2017 Top 5 + Top 3 Brands

When this post came to mind I said ok No waffling or trying something new. I'm sticking to top 10 items and top 3 brands! But then I said ok what's the top 10? I did like a lot of stuff in 2017 but I didn't want to list something for the sake of having 10 items. Then I said ok could I narrow down to 5 items since that's what I did all year. So I really put my thinking cap on and thought I about the 5 items that I felt that I reached for most during the year or something I really had to "force" myself to put away. So here goes nothing!

NYX Lip Liners

NYX lip liner in Espresso was the only lip liner I used fo a long time. Then I jumped on the Colour Pop bandwagon and I did venture out and explored other lip colors. Then I fell out of love with Colour Pop and went back to NYX and I'm staying with NYX. They are easy to sharpen and hold up nicely. NYX has a TON of lip liner colors. I tried several in the Suede Matte line. Club Hopper (deep purple mauve) is probably my number favorite and I wear it with reds, purples, pink and some nudes. I found Downtown Beauty (true brown), a lighter brown lip liner that works better with the nude shades I like to wear. Espresso (deep warm brown) will always will be in my stash. It's the best brown lip liner. And you can't beat the price of NYX lip liners and they are available at a lot of retailers.

IT Cosmetics Vitality Cheek Flush Powder Blush Stain

I mentioned these blushes in my June 2017 Top 5 post. There are only 4 shades in this blush line and it's the perfect mix of shades for any occasion/look. As I've gone through my stash purging items, these blushes I do not touch. They are staying in my collection. The pigmentation and staying power of these blushes are fantastic.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Sucre Eau de Parfum 

I mentioned this fragrance in my February 2017 Top 5 post. This fragrance has stayed on my dresser and I have used on and off all year. I have a sample I got from Sephora just to keep in my makeup bag in my purse. If I had to pick one favorite of the year, this would be it. It a fragrance that's easy to wear and it's not overpowering. It's a fun and flirty scent that can be worn year round. If I ever did a purge of my frgrance stash, this one would be a keeper.

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

This only got mentioned once in 2017 in a post and it was an empties post. I kept meaning to mention it in a favorites but just forgot. This was the makeup spray I used last year and it was GOOD! De-Slick used to my go to. I got a duo of All Nighter from Ulta (this is the old packaging) when I had a coupon. Every time I used it I was surprised how it set my makeup once I was done applying everything and how my makeup held up through out the day. Once I use up the bottle I have I'm tempted to try the Mattifying Setting Spray from Cover FX since a friend of mine raved about it. But we shall see about that.

Tarte Tartlette Palette

I didn't think I would have a palette favorite for 2017. I can't remember when I picked this up last year but it has stayed within easy reach. I've used it on it's own and paired it with other palettes. I think this is a great all matte palette. I also love the packaging. It's easy to travel with and store. Which has become a big factor in purging eyeshadow palettes from my stash.

Now for the brands!

NYX

This year was the year that NYX make a reappearance of sorts my makeup purchases and routine this year. I purchased palettes, blushes and various lippies. Early on in my makeup days, NYX was brand I checked out a lot and fell off from them. They have a nice variety of products at a decent price point. Their lip liners will STAY in my stash.

Tarte

This brand gets a lot of flack and I get it. I've been disappointed with them in their lack of color range in foundations, concealers and powders. They've added stuff here and there but for now they are still one of my favorite brands. Their Shape Tape concealer is still my holy grail concealer. A lot of their eyeshadow palettes are ones I constantly reach for be it daily makeup looks or travel.

Serious Skincare

This should not be a surprise since a bunch of their items are holy grail in my skincare routine. If you paid attention to my empties and top 5 posts then you saw a lot from Serious Skincare. It's a good no frills band and you can catch awesome deals. My hands down favorite item is the A Force serum.

And there you have it! Tried to keep this short and sweet since it is February and a little late to be talking about 2017 favorites lol!

Let's see what 2018 brings.

October/November/December 2017 Out of My Face

Let's talk about my last set of empties for 2017! There is a lot here! *pats self on the back* LOL!!!

• Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion
• Bath and Body Works Ulta Shea Body Cream in Amber Blush
• philosophy Amazing Grace Whipped Body Cream 16oz
• philosophy Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Candy Cane
• philosophy Falling in Love Spray Fragrance .5 fl oz 
• philosophy Lemon Custard Glazed Body Souffle 16oz
• NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Chocolate
• Estee Lauder Matter Perfecting Primer .5 fl oz
• Serious Skincare Creamerum Evolve Cream/Serum Beauty Treatment
• Serious Skincare A Force XR (2)
• Serious Skincare Reverse Lift Serum
• Serious Skincare A Wash
• Serious Skincare Mega Force
• Serious Skincare Glycolic Cleanser
• Serious Skincare A Night Cream
• Wen Fall Ginger Pumpkin Cleansing Conditioner 16oz
• Wen Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner 32oz
• Wen Fig Replenishing Treatment Mist
• Andrew Lessman  Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails 360 count
• Andrew Lessman Cranberry Benefits 60 count
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha Q835
• iS Clinical Copper Firming Mist
• Serious Skincare Pure-Pep 30% Peptide Concentrate
• Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream
• KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo 
• KeraCare Humecto Creme Conditioner
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Treatment
• Bare Minerals Mineralixirs Facial Cleansing Oil
• COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

The iS Clinical Copper Firming Mist is a new product to me.This was given to me by a friend to try. At first I didn't think it was doing anything. The more I used it, the more I enjoyed. Not sure if it helped with firming but it did help control the oil on my face and foundation application. I mainly used it in the morning after toner. It's funny I thought that the spray was clogged because nothing was coming out. Then I was like uhhh hello you finished it LOL!!! I haven't decided yet if I will purchase a bottle.

Two other newbies to the list but not to me are the KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo and Humecto Creme Conditioner. This shampoo and conditioner I used years ago. I loved them and then got side tracked by other products. The woes of a product junkie. I decided to use them again when my hairdresser told me of a sale that JcPenney was having and I fell in love with these two products all over again. I haven't repurchased them yet but I will. I can tell a difference in my hair since I ran out. These two products helped keep my hair soft, hydrated and manageable.

The Bare Minerals Mineralixirs Facial Cleansing Oil is another new product to the list. It's a typical cleansing oil and I did like it. A friend gave this to me. I'm not sure if they still make it. It got all my makeup off and it rinsed well. Some cleansing oils I feel like you have to rinse FOREVER to get off. I didn't have to do that with this one.

And lastly let's talk about the COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. When I first started using this I wasn't wowed by it and didn't think much of it. This is another product I grew to enjoy the more  I used. I was going to mention it in a top 5 post but kept forgetting. Here's the product description:

"COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is an exfoliating fluid that effectively eliminates flakes and dull skin cells while preventing blackheads and whiteheads from forming. Infused with natural acne-fighting acids, AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner controls excess oil and sebum while nourishing and hydrating depleted skin with essential vitamins.

It does just that! This is an excellent toner and I feel it was a game changer for my oily acne prone skin. I also love how it makes my skin feel soft and supple too. Even though I have oily skin, it can become dehydrated so the right products are key for my skin. It's available at Ulta but you can find it cheaper on Amazon. I have some other toners to get through but I am definitely going to repurchase this toner.

And DONE!

I will definitely continuing doing these posts in 2018. I would like do them monthly but I don't really use that much up in a month. So we shall see how often these get posted.

December 2017 Top 5

Happy New Year! I was trying to get this up the last week of December but as you can see that did not happen. I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

Here's in my last top 5 to round out 2017!

Laura Geller Iconic Baked Sculpting Lipstick in Broadway Plum

In December, I went through my lip products like a bandit. I should have taken before and after pictures. This lipstick a friend sent to me. I couldn't remember if I liked it our not. So I put in the current rotation of lip products. This is a really good lipstick. It's nicely pigmented and does not go on streaky. Dark lipsticks like this can sometimes go on patchy which drives me nuts! The staying power on this lipstick is fantastic. With a normal day of eating, drinking, talking, etc it wore nicely. I didn't have to reapply but I did just because I wanted to lol. It also felt nice on the lip going on and throughout the day. My lips didn't feel dry or tight. And of course I love the color. It's deep aubergine. So this is a definite keeper for me. I may try another shade from the line. They are at Ulta woohoo!

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

This was my highlighter of choice for the month of the December. It paired nicely with the deeper toned pink and berry blushes I wore. It's limited edition but MAC stays bringing stuff back. So keep a look out if it strikes your fancy.

BH Cosmetics ItsMyRayeRaye Palette

I follow ItsMyRayeRaye on Instagram and I saw that she collaborated with BH Cosmetics and created a palette and brush set. When I saw the palette I instantly fell in love with the shade section. It's a 21 color eyeshadow, highlight and contour palette. I thought it was cool that it has face products in addition to eyeshadows. I try to support women of color influencers when they collaborate with brands. I ordered the palette from BH Cosmetics.The was the main palette I used for the month. The shadows and highlighters are very nice. I have not used the face powders yet. I went ahead and ordered the brush set from Ulta the other day. The palette is also at Ulta. I have a work trip coming up and have no idea what palette to take. I may take this one since it's a nice all in one palette and I'm not trying to take a bunch of stuff with me.

Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

This foundation was the main foundation I reached for in December. I hadn't used in a while and forgot how much I liked it. I think this foundation is better suited for me in the cooler months but I can get away with wearing it if it's not too hot outside. The coverage of the foundation is fantastic. You do not need a lot to get the job done and the wear time of it is excellent. I wear the shade Deep Honey I'm tempted to try the next shade up in Rich Honey to see if it'll be a better shade for me when the weather is more and I get a tad bit darker. We shall see.

Love by Chaz Dean Eau de Parfum

When I ordered the Wen December Today's Special Value from QVC, a sample of this fragrance was included. Wen fragrances are hit or miss with me but I was curious to try it out. Once I saw the notes of this of the fragrance, I knew I was going to like it. The top note are Acai, White Currant and White Grapefruit and they are blended with Plumeria ad Rose Blossoms. It also has Ceadarwood and Amber extracts which I love. It's a warm and inviting scent that is not overpowering.  It'll be available for purchase in February and I am definitely grabbing a bottle!

One product I didn't like this month is the Korres Sea Lavender Body Butter. I ordered the Korres Special Edition 10-piece Body Butter Gift Collection from HSN that had minis of the body butters. I said I could use as hand creams. Now I kinda wished I returned it but I gifted one of the body butters. Oh well. The Sea Lavender scent is very strong. It lingers and it kinda tickles my nose. So I don't know if maybe I'm allergic to something in the body butter. Also when I touched stuff the scent got on whatever I touched. So I'm not a fan.

And there you have it! Thanks for following my ramblings of stuff I like and didn't like in 2017!

Next up we're gonna talk about my last set of empties for 2017!

November 2017 Top 5

Now matter what you celebrate, I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

Let's get straight to it!

Persona Identity Palette

I follow the brand on Instagram and I kept eyeing this palette. The brand became available at Ulta and I jumped on getting it. This palette is so good! It's a complete palette. I don't have to reach for anything else to complete a look. The shadows a very pigmented, smooth, easy to blend and hello it has a dark brown shadow that is SO GOOD!. I also love the size It's not hard to store and it would be great for travel. If you looking for a new palette to try or you're looking for a good everyday palette that'll take your from day to night, definitely check this one out.

Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Blackberry

The Crushed Lip Colors are new to Bobbi Brown's line. A friend sent me 3 shades (Cranberry, Ruby and Blackberry). The one that I wore a lot in November was Blackberry. It is described as a deep chocolate berry. These kinds of shades are my happy place. The Crushed Lip Colors are a cross between a lip balm and a lip color. They feel really nice on the lips and don't dry out my lips. I like that I could throw it out and not have to fuss with it throughout the day.

Serious Skincare Serious-C3 Plasma™  Line

Serious Skincare revamped the Vitamin C line. I think it was last year or earlier this year and I was like why? To me the line was fine as is. I wasn't in a rush to try any of the revamped products. Then I ended up ordering their November Today's Special (Serious Skincare Year's Best Beauty Bag) that had the Vitamin C cleanser and the Serious Skincare Serious-C3 Plasma™ Trio Double Up set that had the serum, eye cream and SPF. The new products with the plasma technology are awesome! Everything absorbs into the skin so much better and I feel like I'm getting better results. The vitamin C SPF is my new favorite! When I tried the original one, I feel  it didn't completely absorb into my skin  and made me greasy. I do not have that problem with the Vitamin C SPF with the plasma technology. Now I'm curious as what the benefits of plasma are in skin care. During the presentations on HSN they said that plasma is the new "thing" in skincare.

COSRX  Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

I had been eyeing the cleanser for a while and a friend of mine was nice enough to send it to me. This is a really nice and gentle face wash. She warned me about the smell. The instant I used it I LOVED the smell. It has tea tree in it and she's not a fan of the smell of tea tree. We already know that I am. I've used this at morning and at night. I prefer using it in the morning. It's not drying and leave your skin feeling nice and supple. It's available Ulta but you can find it cheaper on Amazon.

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Body Butter

This is another product I saw first on Instagram. I've tried the body lotion in the past and more recently and I was never really wowed by it. I saw this in Walgreens while I was waiting on prescription and said why not since I cannot say no to body butters. This a good body butter! It's nice and creamy. It absorbs into the skin nicely and leave a nice glow on the skin. I use it from my chest down to my toes and I love it! I've also been loving it on my hands. This is a definite repurchase for me.

And there you have it.

Short and sweet. Now on to December!

October 2017 Top 5

Oh boy this is hella late. But I still wanted to talk about my favorites from October. So let just get to it!

OPI This Color's Making Waves

I was looking for a dark green color and grabbed this. However this is not a dark green. It is described as a shimmery, lagoon blue on OPI's website. This color really grew on me and I wore it multiple times during the month. I think it's the perfect year round nail polish. It's not too bright or too dark. I also layered it over top of a black nail polish and it was really pretty. I'll try to get a post up of it on my nails.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub

A friend passed this on to me. Years ago I used to use the Tea Tree skin care line at The Body Shop and I did like it. The Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub was new to me and I LOVE IT! When I first used it, I used it after washing my face in the evening. I wasn't sure if it was a scrub that would also cleanse the skin but it is since it does foam but it does not dry out my skin. After that I have been using it in the morning. It is very refreshing and my face feels smooth and soft after using it. It is not an abrasive scrub. And of course I love the scent. If you have oilier skin and are prone to breakouts then check this scrub out! I definitely will repurchase this when I run out. I may travel with it for my next work trip.

Serious Skincare A Primer

This primer came in a set of Vitamin A products I purchased a while ago. I tried it when I first got it but wasn't wowed by it. I said let me try it again to see if I like or not. This time around I do like it. From HSN's website this primer is described as a "oil-free primer glides over the skin to temporarily fill in lines, wrinkles and pores. Its helps your skin feel and look polished and luminous." It does just that. Out of the tube it has pearl like finish which worried me at first. I said ok instant oil slick! This was not the case. It does give the skin the nice healthy looking glow. My foundation goes on nicely and holds up during the day.

Serious Skincare Creamerum Body Treatment

This is another Serious Skincare item I got in a set of items a while ago. I was curious to try it since I enjoy the serum and eye cream. From HSN's website:

"Pamper the exposed skin of your body with this sumptuous beauty treatment. It combines the ingredients of a serum with the luxurious hydration of a cream to help improve the suppleness and softness of your skin."

This is not your typical body lotion. As the name states, it is a treatment. It glides and absorbs into the skin nicely. It is not greasy and has a light scent but you can still put on a perfume or fragrance and it will not interfere with the scent. I use this from the chest down and I really enjoy it. I said I may grab another tube when it's on sale or I have a coupon. This is another product that would be great for travel.

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Sarina

I took this lip polish with me on my last work trip to Florida. When I travel on a plane, I always use a Buxom lippie on my lips for a hint of color and to hydrate and protect my lips. I wore this lip polish a lot while I was in Florida and I've continued using it since I've been back too. It is describes as a chocolate sparkle. The Buxom line of glosses are hands down my favorite lip glosses. They have been for years. I'm getting the urge to do another clear of my makeup stash. I could potentially get rid of all the lip glosses I have except the one I have from Buxom and be content. We shall see if that happens.

There you have it short and sweet! I'm not going to even say what post will be next lol. So I'll see you in the next post!

November/December 2017 Shop My Stash

Hey. Hey there. How ya doin?

I'm coming off a recent work trip, had a ton of laundry to do, just basically getting back to real life. Plus Daylight Savings Time has been a real downer. It's dark at like 5 o'clock and I don't want to jack! So I'm trying to shake the funk off.

Since we're heading into mid-November (yikes!) and into the holiday season, I am going to combine my play post for November and December.

So here we go!

Shadow Play

I picked up two new palettes from Ulta. I got the Persona Cosmetics Identity Palette and the tarte Tartlette Toast palette. I've done a few looks with the Identity palette already and I'm really enjoying it. I think it will be fantastic for travel. I also wanted to play around with some Bare Minerals eyeshadows. I was moved to grab the Women of B.E. Collection. If you'v been with me a while then you know this is an oldie but goody from QVC!

Polish Play

For nail polish, I grabbed a bunch of Zoya nail polishes along with two reds from OPI. I also need to find my Sephora by OPI polish in Good Tidings We Bling. That's a staple every holiday season! It's the perfect red and green glitter nail polish that I pretty much talk about every year. Every now and then Sephora has brought it back for the holidays. If you see it, grab it!

Zoya Emilia, Kelly, Nimue. Ibiza, Neve

Zoya Storm, Marjorie, Finley, Merida, Aurora, Dream

OPI Big Apple Red, Amore at the Grand Canal

Fragrance Play

For fragrance, Lancome is on deck! I have three Lancome fragrances. La Vie Est Belle, Tresor and La Nuit Tresor.

And a bonus item...

I picked up the tarte Blush Bliss palette from Ulta when it was on sale. I think this will be a good travel blush palette. I purged all of my Tarte blushes from my stash and now I kinda regret it. I saw this and said why not. Sephora has a larger blush palette that's part of tarte holiday collection. I'm tempted to get it during the VIB sale or when they do the $20 off $50 offer.

I think this a good mix of item to take me through the end of the year. As always, thanks for following me along. Especially since I haven't been a consistent as I would have liked this year. We'll see what holds for 2018.

Next up will be my October Top 5 post. Stay tuned!

September 2017 Top 5

Hello. Hey. How ya doing? No rambling let's just get to it!

MAC Girls Mischief Minx Palette

A friend of mine mentioned picking this palette up from Ulta and I was curious. So of course I had to look it up. I liked what I saw and decided to give it a go. Well I ended up really liking it. The value of the palette is really good, there are a nice selection of shades and the highlighter is the palette is stunning. I've looked up the other MAC Girls palettes and I have ordered another one.

Fromm Diane Wide Tooth Shampoo Comb

Along with the MAC palette, my friend picked up two combs and she said they were good. I'm always on the lookout for a good comb for this thick hair of mine. This comb is a good one and it's inexpensive at Ulta. I used it on my dry hair only. I have another comb I use when my hair is wet. It glided through my hair and I didn't have a lot of hair stuck in the comb after combing my hair. So score! I may grab another one.

Mally Shadow Sticks

As I've been going through my makeup, I have been paying extra attention to what I'm actually reaching for. When it comes to shadows sticks, Mally's are the ones for me. She has a wide variety of colors, they last on my oily lids and they hold up nicely including the packaging. I have some other in similar packaging and the caps have cracked. So I'm more than likely going to toss the other shadow sticks and pencils I have unless the color is something I don't have from Mally and stick to purchasing hers from here on out.

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner

I have been without a black liquid liner for a while now. I've tried some inexpensive ones that were terrible! Then I ordered two of the LORAC ones during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty. While I was waiting on my order, I reached of my Bobbi Brown Black Ink Gel Liner. I forgot how much I like look of gel liner and how easy Bobbi Brown Gel Liners are to apply. Also it lasts all day and I mean ALL DAY! I've had this jar for a while. So I know I'm due for a new one which I will pick up soon. It's always fun rediscovering old favorites.

tarte Tartelette Palette

I've had this palette for while but hadn't reached for it lately. So it was time to decide if it was staying in my stash or if it was going. Well I can say it's staying. It's a fantastic matte eyeshadow palette. It's good on it's own and a good companion palette if you need some other matte eyeshadows to complete a look. I may travel with this later on this month. I keep saying I need to designate my travel makeup, so that when it's time to pack I grab those items and keep it moving. Now I'm really leaning towards getting the Tartlette in Bloom palette and there's supposed to be another palette called Toast with warmer shades coming out soon. Oye vey lol!!!

Now for a surprise palette and a random bonus.

Urban Decay Rollergirl Palette

I was going through some empty makeup bags I had set aside for gift giving. I got tired of looking at them and they were not being used for gift giving. So they needed to go. I picked up one and something was in it. Inside was the Urban Decay Rollergirl Palette!!!!!! I had put it aside to give to someone since I really hadn't used it. I had thought out about this palette recently due to the packaging being special with a black girl on it. I was bummed I didn't have it anymore and then I find it! I started using it and said to myself why did I want to give this away again? It has nice neutral shades including Darkhorse which is one of my favorite Urban Decay eyeshadows and a pop of pink. The pink scared me when I first got this palette. I used it with a pink/purple eyeshadow stick and the look was so pretty! So finding this what a good surprise for the month!

And a random bonus that keeps with my minty things obsessions and doesn't really need an explanation....

ALTOIDS!!!!! I've been eating these thangs two at a time!

And there you have it. September was a simple month. Let's see what October brings.

August/September 2017 Out of My Face

Ok I lied. Next up is empties! I thought this one was for September and October. Here's what I used up in August and September!

• Wen Summer Tropical Paradise Treatment Oil
• Wen Summer Tropical Paradise Replenishing Treatment Mist
• Wen Nourishing Mousse in Fig
• Wen Tea Tree Replenishing Treatment Mist
• Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Deep
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Treatment
• Skinfix Hand Repair Cream
• Urban Skin Rx Super C Brightening Serum
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Fading Fluid
• Serious Skincare A Force XR
• philosophy Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel in Pure Grace 32oz
• NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Chocolate
• Andrew Lessman Cranberry Benefits 120 count
• Skincare Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha
• philosophy Honey and Cream Glazed Body Souffle 16oz
• Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Mint Deep Cleansing Hand Soap
• Serious Skincare Mega Force Liquid Exfoliant
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Fading Fluid
• Ashea Shea Butter Pomade
• Nail-Aid 1 Second Spray Away Nail Polish Remover
• Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray
• Garnier 5 Second Blur
• Nene's Secret Gorgeous Gro
• Naturelle Luxe Majestic Oil

I think the only new to the list to take about is the Skincare Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream. I ordered this from Sally Beauty. I'm always on the hunt for a good hand cream and it has Retinol in it. You know I'm all about Retinol these days. Sad to say I wasn't wowed by this. It wasn't moisturizing enough for me. I would add a couple drops of the Botanics Nourishing Face Oil to it. I saw them mention adding a few drops of their oil to your hand cream Instagram. It helped me use it up. I won't be repurchasing this one.

I used up a lot of stuff huh?

For the next post I'm going to combine October, November and December! Let's see what I can use up for the next three months!

Stay tuned!!

September/October 2017 Shop My Stash

Since it's already September is just about over *head palm*, I'm going to combine September and October. I'll also mention what I've been reaching using for the most part for September so far.

I had been thinking about what I wanted to play around with since towards the end of August for the month of September. Toyed around with a few things but nothing stuck with me. The main thing I wanted to start doing this month is tackle my nail polishes. I've gone through my makeup quite a few times but hadn't really touched my nail polishes. For eyes I randomly reached for two past MAC favorites and I did pick up the Butter London palette I mention in my Denver Top 5 post. For fragrance I have one that I want to try to use up this month if possible.

So here we go!

Shadow Play

I picked up the  Butter London + Pantone Color of the Year Eyeshadow palette on sale from Ulta. I have not used it yet. So we shall see if I like it or now. I've also pulled out my two MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadows that are past favorites (Havana and Rich Core). I also pulled out my tarte Tarlette palette. Trying to decided if I'm going to pick up the Tarte in Bloom palette and I wanted to see how it compare to the new all matte Milani eyeshadow palette that recently came out. Then there's supposed to another tarte palette I think it's called Toast due out. I've seen sneak peeks on Instagram and it's pretty. I've also be on a Mally eyeshadow stick quick. They're nice to pair with powder shadows but they are so awesome on their own. My Juvia's place palettes may make an appearance as well.

Polish Play

I was going to tackle my nail polishes by brand. I was going to start with Essie and I did take a bunch of Essie nail polishes out. I've worn three and now I'm like meh. This basket has all my Essie nail polished and most of my OPI nail polishes. The above picture is an old picture of the basket. I've had it for a while now and it's coming apart. This is what started my whole "let's go through my nail polishes and get rid of some". So for now I'm just going to randomly reach in here and pick nail polishes to use to see if they are keepers.

Fragrance Play

I have some Bath and Body Works scents that I want to try and use up (Beautiful Day, Amber Blush and Be Joyful) along with philosophy's Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme and Spray Fragrance.

Kinda boring *shrugs*.

For 2018, I'm thinking about switching this post to towards the end of the month and talking about what I actually reach for during the month. I think that may be better since I'm losing steam on picking out select items and using them for the month. We shall see.

Next up should be my Top 5 for September!

August 2017 Top 5

No babbling. Let's just get to it.

Laura Mercier Eye Art Artist's Palette

Even though I pulled out my Urban Decay Naked palettes to play with for the summer, I still played around with other palettes. Every now and then I pull out one of the twoLaura Mericer Artist palettes I have. This has been a favorite in the past and I have traveled with it multiple times. This was the second one that was launched and it's still available at Sephora. My last makeup purge I got rid of the majority of my Bobbi Brown palettes. I think that both brands are similar when it come to eyeshadows but I think Laura Mercier's shadows are a tad better. Also I like the shade selection more so that what I had in my Bobbi Brown palettes. My go to eye look with this palette was Truffle on the lid, Espresso Bean in the outer corner/crease and Fresco under my brow bone. All three eyeshadows are matte. You can wear this eye look with  just about any lip and cheek color combo. I've you are a brown and purple eyeshadow lover then this is the palette for you. It's pricey palette but I feel that it's worth the price. The shadow quality is very good they are easy eyeshadows to use and they blend nicely.

philosophy Candy Cane Shampoo Shower Gel & Bubble Bath

For some reason I was legit obsessed with mint, tea tree, eucalyptus, etc items in August. I probably could have done post just on them. The one that I enjoyed the most is philosophy's Candy Cane shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath. This is generally available around holidays and I got in November of last year. I think I have found my holy grail shower gel! philosophy shower gels are a long time favorite and I thought Fresh Cream would be the one that I would eventually use as my regular shower gel. Well now Candy Cane is it! It has nice fresh peppermint scent that now too overpowering but enough to pep you up in the morning or calm you in the evening. I picked up the 32oz from QVC. When it becomes available again I am definitely getting two. I'm tempted to take it out of my shower now so I can use up some other shower gels I have lol.

Bath & Body Works CocoShea Cucumber Foaming Scrub

I was in Bath & Body Works picking up some hand soaps and I noticed some new body scrubs that I saw in an email. I picked up the CocoShea Cucumber Foaming Scrub. When it comes to body scrubs I don't like ones that's too abrasive but  don't want it feel like I'm using a shower gel. I really enjoyed this one. It's just abrasive enough and the cucumber scent it nice. My skin feels super soft after using it. When I use this one up I want to try the CocoShea Coconut Body Buff next.

MAC Ronnie Red Lipstick

When I pull out lip products to play around with I always pull out a red lipstick. MAC's Ronnie Red was in rotation for August and I forgot just how much I like it. It is a fantastic red lipstick. It's a brightened pink-red with blue undertones and it's matte. It's a very flattering red lipstick. It wears very nicely throughout the day and it doesn't dry out my lips. The only downer is that it was limited edition. If MAC every brought this one back, I would definitely get another one.

Julep Super-Size Oxygen Nail Treatment Kit with Bag

This was a QVC TSV in August. When I saw it, I was curious. I paint my nails twice a week and I really don't let then "breathe". So I was intrigued by the Take a Breather Oxygen Nail Treatment that gave your nails a hint of color but also treated your nails. The two with color in the set are Sheer Pink and Sheer Ivory. The Be Strong Oxygen Nail Therapy is clear and I did use it as a base coat with other nail polishes. I used the items for about two weeks and I really liked them. My nails did look better. My favorite item in the set is the cuticle oil. It has a nice light scent. The oil over all is light but it absorbs quickly and it is not runny. I also like that it's a roller ball delivery system. The one item I did not care for is the nail file. I think OPI's crystal nail file is much better. An auto deliver options was available and I did order it when it was available and I think it's one I'll actually keep and not cancel.

September go!

July 2017 Top 5

Hey there! Been a while huh? Work, life and current events as of late have had me in a funk and this just wasn't something important to do. But I had a sudden burst of let's do some blogging and here we are. July went by super fast and  August is just about over. 2017 has really flown by. Anywho here's my Top 5 for July. Going to try and keep this simple since it's beyond late. Let's see how it goes!

Top 5

Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette

This palette came out of no where but when it made the rounds on social media, everyone was talking about it. When I first saw it I said hmmm a warm palette ok. I picked up mine from Ulta. Once I got in my hands and started playing around with it, I could not put it down. I was tempted to take it with me on my work trip but didn't. This is another warm palette but I feel like Urban Decay put their own spin on it like they usually do. The quality of the shadows is fantastic. I did see some posts on the NYX  Professional Makeup Warm Neutrals Ultimate Shadow Palette that's a dupe. So that may be an option for you it you don't want to spend the money on the Naked Heat palette. But if you're an Urban Decay fan or feel like splurging on a palette then definitely check this one out. I think this is their best Naked palette yet.

Urban Decay Naked Heat Lipsticks

I also picked up the lipsticks (Heat, Fuel and Scorched) that are part of the Naked Heat collection. I wasn't expecting to like them and I was just going to outright return them when I got my order. But surprisingly enough I reached for these a lot during the month. Even though these are metallic, you don't feel the glitter on your lips and they wear nicely through out the day. My favorite of the three is Heat. It is described as a burnt red with gold pearl. I have really been enjoying Urban Decay lipsticks this year.

Covergirl Total Tease Mascara

Not like I needed another mascara but I saw this in a YouTube video and decided to give it a go. I picked this up form Ulta. This is a really nice mascara and the applicator is interesting. I get volume, length and curl from this mascara. You can really shape and define your lashes with this one.

Bare Minerals Statement Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Shameless

I ordered this from Ulta with some other items and I forgot about it! I usually have stuff sent to work and I usually hang on the box and packing slip just to make sure that I want to keep what I ordered. Somehow I missed this and it was still sitting in the box! I was looking in the box for the packing slip to see if it had another item on it that I wanted to return. When I saw it listed I said I ordered this? Dug around in the box and sure enough it was in the box and still in its packaging. Smh! Ok now about the lippie. I think I saw Lustrelux wear this on Snapchat and I said HELLO! Shameless is a neon hot pink shade. I wore it several times this month and it's a fantastic liquid lipstick. The formula is not drying and the wear time on it is really good. I've looked at the other colors and I may pick up another one or two.

Serious Skincare Mega Force Liquid Exfoliant

I've been using this in my pm skin care routine for a while now and I do like it. But I wasn't always consistent with it. I was almost done with the bottle I had on hand, so I just let's go ahead and use this morning and night to get it used it. This has been a GAME CHANGER for my skin! I remember during one of the presentations on HSN were they said if you're skincare has plateaued or your skin in a rut then incorporate this product. My skin was doing pretty good with the products I had been using but this has made it even better. It has helped with my texture issues and evened out my skin tone. It has helped keep my skin clear and smooth. I can't stop touching my face but I know I should lol!

Boos!

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

I picked this mascara up along the the Covegirl one from Ulta. It's just ok for my lashes. It's supposed to provide length, volume and more black pigment. It was nice and black but other than that I wasn't wowed by it. It's supposedly a dupe for Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara which I don't like either. So that should have been an indication not to pick this one up. If you're a fan of Too Faced's mascara then check it out.

Clinique Charcoal MakeUp Melter Cleansing Oil-Balm

I think I got this as a 100 point perk from Sephora. Since I had good success with Clinique's balm I wanted to try some others. This removed my face makeup fine BUT this irritated my eyes something terrible! How are you going to be a makeup remover and irritate the eye area? Plus to me it didn't rinse as clean as the Clinique one. So this one is a no go for me. I think overall charcoal skincare items don't work well for me. I think this is the fourth one I've tried and didn't like it.

And there you have it. Next up is some favorites from my previous work trip!

Stay tuned!

June/July 2017 Out of My Face

Here is what I used up in June! and July!

• Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Tea Tree 32oz
• Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Fig 32oz
• Wen Treatment Oil in Tea Tree Eucalyptus
• Wen Treatment Oil in Summer Tropical Paradise
• Wen Re-Moist Hydrating Hair Mask in Fig
• Serious Skincare C Clean Vitamin C Ester Facial Cleanser 16oz
• Serious Skincare Vitamin Ester Pads 60 count
• Serious Skincare A Force XR Retinol Serum
• Serious Skincare Glycolic Gommage 
• Serious Skincare Dermal Crepe Resist
• Serious Skincare Ultra Mare Pure Marine Infusion Concentrate Serum
• Serious Skincare 4 Million IU A Cream  XR SPF 30
• Serious Skincare Mega Force Liquid Exfoliannt
• Serious Skincare Pure Pep Fading Fluid
• Serious Skincare Reverse Lift Reverse Serum
• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
• philosophy Summer Grace Whipped Body Creme 8oz
• philosophy Falling in Love Summer Whipped Body Cream 8oz
• Andrew Lessman Friendly Flora 90 count
• Shiseido Facial Cotton 40 count
• Covergirl Queen All Day Flawless Foundation in Mocha Q835
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Hydrating Mask
• Nene's Secret Best Beauty Butter
• Degree Motion Sense Dry Spray in Daisy Fresh
• Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent
• One 'n Only Argan Oil Treatment
• Earth Therapeutics Hand Remedy
• Bath & Body Works Mint to Be Hand Cream

I'm on a roll using stuff up! Woohoo!

The only newcomers to the list are Degree spray deodorant and the two hand creams. I haven't used a spray deodorant in years. It was just ok. I don't plan on rushing out to buy it. I really enjoyed the Mint to Be hand cream! It only comes in a 1oz size, so I did use it up quickly. But with sales and coupons at Bath & Body Works. I may stock up on it since I am a hand cream snob. It has a nice refreshing scent and my hands felt really nice. I did not like the Hand Remedy. It was a random buy from Ulta when I was looking for a hand cream. It didn't do anything and it's very thin/light. It wasn't moisturizing and I don't think it made my hands look any better.

Let's see if I can keep this momentum going!

June 2017 Top 5

Better late that never I guess. Here's my top 5 for June!

IT Cosmetics Vitality Cheek Flush Powder Blush Stain

I've mentioned these blushes before in Magical in Mauve and Matte Sweet Apple. I keep saying that I was going to get the other two shades Radiant in Rose and Pretty in Peony during an Ulta sale but I always forgot. I finally remembered to get these when I made a couple of exchanges at Ulta. First I got Radiant in Rose then Pretty in Peony. Now that I have all 4 I have been using the constantly. They are fantastic blushes. They are pigmented but not scary pigmented where you have to be careful in applying them. Also these last all day on my cheeks. These shades go with just about any makeup look. I've enjoyed these so much, it has made me go through my blushes and clear a lot out my stash. If you're look for some good blushes to use and you do want or need a lot of crazy color then check these out. If your cheeks "eat" blush and your blush doesn't last all day then check these out! I cannot say enough good things about these blushes.

Wen Summer Tropical Paradise

I haven't talked about Wen in a while because I've been trying other products. But when I saw the new summer seasonal I caved lol. I picked up the Summer Cleanse & Treat 3-Piece Kit w/ Loofah that was a One Time Only and it smells so good! It smells almost as good as Summer Mango Coconut. I've enjoyed all three pieces in the set. My hair has felt awesome and smelled really good! If they come out with a fragrance in this next summer, I just might get it. *shifty eyes*

NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadows

I have four of these eyeshadows in Blame it on Midnight, Betrayal, Underneath It All and Dance The Tides. They are all brown shades. They stay in the makeup I use for my daily makeup items. I have used them on their own or with palettes that needed a little extra help. These shadows are smooth, pigmented and super easy to blend. I'm tempted to pick up some of the other deeper shades. If you're looking for some nice matte eyeshadows then check these ones out.

NYX Lip Pencils

Annnnd more NYX! I mentioned in my last post that I'm done with Colour Pop lip liners and back to NYX! I have really been enjoying their Suede Lip Pencils and I have my ultimate favorite Espresso back in rotation. They are traditional pencils that are easy to use. I don't have problems over lining my lips, the color range is awesome and you can beat their prices in comparison to high end lip liners.

Serious Skincare A Cream SPF 30

I wasn't going to mention this at first. Only because the tube I have is jacked up lol. But that goes to show that I am using the product. I lucked on a better that a BOGO deal when I ordered from HSN and got two more tubes. I'm going to say that I think I have found my holy grail SPF moisturizer! I have already mentioned how I love their regular A Cream. I think I got my first A Cream SPF 30 in a kit. I have been using this nonstop. It goes on nicely and doesn't make my skin greasy like other SPFs I have tried. Also it doesn't interfere with my makeup or leave a white cast on my skin. So score!

BONUS: Cetaphil Makeup Remover Wipes

I was going to mention this as a surprise product but it is an actual favorite for June. I randomly ordered these from Ulta. Poking around on their website is just as bad as wandering around the store. I tried their Cleansing Wipes and they were just ok. These I really really like. They are a nice size, they are nicely moisturized and they feel good on the skin. My skin feels super soft after using these to remove my makeup. They are kind of pricey at Ulta. So I'll be waiting to see if they go on sale or price compare at other retailers.

A couple items I did not like in June were the Sheseido Facial Cottons and the Oleavine ThreaTree Therapeutic Scrub.

Shiseido Facial Cotton

I've always been curious about the Sheseido Facial Cottons. Tons of people have said that they are great and better than the ones you can get at the drugstore. I noticed that Sephora has a 40 count for $5. I said why not and added to them my order. Ummm I don't get the hype. They are soft but they may be too soft. I used them with my Neutrogena toner or liquid exfoliant. Every time I used them, bits of cotton were left on my face. I've never had this problem with the cotton rounds I get from CVS, Ulta or Walgreens. So to me they are not worth it. I rarely write reviews on websites but I did on Sephora for these.

Oleavine ThreaTree Therapeutic Scrub

I've been on the hunt for a new body scrub. I wanted something good for body breakouts. Tea tree oil popped in my head so I took to Amazon and came across this scrub. I ordered 2 when they had a promo going on. It's a very fine scrub which I kinda liked at first but then it was too fine that it didn't really "scrub" much. I'm a weirdo and love the scent of Tea Tree. This however also has mint in it and the mint scent turned me off. I said I was going to see if there was a Tea Tree only version but I haven't looked. I may check with some other brands. I gave the other tube I had to a friend for her or her husband to try.

If something is off or doesn't make sense then my bad. I've been trying to get this done but life keeps happening and then I have another work trip this week. Plus I've been feeling kinda of blah towards blogging lately. But I wanted to get this up before I left. And there you have it!

TTFN - ta ta for now!

Meh Products First Quarter 2017

Helllllllooooooo!

I thought with it being summertime that things would mellow out some. HA! What was I thinking? I've talked about a bunch of things I've like so far this year. But believe me there have been some items that I have not liked and even some past favorites that I don't care for now. Here are some products that I played around with through April that I didn't like.

Makeup Revolution Palettes

I mentioned the Ultra Eye Contour palette (left) and the New-trals vs Neutrals palette (right) in my March 2017 Shop My Stash post.  I did a look with each palette and I was not impressed. When applying shades from the Ultra Eye Contour palette, the shades applied kind of ashy on me. Once everything was done and set, the look came out fine but I wasn't wowed by it. I used the brown shades from the New-trals vs Neutrals palette. The brown shimmer shade was nice but I felt like I had to keep digging into to build up the color and I had the same issue with the matte shades applying ashy. So meh. There are other drugstore priced shadows that I think are much better than these. Also since I have A LOT of eyeshadows, I can get the same looks. So both went back to Ulta.

Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask

I picked this up from Ulta after seeing it on Snapchat. I used it a few times and felt like it didn't do anything for my skin. Generally you get instant results for a mask. My skin didn't appear any brighter or smoother. It smells really good but that's about it. I was going to return it but then when I was at Ulta I had another return that was on a different receipt and that return took way too long. I got annoyed and said whatever and kept it. I used it it a couple more times since then and again it's just ok. Right now it's sitting in a drawer with some other skin care items. Not sure if  I'll make an effort to use it up or just toss it.

Bare Minerals Lash Domination Ink Liner

I picked this up because one of my YouTube favs recommended it and I just couldn't get into it. It was ok if I had a matte eyeshadow on my lid. If I had something with the least bit of shimmer it would look weird. Also it's not the blackest liquid liner and it faded on me by the end of the day. So no bueno.

Urban Decay Naked Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

I thought I had mentioned this as a favorite before but looks like I haven't. I've had this concealer for a while and I really did like it. I took it with me as my concealer to San Francisco and the more I used it, the more I didn't like it. Compared to tarte's Shape Tape this is kinda lackluster. ANYTHING compare to Shape Tape is lackluster at this point because Shape Tape is that GOOD! One big thing I noticed it that my eyeliner on my lower lash line looked like garbage by the end of the day and the ONLY thing that was different is the concealer I used underneath my eye. So I will be parting ways with this concealer and sticking with Shape Tape.

Colour Pop Lip Liners

Now if you've been following me along, then you know that I have RAVED about these lip liners. I've mentioned them as favorites A LOT. They were even listed in my 2015 Top 10 post. They are pigmented and they have some nice colors. The one thing that gave me pause at first is how soft they are. I could always get a nice line of my lips but sometimes I ended up overdrawing my lips. I overlooked it. But then it got on my nerves more and more. Then the pencil itself would break off inside the tube and the pencil part would move around. So I put them to aside as I went back to an old favorite NYX lip liners and I haven't touched Colour Pop liners since. The NYX ones are a traditional pencil and don't have issues with them. Also when I thought about it, NYX has always had a lot colors with their lip liners way before Colour Pop stepped on to the scene. NYX is also cheaper too and you can find them in store and are not restricted to just ordering online. I probably will toss what Colour Pop Liners I have except Too Lips unless I can find a NYX dupe.

And there you have it.

Going forward I'll mention whatever items I don't like briefly in my top 5 posts. Sound good? Speaking of which my Top 5 for June should be next up.

TTFN - ta ta for now!

Shop My Stash Summer 2017 Edition!

Welcome to the Summer edition of Shop My Stash!

I'm kind of getting bored with these posts. They do help me go through what I have and rotate out my items. But then I'm like ok ok ok what are you using because you need to get this post up! That's not fun for me. Also sometimes I don't actually reach for the items I pull. For the most part I do but sometimes I end up reaching for other things. Plus life is in progress. I have another work trip coming up, house stuff to do, blah, blah blah! You know adulting. So I decided to pick out a bunch of items to use for June, July and August.

So here's what I playing around with this summer!

Shadow Play

Naked 1, 2 & 3

Vice Ltd.

I feel like I haven't shown my OG Urban Decay Naked Palettes any love in while. So Naked 1, 2 and 3 will be in the rotation for the summer. Have you heard that there's a new Naked palette coming out!!?!? It's called Naked Heat and it warm toned palette! *twirls* I also picked up the Vice Ltd palette via a blog sale. So I'll throw that in for some color.

Polish Play

First Row: Tiana, Cindy, Bar, Cece, Merida
Second Row: Zooey, Brita, Aurora, Finley, Dream

Ivy League, Twisted Pink, Violet Voltage, Lacey Lilac, The Real Teal, Pacific Blue 

With nail polishes for the summmer, I said ok I'm going to grab some Zoya nail polishes and be done. Then Sally Hansen popped in my head. Then I ended up with a whole heap of nail polishes.

Fragrance Play

I already knew that I wanted to play around with philosophy's summer scents for summer time!. It's only fitting right? I will be playing around with Summer Grace, Falling Love Summer and Sea of Love. I have the spray fragrances for Summer Grace and Falling in Love Summer. I'm debating if I want to pick up the Sea of Love spray fragrance. I'm also going to throw Wen's Summer Mango Coconut into the mix to get my coconut fix.

I will still do my Top 5 posts for June, July and August. I'm sure some other random posts will pop in my head to do.

So see you in September for another Shop My Stash post!!

May 2017 Top 5

Here's my top 5 for May!

philosophy Honey & Cream

I saw sneak peeks of this new philosophy scent on social media. I was curious but then forgot about it. It was included in the philosophy joyful bath & body 4 piece mega collection that was a Today's Special Value in April. They did a similar set like them last year with MEGA 64oz shower gel. Now I said that I would not get a set that had this much shower gel! Never say never right? HA! The value was ridiculous and it came with two super sized Glazed Body Souffles. You know these are my favorite body moisturizers. So I caved and did auto delivery. The Hone & Cream scent has "honey notes and light, fluffy cream". It just smells good. It's kind of calming as well. I'm sure at some point it'l be available at retail and you can give it a whiff.

philosophy Lemon Custard

I also ordered the philosophy super-size body souffle & body spritz set in Lemon Custard when I ordered Honey & Cream. I have raved about the shower gel last year. I had the Glazed Body Souffle in another set but I ended up returning it. So I jumped on this. The Lemon Custard scent has "lemon zest with a silky, smooth custard finish". This definitely a pick me up scent. The custard component mixes well with the Lemon. I reached for this on morning when I need that extra something to get me going.

Serious Skincare Continuously Clear Medicated Moisture Replenishing Cream

I ordered the Serious Skincare Over 40 Breakout Control Kit from HSN. I have been wanting to try the Continuously Clear line for a while. So I said why not with this set and grab some Vitamin C products as well. I've enjoyed the three Continuously Clear items but the stand out was the cream! This line has two moisturizer, this one and the gel. When I originally looked at this line I leaned more so towards the gel since I'm oily but I'm learning that oily skin still needs to be moisturized properly. When they explained the cream, they said they created for mature skin that needs moisture and the gel was more so for younger skin (teens and young adults) that don't need as much moisture. I thought that was a cool idea. Still I thought that the cream would be "too much" for my skin. Not the case at all and the cream is fantastic! I wasn't heavy on my skin and it didn't make me greasy. I was impressed by the ingredient deck which includes Retinyl Palmitate, Glycolic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid. I would definitely repurchase this on its own. I still my try the gel at some point to use as a daytime moisturizer.

Butter London Nail Polishes (Brown Sugar, Wallis, All Hail the Queen)

I mentioned in my May Shop My Stash post that I was having some chipping issues with the Butter London polishes I took to San Francisco. I believe the culprit was the base coat I was using. These three polishes I wore a lot through the month and I've continued using them into June. Brown Sugar got the most use. It's a opaque, copper shimmer with gold glitter. IWhen I first put it on, I wasn't too sure about it. Then I ended up really liking it and I received compliments on it. This may be my go to nail polish for the summer. Wallis is a unique shade that's a golden olive green shimmer. I used All Hail the Queen (holographic beige shimmering) in a recent nail post.

Juvia's Place Blush Palette Vol 2

When I saw on Instagram that Juvia's Place was coming out with blushes, I was super excited! I scooped this when they have a free shipping promo. By the time I ordered Vol 1 was sold out but I was able to order it via Hautelook. So it'll be in rotation soon. In these palette there are 4 matte blushes and two shimmer blushes. I have not worn the shimmer blushes on their own. I mix them with the matte blushes using them more so like a highlighter. The matte blushes are smooth and you can build the color on your cheeks. This is hands down my favorite blush palette that I've tried!

And let's throw in a couple of quick bonuses shall we? These are products that caught me by surprise.

Cafe Bustello Espresso Style K Cups

I stumbled upon this coffee on sale at CVS. One of my YouTube faves Jennifer Wan, has mentioned it in her vlogs, so I said why not. I was kind of leery since it said Espresso Style. But I was tickled that it says stands up to sugar and cream on the packaging. So I gave it a go and I really really like it! I do add sugar and cream to my coffee. Sometimes I can be heavy handed with the cream and my coffee can be too sweet. This does stand up to cream and sugar. It has a very nice flavor that's not too strong even thought it's an Espresso Style coffee. It gives me that jolt I need first thing in the morning. I need to try is as an iced coffee! *note to self*

Brows

Brows are something in my routine that at first I didn't really do.. Then I started doing them but I was never really "obsessed" with them like some tend to be. That's kinda changed over the last couple of months. Everyone raves about Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. I've looked at it here and there but never have been moved to purchase it. Well that changed during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty and Brow Wiz was on sale for $10 I think. I ended up getting two shades (Chocolate and Ebony) from Ulta's website. Both shades work for me but I like Ebony a little more. I have enjoyed using Brow Wiz and you can get a nice natural looking brow with it. Then I started thinking about the NYX Micro Brow Pencil that's a dupe. I tried it when it first came out but then I couldn't pick the right shade and I hadn't used a brow pencil that fine in a long time. So I gave it another try and I picked up the shade Chocolate. It is too light to use through my full brow. Then I remember people mentioned using a lighter shade in the front part of their brow because it looks more natural. I gave that a go and color me surprised, I liked the way it turned out. I used the NYX pencil through the first 1/4 of my brown and I used Iman's brow pencil through the rest of my brow. So yay brows!

There you have it. Let's see what June brings!

Top 5 - Travel Edition (San Francisco)

For my work trips I am usually gone a week. So it's hard to not take too much stuff since I am going for quite a while. I typically try to take tried and true products but I also may take something new to try out. Here are my 5 favorites from my San Francisco trip.

Garnier 5 Second Blur Instant Smoother

This was the primer I decided to take. I scooped this form Walgreens when it was on sale for like $8. I should have gone back and picked up another one. This is a really good primer. It takes down the shine on my face and smooths out my skin. Foundation goes on effortlessly with this primer.  I also wore it alone with no makeup.

Serious Skincare Creamerum Evolve

Travel takes a toll on your skin especially being on an airplane. So I added this to my morning routine before both of my flights. I continued using it for the week because my skin apparently needed the extra moisture. The keep my skin hydrated and plump!

Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks

I picked up the shades Sanctuary (nude coffee) and Crucifix (deep chocolate) during the recent Sephora sale. They came the day I was packing and I threw them in my makeup bag. I really enjoyed these shades! Sanctuary is nude perfection for my skin tone. I love good chocolate lip color and Crucifix is just that. I also think that these have been reformulated. They felt a lot nicer on the lips than some of the original shades I have. I'm tempted to get more shades but I'm trying to be good.

Tarte Palettes (Maneater and Sex Kitten)

I got two new palettes from Tarte. I got them the week before my trip. I did a couple of looks with each palette to make sure that I liked them enough to travel with. I've really been enjoying these smaller Tarte palettes. Maneater is warmed toned and Sex Kitten is cool toned. The each have seven eyeshadows and a highlighter. The eyeshadows are smooth, pigmented and easy to blend. They pair nicely together as well.

Nail-Aid Acetone Spray Remover in Keratin & Cocoa Butter

I think I saw this on Snapchat and said hmmmm this would be good for travel. It removed my nail polish without any extra effort. I really like how my nails and nail area were nicely conditioned and not dry! I'm not sure how long this would last with regular use but it's great for travel. I ordered from the company's website. Their products are at Walmart too. I'm curious about their base coats.

BONUS: Qflmy Vintage Retro Canvas Messenger Bag Crossbody Shoulder Bag

I was ready to take my Dooney & Bourke Multi Color Nylon North/South Triple Zip Crossbody, Then I decided I wanted something that could hold a little more and I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I took to Amazon and ordered the Qflmy Vintage Retro Canvas Messenger Bag Crossbody Shoulder Bag in grey. This bag is fantastic for travel or even just for everyday. It's lightweight and there are tons of pockets for organization. The shoulder strap is nice a long so I could crossbody it with ease. I may order one of the brown colors and maybe even black.

And here is a pic of the Bay Bridge lit up. I was able to get out to the Ferry Building which I highly recommend checking out if you are ever in San Francisco.

I have another trip at the end of July and possibly on at the end of October. So I'll try to do Top 5 posts for those two trips.

I still have my Top 5 for May! Stay tuned!