the good and bad that got my attention in November.

Top 5

philosophy Candy Cane Shower Gel

QVC got me once again. Didn't need any more shower gel but they had some of their holiday scents in super size and a buy more and save promo. I picked up Gingerbread Man which I am enjoying but they one I am LOVING is Candy Cane. It's just pepperminty goodness that gives you a little kick in the shower. I would definitely use this one year round. Trying to hold off and not get another bottle but I just might and then go on an extended no buy for shower gels. We shall see.

smashbox Mega Photo Op Palette

This was a shop my stash item in November. It's a past favorite and I always enjoyed using it. I hadn't reached for it in a while and I had put in the items in my second Glambot shipment. Well y'all know how that turned out. If not check out my Glambot review post. So once I got it back I said well hell let me use it. Smashbox was one of the first mid range brands that I played around with and I loved their eyeshadows. I had a lot of fun using this palette. In the past when I used it, I stuck with using  it how it's laid out in trios and two quads at the bottom. This time I bounced around all over. I also enjoyed using the highlighters in this palette. I may have used them here and there back with I was "scared" of highlighters. I didn't use any of the cream/lip products. I'm not sure if they're still any good. I did play around with the coral colored blush and it does nothing against my skin tone. But still the eyeshadows and highlighters alone are enough for me to be satisfied with this palette. I think this may be the palette I travel with for 2017.

LaFemme Blushes

Another past favorite. Super pigmented and inexpensive blushes that I always enjoy using whenever I reach for them. The main shade that I reached for is Russet. It's a beautiful shade to wear this time of year. The other shade I used a lot was Bordeaux.

Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin

This is the Wen seasonal cleansing conditioner that started it all. This is one of my favorites but I hadn't used it in a while. A friend of mine gave me a bottle since she's not a fan of the fall scents. Then I purchased a set from QVC on auto delivery that included the cleansing conditioner, oil and replenishing treatment mist. I love the scent. I you are a pumpkin scented lover then you will love this scent. More so I love how these products feel in my hair and how they work in my hair. The cleansing conditioner is creamy and moisturizing. The oil is phenomenal and the replenishing treatment mist is a nice refresher for my hair that I use daily.

Bobbi Brown Cocoa Eyeshadow

My Bobbi Brown eyeshadows were in the Glambot shipment that came back. Bobbi Brown's Cocoa eyeshadow is another past favorite.This was used a lot in November. I mean a lot! It is described as ashy plum brown. It doesn't look like much but it's the perfect one eyeshadow.  You can use lightly for a light wash of color on the lid. Or you build up it and smoke it out. It really is a versatile shadow.

Yays!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Scarlet Siren

One of my author/beauty friends had talked about Estee Lauder on her blog. I had commented that I hadn't tried anything from the brand and she was nice enough to send me a few things. The shade reminds me of Kat Von D's Archangel (burnt red). Scarlet Siren is a creme whereas Archangel is matte. The Pure Color lipstick formula is fantastic! This goes on so smoothly, it's not drying on the lips and the staying power is fantastic. I definitely want to check out more shades from this line.

Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer

I got this is a sample size that I got two uses out of the packet (not pictured). I was really surprised by this. This primer claims are "controls oil and reduces shine so makeup looks smooth, even, flawless." per the Estee Lauder website. I say yes to all of these! It similar to philosophy's The Present which is my current holy grail primer. But after two used of Estee Lauder's primer, it may have a run for its money. I have it saved on my Ulta Favorites list as a reminder. I may pick up a full size when I get through the primers I have on hand.

Boos!

Covergirl Supersizer Mascara Waterproof

This is a past favorite. I did not know when I ordered it from Walgreens that it was the waterproof version. Yea I don't like the waterproof version at all. Mainly due to it being hard to remove and I didn't like how my lashes felt. The only reason I got it was the Star Wars packaging. Dah well.

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick

I mentioned this back in February as a favorite. I was going to mention it a favorite this month. It's still a favorite but I noticed when using it that it started bending and there was a crack in it. Then one morning it happened. It broke off while I was applying it. GAHHHH!!!! *wall slides*. So this is the only reason it is a boo for this month. I  may repurchase it at some point when I can get some kind of discount since it is a pricey foundation but I do really really like it.

And there you have it. A lot of past favorites reappeared this month. On to December!

December 2016 Shop My Stash

December! DECEMBER! Oye vey. This year flew by but this year has also been a rough one. So honestly I'm kinda glad to see it go. I decided to keep it kinda of simple this month since this an all over the place month with the holidays thrown in the mix. Here's what I'm playing around with for the month!

Palette Play

For some reason the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette popped in my head. So I'm going to play around with it and some single Bare Minerals shadows.

Polish Play

I'm still playing around with some of the Milani nail polishes I pulled out last month. I'm adding some nail polishes for December that are a little more festive. From OPI, I'm adding Amore at the Grand Canal, Live and Let Die and First Class Desires. From Sephora by OPI, I'm adding Good Tidings We Bling. It's almost on it's last legs *tear* lol! Also I think I have found my holy grail red nail polish with Amore at the Grand Canal. I will definitely do a nail post with this one.

Fragrance Play

For fragrances I plan on reaching for philosophy Living Grace, philosophy Eternal Grace and Boyfriend by Kate Walsh.

Out of My Face

Here is what I used up in November:

• Wen Summer Coconut Lime Verbena Cleansing Conditioner
• Serious Skincare A Force XR Serum Concentrate
• Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Rinse
• philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion 16oz
• tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Masacara 
• tarte Tarteist Mascara
• Bath & Body Works Nourishing Hand Cream in Limoncello
• NYX HD Concealer in Nutmeg
• Eyeko Visual  Eyes Liiquid Eyeliner in Ebony
• Serious Skincare Ultra-Mare Pure Marine Infusion Concentrated Serum
• Ashea Shea Butter Pomade
• HK Girl Fast Drying & Super Shiny Clear Top Coat
• Serious Skincare A Wash 12oz
• Bioderma Sensibio H2O 500ml
• Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Deodorant in Powder Fresh 

Thanks for following me along as I go through my stash! I plan to keep these posts going for 2017.  I may switch it up a bit. I'm hoping to purge and use more stuff up!

October 2016 Top 5 & More

Hey how you doing, how you been? There a lot of lip products this month. So here we go!

Top 5

MAC Selena Collection

More MAC! I swear MAC has gotten my coins these last couple of months. When I heard that MAC was doing a Selena collection I was SO EXCITED! I luuuuhhhh me some Selena! As usual with MAC, the launch of the collection online was a clusterf*$#! I lucked up and got the three lipsticks. I debated on a few more items in the collection but I got what I knew I would use. The lipsticks in this collection are flipping fantastic and so Selena! AMOR PROHIBIDO is a Glaze lipstick and is described as a pinky midtone brown. This right is a fantastic nude lipstick! I've never tried a Glaze finish lipstick from MAC. It's not too shiny and feels so nice on the lips. COMO LA FLOR is an Amplified lipstick and it's described as a dirty cherry red. This red lipstick right here!  it's so so good! The last lipstick in the collection is Dreaming of You which is a Matte finish. It is described as a deep wine. These three lipsticks shades are in my happy place for lip colors and the packaging is super cute too. I also love the the lipstick names are song titles. It makes it a little more special ya know. If you can get you hands on these check them out! MAC is probably in my top 3 when it comes to lipsticks. Everything is pretty much sold out everywhere but they are supposed to be doing another release in January. Now if MAC will do a collection for Aaliyah, I'll be really really happy!

IMAN Global Chic Runway Glam Perfect Plaid Luxury Wrap

I originally ordered this wrap in two colors. Then I went back for the third. I have one at work and the other two are at home. This wrap is so soft and warm! I've wrapped up in it and it's not too much or doesn't get in the way. You can fashion it so many different ways. I will definitely use on for travel since it's usually cold in airports and on airplanes. Two of the colors are still available at HSN. I think this would make a great Christmas gift. Oye vey Christmas is coming! *cringes*. I didn't take a pic. HSN's product page will do the wrap more just than any pics I could take.

NYX Liquid Suede Lip Cream and Suede Matte Lip Liners

I can't remember if I talked about these or not. I originally picked up Kitten Heels (bright red) and Vintage (plum with mauve undertone) after seeing TheFancyFaced mix the two in a video. Then I got Sandstorm (true nude) on sale from CVS. Then they launched more shades and lip liners. I went Ulta when they had a promo going on (of course) and picked up two more and the lip liners. I picked up Downtown Beauty (walnut brown) and Club Hopper (brown with reddish undertone) in the lip creams. I picked up Downtown Beauty (true brown), Club Hopper (deep purple mauve) and Oh, Put It On (deep dark purple) in the lip liners. These are not liquid lipsticks. They are cream lip colors. So they will transfer some when you eat or drink but I still feel that they still have good wear time. If you're not a fan of liquid lipsticks then check these or their soft matte lip creams out. They don't dry out your lips like liquid lipsticks. I've been a fan of NYX regular lip liners and the Suede Matte ones are just as good. The color range available in both the lip creams and lip liners is quite nice. Some of the deeper shades are calling my name.

tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15

I picked this foundation up from Ulta as part of an exchange for a boo item mentioned below. This foundation had been mentioned a lot on Tarte's snapchat and their YouTube channel. When they mention that is comes in 24 shades I was curious about the deeper shade range. I tried this foundation years ago in a Tarte TSV set from QVC, The shade included was called deep and it won't that deep. So I hopped on Sephora website and there is x shades in the  deep rang. When I read that x is deep with a peach undertone I was really curious about it since the Shape Tarte concealer I have been using has a peach undertone and I'm loving it. I don't know why I thought this foundation was $27 but it's actually $39. But you get more than your typical 1oz. Also being that this is a thicker foundation with a more fuller coverage, you don't need a lot. I really like the color match of this shade for my skin tone. When I first wore it, I snapped a pic and sent it to two friends. They said it didn't even look like I had foundation on. I was like score! It id oxidize some throughout the course of the day but it wasn't terrible. For my oily skin, I think it's ok. No matter what foundation I wear, at some point throughout the day I have to blot. If you have super oily skin then you may not like this foundation. I've applied this foundation with a brush and a sponge. I like both but when using a brush, I like to dampen the brush. It helps move the foundation across the face. So score for a new foundation discovery.

Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick in Oh So Wicked

I got this lipstick in one of the Allure Beauty boxes I ordered. I forgot that I had it. I have items from both boxes at work and have been bringing home items here and there. I was digging through and saw this and what like what is this? I popped the cap off, saw this shade and was like oooooooooohhhhhh!!!!!! I brought it home immediately. I rarely wear the same lip color back to back during the week. I've worn this a bunch of times over the last couple of weeks of October. This is toted as an all in one lip product. that supposed to provide long wearing color, comfort, moisture and wear time. I think it does just that. This shade is nicely pigmented, feels nice on the lips, didn't dry out my lips and wore nicely throughout the day. It reminds me off Revlon's Black Cherry lipstick which has been a long time favorite. But dare I say I like this a tad better. I was going to get some other shades but held off since the shades I was drawn to are similar to shades I already have in my stash. But they may change lol!! If you're looking for some new lipsticks to try then check this line out!

Yays!

No surprise products this month.

Boos!

LORAC Mega Pro 3 Palette

Welp I mentioned earlier in October month that this palette was in rotation with a bunch of other palettes (October 2016 Shop My Stash). I did four looks with this palette and said nope. I returned it to Ulta. I don't own any of the other LORAC Pro palettes. I had the Pro to Go palette which I used here and there and I did like it but not enough to keep it. It was in the first package of items I send to Glambot that they did accept. I've seen a ton of reviews on LORAC eyeshadows. So I already knew that they're very soft and powdery. It's not my favorite eyeshadow formula. The array of colors spoke to me when I saw it in pictures. In person, not to so much. I feel that there are a ton of light shades and it is very dupable palette. Also the eyeshadows would crease on my eyes within a few hours. If you have a pretty decent eyeshadow stash then I don't think this is a must have unless you're a fan of LORAC or a collector of the Mega Pro palettes. I was going to do a few more looks with it and I said no. I am not going to force myself to like it. See progress. So I exchanged it for the Tarte foundation I mentioned earlier and a few other items.

Colour Pop Ultra Glossy Lips

This mix of mehs and boos. I picked up several of Colour Pop's lip glosses during their Labor Day promo. I've listed them in the order of what I like the most to the least.

• Honey B (creme finish) - vivid magenta
• Lychee Me (sheer finish) - warm nude beige
• My Jam (metallic finish) - warm golden nude shimmering with silver and gold
• Fudg'd (sheer finish) - warm saddle brown
• Stain (sheer finish) - soft burgundy 

The sheer finish ones are just that they are very sheer with little to no color. If you just want to add shine to your lip then you could use a clear gloss, Carmex or something else instead. There's nothing warm about Lychee Me (at least again my skin tone) but it is a nice nude gloss that you can layer on top of just about anything. The same goes with Fug'd. I was excited to try this one. It's pretty much nothing on my lips. My Jam is actually nice. I had to be careful with it since it's a metallic finish and a gold shade. I didn't want my lips to appear ashy. I did a swipe on my bottom lip only and blend it. I used Pitch lip liner with it. Honey B is the most pigmented of the ones I have. Overall I'm not a fan of the sheer finish ones. The other ones are ok but I'm not wowed by them. I wore these glosses on their own with a lip liner to test them out. They feel nice on and are not sticky but that's it.  I think there are better glosses out there from NYX, Milani and others within the same price range that you can pick up in store and not pay shipping that are better than these.

November go!

November 2016 Shop My Stash

November....already! Oye vey. Here's what I'm playing around with for the month!

Palette Play 

I got my items back from Glambot on Halloween (and nothing smelled like smoke by the way. Still pissed about my last dealings with them). I noted some items to play with for November. I had some single Bobbi Brown eyeshadows that I snapped into two of her empty palettes. I've played around with them already and have really been enjoying them. One shade is already a front runner for a November favorite. Can you guess which one? I also decided to use the Smashbox Photo Op Mega Palette which is another past favorite item. These items aren't bad. It's just that with having so much makeup and not using them for a while, I decided to pass them on. Buttttt now that they are back I will use them.

Polish Play

I'm going to play around with a bunch of older Milani nail polishes and the newer Color Statement nail polishes that I have. There are a lot of nail polishes in and around this bowl. Some of these I had pulled aside to give away. But then I wanted play around with them again and then decide. Here we have:

• Black Swift
• Peach Innocence 
• Showy Sea Green
• Bolting Blue
• Black Cherry
• Mauve Medley
• Chocolate Sprinkles
• Deep Thoughts
• Vivid Violet
• Vanilla Almond
• Dark Coffee
• Sangria Rush
• Rad Purple
• Natural Touch
• Sugar Cane
• Sugar High
• Spotlight White
• Enchanted Garnet
• Enchanted Sapphire
• Enchanted Emerald
• Dolci
• Gilded Rocks

Since there is a lot here and December is kind of "short"/all over the place month, I may continue using these into December. I may just throw in some glitter polishes that I like to wear around the holidays next month and call it a day.

Fragrance Play

For fragrance I am going to work on trying to use up what I have left of philosophy's Falling in Love. I am also going to play around with the two scents I am from Sofia Vegara in Sofia and Love.

Out of My Face

Here is what I used up in October:

• Serious Skincare A Eye XR
• Serious Skincare A Serum
• Wen 319 Body Treatment
• Simple Micellar Make-up Remover Wipes
• Korres Body Butter in Basil Lemon
• Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Clean & Fresh Toothpaste in Clean Mint
• philosophy Fresh Cream and Mint Body Lotion
• Colour Pop Lip Liner in Pitch
• Colour Pop Lip Liner in Ellarie
• Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Butter Super Rich Body Cream Fragrance Free

Sorry for the weird lighting. But remember Google is your friend. Play time go!

September 2016 Top 5 & More

Once upon a time, I was able to get these posts up in their slated month lol. Dah well. There's a lot going on in this post. Like to hear it, here it go!

Top 5

Signature Sedona Lace Travel Tote

I won this in a giveaway some time ago and I never used it. I knew I wouldn't like it for air travel purposes. For my everyday items I bring in the bathroom, I had being using the small Joy Mangano Better Beauty Case. It was cool for a good will but since it's the small size, I was limited in what I could put in it. Also I would usually have too many products in it, so it was hard to shift stuff around to look for items. So I randomly the thought popped in my head to use the Signature Sedona Lace Travel Tote. So I reorganized my items with pencils and mascaras in the brush side. In the zip pouch I have various lippies and lip pencils. In the open space is everything else and a few products in the side pocket. The items in the side pocket don't really stay put. I wish the pocket was cinched. But it's no biggie. I have really been enjoying this for everyday use. I also like that if I had a car trip, I can just throw in foundation, powder and bronzer and go! Sedona Lace is always having some kind of promo and you can also find a $4 promo code from a YouTuber. So you can save some on it if you're interested.

MAC Taraji P. Henson Collection

I'm cheating here with three productions *shrugs*. When I found out that MAC was doing a collection with Taraji P. Henson, I was like GIVE...IT...ME! I was all over this. When I started seeing promo pics I was even more sold on the collection. I picked up two of the lipstick from in the collection called Strip Me Down. It is a matte and described as a deeptone beige. I've paired with Colour Pop liner liners Pitch and Ellarie and I like it with both. The collection has two Mineralize Skinfinishes (MSFs). Highlight the Truth is described as soft bronze coral with golden shimmer. It is a very pretty highlighter. The other is an MSF Natural called Taraji Glow. It is described as a reddish brown. I can wear this shade as a blush. Of course after playing around with the items, I said I wanted backups of the MSFs lol. The one sucky thing is that some of the MSFs were mislabeled. MAC made amends which I thought was cool. I have both of them so I'm not bummed. This lipstick is still available on MAC's site. Both MSFs are still sold out. So I would check a MAC store if you're near one or other retailers that carry MAC.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Point in Eclair & Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Havana

More MAC items. I reacquainted myself with these two items when I was digging through my stash from items to send to Glambot. I hadn't used these in a while but I knew they were not leaving my stash. Paired together they create the pretties brown eyeshadow look. Some times I paired it with a darker brown shadow and other times I wore just these two together. Eclair is described as a light chocolate with gold pearl. It was limited edition so it's currently not available. MAC likes to bring items back or you make luck up and find it online. Havana is described as a dirty copper brown and is available from MAC.

Juvia's Place Sheba Eyeshadow

I enjoyed playing around with both Juvia's Place palettes that I pulled out for September. One eyeshadow that got my attention and that I used a lot is Sheba in The Nubian 2 palette. It's the prettiest bronze shade that's not warm and doesn't run red. It's great for everyday. I paired it with Kenya which is also in The Nubian 2 palette. If you're bored with eyeshadows from mainstream brands then check the Juvia's Place palettes and eyeshadows out.

Serious Skincare A Wash Gel-to-Foam Cleanser

I picked up the Serious Skincare Age Defy & Exfoliate Kit from HSN back in June and this cleanser was included. When I first used it, I was just ok to me. The more I used it the more I liked it. It's a gel to foam cleanser. It lightly foams which I like since I don't care for super foamy cleansers. In the morning it enough of a cleanser to prep my skin for the rest of my skincare routine. In the evening with my Clarisonic it get my makeup off. So score! Visit HSN's product information page for more info!

Yays

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale 

I came across the Harvest Pumpkin Ale at Safeway and said well now. I'm not much of a beer drinker but pumpkin season is upon us, so why not! Also Blue Moon is one beer brand that I do drink here and there. This is actually quite nice. The pumpkin flavor is not too much.

tarte Tartelette Palette

I had meant to mention this last month. This was just sitting on my dresser and I thought it was in my cart with my other palettes. Smh. I got this when I exchanged a Clinique foundation at Sephora. Why can't I just return an item and walk right back out the store? I have looked at this palette off and on for a while now. So I said ok I'll try it and if it doesn't work out it is going back. Well I was surprised just how much I liked this palette. I liked it so much that I got rid of The Balm's Meet Matte Nude palette that has been a past favorite. This palette to me is a lot more versatile that The Balm's palette. If you are a matte eyeshadow lover you HAVE to check this out. These eyeshadows are smooth, not powdery, pigmented and easy to blend. After my experience with this palette, I plan to pick up the Tartelette in Bloom palette at some point.

tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara

Another product I meant to talk about last month. Lawdy. This originally launched on QVC UK then a week or two later in launched on QVC here in the US. Leigh from Tarte had talked about this mascara before it launched. So I said why not. This is good everyday mascara. For me it gives me a lot of length. I love the applicator. It a rubber applicator with smaller bristles. Rubber applications work best for my lashes. This mascara is also a great mixer with other Tarte mascaras. I usually don't mix mascaras. I randomly tried it with Lights, Camera Lashes and the Tartetist Lash Paint mascara. I enjoyed it with both. I plan to try it with The Gifted mascara when I crack a tube open. So if you're looking for a new mascara to try then check this out.

Gerard Cosmetics Lipgloss in Wild Orchid

This was given to me by a friend. I had eyed this on their website during one of their sales but didn't get it. If you are a purple lippie lover then I highly recommend this. Even though this is a gloss it wears more like a lip lacquer. It wears nicely throughout the day and doesn't dry out my lips.

Serious Skincare MEGA FORCE™ Liquid Exfoliant

Annnnnd another Vitamin A product form Serious Skincare lol. This is another item that was included in the Serious Skincare Age Defy & Exfoliate Kit. I would say it's comparable to Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant I have used and liked Paula's Choice liquid exfoliant. So I said ok I'll use this one and then decide which one I'll stick with. I'm sticking with this! This makes my skin so soft and I feel that the skincare products I use afterwards absorbs into my skin better. I compared the ingredient deck and it's somewhat similar. I think the main difference is that this has retinol in it. Again I think since I'm no expert. If you looking for a liquid exfoliant product to add to your skin care routine then I highly recommend this one. For more information check out the HSN's product information page. You can find a better description of the product, reviews and video presentation from the brand reps. I am LOVING everything I have tried from the Vitamin A line. I'm sure you'll see something else mentioned in October. I'm just sayin *shifty eyes*.

Boos

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Conditioner

Since I've have been using Wen's Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner, I have been curious about various Tea Tree shampoos and conditioners. This one but Paul Mitchell has had me curious for a while. So I picked up the mini bottles from Ulta and I probably had a coupon. The shampoo was blah and I felt like I had to use a lot to get my hair clean and my hair didn't really feel clean. The conditioner was just as bad. It didn't add any additional moisture to my hair and it didn't help detangle my hair. Thankfully I used the One n Only Argain Oil Hydrating Mask afterward and that saved my hair. After I took the pic of the bottles for this post, they went in the trash. I'll stick with Wen's Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner.

Neutrogena Light Cleansing Oil

I got this in one of the Allure Beauty Boxes. I was interested to try it since I've heard good reviews on it. It is light. It's not super thick like some cleansing oils. It did get all my makeup off  but it irritated my eyes the few times I used it. And I had that cloudy feeling too once I rinsed my eyes. This always happens with whatever cleansing oil I use. Overall I'm just not a fan of cleansing oils. I may pass this on to a friend who likes it. I'll stick with makeup remover wipes, cleanser and Clarisonic.

NYX Slide On Eye Pencils in Jet Black and Brown Perfection

I've heard off and on that these are dupes for Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. Demolition and Perversion are my holy grail brown and black pencil eyeliners. I have some other shades too. I ran out of Demolition and Perversion a while ago. I had been using some other liners I had in my stash. They were just ok. So I said let me try these and see if the dupe title is worthy. Yea um welllll NOPE! They do glide on to the eye with ease. Brown Perfection is not a deep enough brown for my liking. Jet Black is ok but it ain't (yes I said ain't) Perversion. I think I used the black on my waterline and it flaked off something terrible in my eyes! That has never happened to me before. I've already picked up Demolition and I will get Perversion soon. These are going in the trash. I'll pay for what works on my eyes.

Create 365 Happy Planner Ink Pens W/Black Ink 4/Pkg-Black & White Designs

I ordered these from Blitsy. There were part of Me and My Big Ideas planner basics release. I gave one to a friend and kept the other 3. I started writing with the black and white striped one. You can see in the pic that the black stripes started rubbing off. I was like what the what!?!? It writes ok but they're not my favorite pens to write with and for me it's too slim. It's awkward for me to hold. I prefer the Uni-ball Signo and Papermate Inkjoy gel pens. So the two I have not used I'm going to pass on and toss the other one.

And there you have it. Let's see what October brings!

October 2016 Shop My Stash

Happy October! *shakes my head at the fact that it is OCTOBER*

Palette Play

This month I'm going to play around with a bunch palettes. I'm deciding on the remaining palettes I have from of Urban Decay (excluding the Naked palettes), Bobbi Brown and Tarte palettes I got in sets from QVC. I am getting together another batch of items to send to Glambot probably by the end of the month/early November (review coming). I also ordered the LORAC Mega Pro 3 palette from Ulta. I passed on the other two but for some reason the makeup spirits said order it. I've done one look with it already and I'm not all that impressed. So we'll see if I keep it. Annnnnnd I also got the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics palette which I've already used a few times and I'm really enjoying it. So a lot to play around with this month and decisions to make.

Polish Play

I'm going to continue playing around with the OPI Washington DC Collection and Zoya polishes that I mentioned last month. I'm going to add Toni, Stacy and Jem from Zoya to the mix.

Fragrance Play

For fragrance, I am going to play around with the two Juicy Couture scents I have in Viva la Juicy and Viva la Juicy Rosé.

Out of My Face

Here's what I used up in September:

• Serious Skincare A Defiance A Force XR Retinol Serum Concentrate 1oz 
• Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens 100 sheets
• NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Espresso 
• Wen Tea Tree Eucalyptus Treatment Oil 4oz
• Skindinavia The Finshing Makeup Spray Oil Control
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Concentrate  2oz
• One n Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask
• Influance Stimulating Scalp Oil 
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent 
• Serious Skincare A Defiance 4 Million IU A Cream XR 2oz
• Serious Skincare Serious-C C Serum
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha
• philosophy Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme 16oz
• philosophy The Present
• Ulta Enriched Nail Polish Remover

Let's get to it!

August 2016 Top 5 & More

Late again. Curses *shakes fist* I was determined to get this up on August. Dah well. Here it tis!

Top 5

philosophy Pure Grace Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel

Last year, I mentioned how I had really enjoyed using the Pure Grace Whipped Body Creme. Well I ordered the philosophy grace & love 4-piece fragrance set back in June that included a super size of the shampoo, bath & shower gel and regular sizes of the body lotion, olive oil scrub and fragrance. I did auto delivery (surprise surprise) and I got Pure Grace as my first scent. I have been OBSESSED with the shower gel. I ordered the set towards the end of June and I got it the beginning of July. Due to travel I may have used it a few times. So I didn't really get into until maybe the end of July. I've used almost half of the shower gel. This usually does not happen this quickly with supersize shower gels. The Pure Grace scent is described as soap and water clean and it's just that. I've used as my shower gel with other philosophy fragrances and it has mixed well with them, I also used with Wen's Summer Mango Coconut fragrance and it was fine as well. So glad I picked it up.

Laura Mercier Artist Palettes

As I've mentioned in my recent Less Stuff post that I'm planning on sending some items to Glambot. I pulled the two Artist's Palettes that I have which are the first two palettes. The first palette has been a long time favorite and I have traveled with it many times over. I also do really enjoy the second one as well especially the purple shades. There is some overlap with the shades and I hadn't used them in a while. I was ready to write them off since I hadn't reached for them. Then  I said well use the for a week or two and then decide. I did just that and decided that they are staying lol. These are nicely pigmented and smooth eyeshadows. They remind me of Bobbi Brown eyeshadows (more shadows I have not used in a while). The packaging is nice and slim for easy storage and travel.

Essie Strut Your Stuff

I wore this shade multiple times in August. I rarely repeat shades since I pull out so many nail polishes to play around with for the month. I did a Manicure Monday post with this shade. It is described as bright blue creme. It applies nicely with two coats. It was definite favorite polish over the summer.

Butter London Shadow Clutch Palette in Natural Charm

This palette was given to me by a friend and it's available at Ulta. I said ok another neutral palette. I've used every shade in the palette and this is a really nice palette. It's great for everyday and you do have some color in the palette with the coral and olive shades. The shadows are smooth, pigmented and easy to blend. At first I wasn't going to mention this palette but the more and more I used it I said nope gotta talk about it. It goes with the small palette kick I've been on and it's a super easy palette to use. I would definitely travel with this palette. There is another palette available called Pretty Proper. I may swatch it the next time I'm in Ulta. *shifty eyes*

Chapstick Total Hydration in Coconut Hydration

This in an item  I got in the May Allure Beauty Thrill box. I was able to purchase the box on sale. I'll mention more in a bit. This reminds me of the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment but at a fraction of the price of course. This is a 3 in 1 formula. It moisturizes, renews and transforms. I mainly have use this at night. It keeps my lips hydrated and they are nice and soft the next morning. They also come in colors which are sheer. I got Rose Hydration in the August Allure Beauty Thrill box. I haven't cracked it open yet but I cannot wait to try it.

Yays

Allure Beauty Thrills Box

When I was at my work meeting in July, I got an email to pre-order the August box and to get the May box on sale I was having a bad day and said why not and ordered both boxes. The May box was waiting for me when I got back to the office and it was FULL of stuff! There were 3 or 4 products that I knew I would not use. I passed those items on to coworkers. Still with what was left over was a lot. Then I got the August box and was really pleased. There was only one product I passed on. This box had a Wen seasonals cleansing conditioner in it. If you order from their website it costs $40. The August box I paid the normal prince of $49.95. I'm not sure if I'll get another one but if you're somewhat curious about this box, I say give it go. It's totally worth it. Also a portion of the proceeds of both boxes were donated to two different causes. The May box was the Melanoma Research Alliance and the August box was Cancer and Careers. I absolute love beauty with a cause.

Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Toothpaste & Mouthwash

The toothpaste was an item I got in the May Allure Beauty Thrills box. I was curious because I had heard good reviews on this line. I went to Walgreens and got the mouthwash and lucked up on a buy one, get on free sale. I've been using it for a few weeks and I really like it. It gets my teeth clean and it refreshing. I was looking for an alternative to the Super Smile set I got and I've found it. Woohoo! So I am going to cancel the auto delivery set that I was getting from QVC and stick with these prodcuts.

Essie Jiggle Hi, Jiggle Low

This was a random find at Walgreens for $2.99. Walgreens clearance section is quite good check it out the next time you're there. This is a silvery gold  metallic shade with flecks in it and is super pretty. I usually don't like shades like metallic shades. They can be hard to apply and look weird on me. Well I think they looked weird on my. But I rather enjoyed the how it looked when I was done. I think this is my first metallic shade from Essie. Now I'm curious about other metallic shades in their line. It is still available on the Essie website.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown

I used up my last Eyeko liquid liner in Mocha and it's discontinued waaaaahhhhh. So I was on the hunt for a new dark brown liquid liner. I went to Sephora and looked at their liner and Kat Von D's. I liked the swatch I did of Kat Von D's more. So I brought it home and have been using it ever since. It reminds me a lot of the Eyeko on so woohoo! When I run out on the black Eyeko liner I have I will purchase the Kat Von D one in Trooper.

Makeup Sponges

After watching Jennifer Wan talk about the Ulta Small Super Blender sponge. I  decided to scoop one up I also got the Super Blender sponge and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge. I tried the beautyblender years ago and I did not like it all. One thing I like about the Ulta sponges and Real Techniques sponges in that they are inexpensive. I like the way both sponges feel on the face and how they applied my makeup. I was kind of surprised how nice my face makeup looked. The smaller Ulta sponges I used for my undereye concealer. The only drawback I feel is that it seems to take longer to do my face makeup. Maybe once I get more used to using sponges it'll go quicker. My preference is still makeup brushes.

Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

This has been my go to drink over the summer. The Cold Brew coffee is very smooth. The Vanilla Sweet Cream is just enough sweetness without making it too sweet. If you think other iced drinks at Starbucks are too sweet then give this a go.

Boos

Nothing this month. Woohoo! Makes me happy when I'm enjoying the items that I reach for.

Let's see what September brings! I am determined to get my September post in in September!

September 2016 Shop My Stash

It's September. It's really SEPTEMBER!?!??! Where has the year gone? Seriously. Oye vey. Here's what I am playing around with in September!

Palette Play

I'm going to play around with the The Nubian 2 and The Masquerade palettes from Juvia's Place. I've used them a bit here and there. I've had them for a while now but haven't really used them.

Insert rant: It's not really a rant BUT I would like to say that I knew about the Juvia's Place palettes BEFORE certain YouTubers found out about them and others are now on the "bandwagon". I'm excited for the additional business that Juvia's Place is getting but still.

Polish Play

Soooooo OPI has collaborated with Kerry Washington for the OPI Washington DC Collection! When I found about this collection over the summer, I said just take my money! There are 17 polished in the collection. 17! *wall slides and insert deep sigh*. Two of the polishes are exclusive to Ulta (Front Runner and Politically Polished). So I got the two mini sets and 4 full sizes polishes (Squeaker of the House, Suzi - The First Lady of Nails, Shh...It's Top Secret and Front Runner). I got the 4 piece mini set (shades included are: We the Female, Pale to the Chief, CIA = Color is Awesome Never a Dulles Moment) from Sally Beauty and everything else from Ulta. The 3 piece mini set includes: Inside the ISABELLEtway, Kerry Blossom, "Liv" in the Grey. I wasn't able to get Politically Polished but a friend of mine was able to scoop it in store and is sending it to me *twirls*. I will try and do some nail posts since this is recent collection and swatches on deeper skin tones seem non-existent online. I had to trim my nails down, so bare with me.

Fragrance Play

I'm going to show some love to the Lancome fragrances I own, La Vie Est Belle and Tresor. I'm also going to see I can use up the shower gel and body in Cashmere Glow by Bath and Body Works.

Out of My Face

Here's what I used up in August:

• Serious Skincare A Defiance A Force XR Retinol Serum Concentrate 1oz 
• Serious Skincare Vitamin A Retinol Pads 60 pads
• Harmon Face Values Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes 
• Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Fig 32oz 
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha
• Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate...FINALLY! Woohoo!
• philosophy Hands of Hope 4oz
• Ambi Even and Clear Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
• Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
• Influance S3 Spray
• One n Only Argan Oil Treatment 3.4fl oz
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser
• Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hand Cream
• Bare Minerals Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer - I didn't finish this but was ready to be down with it. So in the trash it goes

Sorry that the pics aren't the best. Need to figure out an alternative. The change in season is upon us and daylight is getting shorter Waaaaaahhhh!!! As always Google is your friend and I try to mention product names and where I got something/where it is available.

Let the play commence!

July 2016 Top 5 & More

Finally getting around to this post. So here we go!

Top 5

Buxom  Full-On Lip Cream in Hot Toddy

My YouTube BFF (in my head) Jennifer Wan has mentioned this lippie a lot on her channel and it's been on my list to pick up for a while. I finally picked it up from Ulta and I love it. It's described as a toasty nude. This was the lippie I threw on a lot for no makeup days. It adds a little color to my lips and the Buxom glosses flew so good on the lips. For me, it helps keep mine conditioned through the day. I haven't had this gloss long but I have used quite a bit of already. This is a lippie that I will definitely keep in reach and repurchase when I use this tube up.

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Midnight Mambo

For both of my July trips, I traveled with MAC lipsticks. This lipstick was given to me by a friend. I thought I had used it but when I looked at it, I hadn't used it *head palm*. So I threw it in my makeup bag. It is described as an intense violet shade but it also has some fuchsia vibes going on as well. It's a gorgeous sahde that's right up my alley as an everyday lip color. The Mineralize Rich lipsticks are "A 77-Mineral Moist Complex that instantly nourishes lips with maximum moisture in a lightweight, non-sticky formula." (from MAC's website). When applied it looks like you have on a lipstick and a gloss. This was very comfortable to wear, it didn't dry out my lips and wore nicely throughout the day. I may check out the other shades in this line.

Tarte Young Wild & Free Amazonian Clay Palette

I went to Ulta to use my $10 off birthday coupon. I went to get the Tarlette palette but for whatever reason I wasn't in the mood to pick it up that day (Sidebar: since then I have picked up the Tartelette palette and you'll probably see it in my August Top 5 post). So I walked around and had my hand on a Stila palette that had caught my eye but then I saw this palette. I had seen it in some emails from Tarte and say meh. So I swatched and it was totally surprised. It looks like just another neutral palette but to me it's not a "boring" neutral palette. All the shades are smooth, pigmented and blend so nicely. The only shade I had trouble with is Happy Place. It has a ton of fall out but it's a beautiful shade, so I can overlook that. The palette also smells so good! I traveled with this palette instead of Urban Decay's Naked Smokey palette for my work trip to New Orleans and thoroughly enjoyed using it. For me it is a complete palette and I didn't have to reach for any other shades to complete a look. I used it some more when I got back home and hand to force myself to put it away. This palette is limited edition. So check it out soon if you're interested.

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer

Ok did I really need another concealer? Nope! This is another item I got when I was in Ulta with my birthday coupon. Tarte was seriously promoting this on their Snapchat before the item launched. When I saw the display in Ulta, I swatched the deep shade and said on my damn. This shade is intended for deep skin with peach undertones. When I swatched it, I notice the undertone be more peach instead of yellow. So was intrigued and bought it. I took it with me on both of my trips and have continued using it since I've been back home. This is a really good concealer. The coverage is fantastic, it blends out nicely and lasts all day. If you're looking for a new concealer with awesome coverage then I highly recommend this one.

Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350mAh Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

I think this is the best $10 I've spent on an electronic item (right now it's 12.99). I got this from Amazon for my Atlanta trip since I knew I would be using my phone a lot and didn't want to worry about looking for an outlet to charge my phone. This charger is fantastic! It's the perfect size too. It fit in a clutch I had without any issues. It charged my phone super fast and the charger itself held a charge for a really long time. Now I carry it around with me in my purse. You never know when you'll need to charge your phone on the go. If you're looking for a portable charger for your phone then check this on out.

Yays!

Tarte Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost

I ordered the tarte Rainforest of the Sea™ Make A Splash Hydrating Skin Savers back in April from Sephora. It was $10 and include three deluxe samples of their new Rainforest of the Sea skincare products. I had already tried the Cleansing Gel and really enjoyed it. I cracked open the Hydrating Boost and was shocked. This has been toted as a good moisturizer for dry skin. I'm an oily girl and was iffy to try it. I used at night and my skin drank it up. It didn't leave a shine on my face and it made my skin super soft! It didn't break me out and in fact it helped the breakouts I had on my face when I was using it. One day when I was bumming around the house and I put it on during the day since I wasn't going anywhere. I ended up having to run out so I threw an SPF moisturizer on top since I was going outside. I thought for sure my skin would be super oily. To my surprise it wasn't. I would definitely purchase this in a full size.

Camry 110 Lbs Luggage Scale

A friend on mine had this in Atlanta and it was a money saver. When I packed for Atlanta, my larger suitcase was over 50 pounds and this was after shifting some stuff around but the I got away without paying any overage fees. I didn't think I would be so lucky coming back home, Using this helped me shift items between my two bags to get both under 50 pounds I ordered one from Amazon before checking out of the hotel! The size is great to throw in a carry on bag and it's super easy to use. If you have the tendency to over pack or plan to shop on a trip and need to make sure you're luggage is not overweight then I highly recommend picking up a luggage scale.

Boos!

Olay Regenerist Luminous Dark Circle Hydraswirl Eye Cream

I got this in a Target Beauty Box. I started using it in between my two trips since I didn't want to unpack a ton of stuff like skincare items. So I said I can use this for the few days I was home. This is supposed to be a gel to cream formula that reduces the appearance of dark circles and under eye darkness and illuminates the eye area. Ummmm yea no. The consistency is just weird. It takes forever to blend it into the skin and I didn't notice anything being illuminated. This is going in the trash.

There you have it. Short and sweet. A lot of Tarte products for July huh? Let's see what August brings!