A Few of My Favorite Things -- 3 Things I'm Loving at the Moment

2018 was such a blur for me that the idea of doing a yearly favorites post is just mind-boggling.

But there are a few products that I've been loving at the moment that I don't see myself doing full reviews of but are still worth sharing.

So here are some of my late 2018 faves:

Product Review -- Stila Cosmetics Heaven's Hue Highlighter

I don't think it's possible for me to ever have enough highlighters.

Nearly every time a new one hits the market, I've got to grab it because being glowy is pretty much my top priority where makeup is concerned.

I hadn't heard much when they first launched but lately, I'd been seeing a lot of good things about the Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighters and as usual when makeup is involved, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to pick one up.

The highlighters come in three shades, and while I see most people talking about it in Kitten, Stila's ubiquitous nude pink with golden undertones, I decided to go for Transcendence, an opalescent pink, because Kitten just seemed too similar to other highlighters I have.

Product Review -- Stila Matte 'N Metal Eye Shadow Palette

The last thing I probably need in my makeup collection is an eye shadow palette with soft, natural colors in an even mix of matte and metallic finishes.

Because let's face it -- I have more than enough of those to last the rest of my life.

But as soon as I saw the shades in the Stila Matte 'N Metal Eye Shadow Palette, I was kind of obsessed.

I have been a big fan of pinky or rosy brown and copper shades over the past few months, and the Matte 'N Metal Palette has plenty of those.

I also appreciate having an even amount of both matte and metallic shadows because that means I don't have to go pulling out another palette or single shadow to do a complete eye look.

So even though the palette is on the pricier side -- $49 -- I decide to pick it up.

Product Review -- Stila Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette

I love a good eye shadow palette, but I'm always lured in by the convenience of a palette that combines eye and cheek products in one.

They're obviously great for travel, but I also really like them for days when I don't want to think too much about my makeup.

I was especially intrigued by Stila's Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palettes, though, because they created four different color schemes to complement various skin tones.

Product Review -- Stila Aqua Glow Serum Foundation and Concealer

There are a so many new foundation and concealers on the market at the moment, so as a total and utter foundation/concealer junkie, I've had a difficult time trying to decide which ones to try.

Now, ideally, I'd try each and every one of them, but I've got a limited budget so that just isn't practical.

But the fastest way to convince me that a foundation is worth trying is to put the word "glow" somewhere in the name -- which is why I grabbed the Stila Aqua Glow Serum Foundation and Concealer as soon as they were available.

Review -- Stila Custom Color Blush in Coral

I try to avoid gimmick-y products -- because how many of them actual live up to their gimmicks? -- so I haven't been particularly interested in Stila's Custom Color Blushes.

They've been around for a few years now, but if you're not familiar with them, they're blushes that are supposed to react to each wearer's pH levels to create a custom perfect shade. 

I don't know about you but that sounds like a pretty neat marketing ploy -- but personally, I don't buy into it.

Maybe it's because I feel like blushes always tend to look a little different on different people -- your natural skin tone and coloring always affects the way a shade appears, doesn't it? 

So what's the big deal with these Custom Color Blushes?

Still, I checked out the Coral one a few times when I was at Sephora, and I was really drawn to the color, so when Stila recently had a sale, I decided to pick it up.

Review -- Stila Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette in Mind

I have an eye shadow palette addiction.

There -- I admitted it.

They, along with foundation and nude/peachy lipsticks, seem to be the makeup products that I can never resist.

So I've been interested in Stila's relatively new Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palettes for a while now... and I let myself give in.

There were a few that looked good to me, but I ultimately went with the Mind Palette, which features 12 matte eye shadows in natural shades, because I figured I would get the most use out of it.

And I think I made the right decision because the reviews that I've seen for the other Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palettes haven't been very good.

But for the most part, I think the Mind Palette is pretty nice.

Blogiversary Giveaway (Finally)!

 So back in February, the blog turned two years old.

Crazy, right?

Well, as a way of saying thanks to all of you who've been reading along during that time, I thought that a giveaway was in order.

And it's a pretty big one, so hopefully you're all pretty excited. 

The winner will receive:

(1) Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
(1) stila in the moment eye shadow palette
(1) tarte Amazon Escape Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette
(1) The Balm Nude'Tude Eyeshadow Palette
(1) The Balm Balm Voyage Palette
(1) Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV
(1) bareMinerals Passionate for Pastels 4 Piece Color Collection (includes Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Sweetest Thing, Flawless Definition Mascara, Sorbet Blush, and Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Go Getter)
(1) bareMinerals Enchanting Eyes Duo (includes Mini Prime Time Eyelid Primer and Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Flashback)
(1) stila artful eye collector's edition palette vol 1 (includes eye shadows in oasis, glee, starlight, shell, and grace)
(1) stila artful eye collector's edition palette vol 3 (includes eye shadows in light apricot, umber, aquamarine, soft violet, and ocean)
(1) Make Up Forever Aqua Shadow Duo (includes Aqua Shadow Pencils in 28E and 20E)
(1) The Balm Instain Long Wearing Staining Powder Blush in Houndstooth
(1) tarte lights, camera, lashes! inner rim liner 
(1) Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Sailor
(1) Mally Volumizing Mascara
(1) Maybelline Limited Edition Color Tattoo in Nude Compliment
(1) Maybelline Limited Edition Color Tattoo in Sleek & Spice
(1) IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes! Mascara
(1) IT Cosmetics Vitality Flush Anti-Aging Color Reviver Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi
(1) IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush

There are a ton of fun goodies in this prize pack that I absolutely love, so I hope the winner enjoys them just as much I do.

To enter, just leave a comment below sharing what the best new makeup or beauty item that you've tried recently is.

Here are the rest of the rules:

No anonymous comments are eligible since I have to be able to identify each entry and I’ll need a way to get in touch with you if you win - and you must follow the blog (through Google, Bloglovin or the email list) to enter.

I'm using Rafflecopter to make the giveaway a little easier on myself, so while the blog comment is mandatory for entry, you can get additional entries by following me on Twitter, tweeting about the giveaway, and liking the Facebook page.

The giveaway is open to both U.S. and international readers. If you’re under 18, please get your parents’ permission to enter since you’ll have to give me your mailing address if you win. The giveaway will be open until 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, March 29, 2014.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and thanks again for reading the blog! 

Review -- Stila Countless Color Pigments in Melody

I'm trying not to buy too many eye shadows these days, but if I'm honest, I haven't been as successful as I would like.

That's because pretty shadows catch my eye and I become obsessed and then I convince myself that I just have to have said shadow even though I likely have a similiar shade in my collection.

I gave in when I saw Countless Color Pigments from Stila's summer collection because they're practically works of art.

I actually thought it was something of an accomplishment that I held myself back and only bought one.

Sale Alert - Stila Friends & Family 20% Off Sale!

Now, through Sunday June 3, you can score 20% (plus free shipping on any order!) at Stila's website during their friends and family sale.

Use the code FRIENDS12 at checkout.

Fortunately for me, I'm not really interested in any Stila products at the time, but I'd definitely recommend the In the Light and In the Garden palettes. Beautiful colors and the amazingly soft, creamy texture that you'd expect from Stila's shadows.

(Actually, I'm also seriously interested in the new Set & illuminate, Set & Correct, and Set & Bronze Powders, but I'm trying to convince myself that I'm really not since I have a ton of birthdays and other special occasions coming up in the next couple of months that I need to buy gifts for. :P )

If you pick up anything, share below.

Happy Shopping!

Favorite Eye Liners

My Favorite Eye Liners

Of all the makeup products that I own, the item that I tend to vary least on a day to day basis is eye liner.  While I have quite a few to choose from, I always find myself reaching for the same five or six depending on what the rest of my eye makeup looks like.

I figure that if I keep reaching for the same several liners, they must be my favorites, right?

You'll notice two things about my list: 1) They're all pencils.  After nearly 15 years of wearing makeup on a daily basis, I'm still spastic when it comes to putting liner on.  I can't do liquid liner to save my life and gel/cream products are tricky as well.  Pencils just seem to work the best for me.  2) There's no black among them.  While there are a few black liners that I'd recommend, I'm not a fan of the way it looks with my fair skin.  I'll wear for some nights out, but I don't often use black liner during the day.

Stila on HauteLook

Stila Backstage Palette is on sale for $12 (originally $28) - I have this one and it's gorgeous!

Starting today at 11 am EST, Stila is available on HauteLook.

If you don't know what HauteLook is, you can read about it here, and if you're not a member, you can sign up here.

There are a quite a few palettes on sale, but individual shadows, liners, and glosses are as well.  I think that there are even some concealers and foundations available as well.

If you pick anything up, share below.  I'm trying to be a good girl and not buy anything from this sale.

Happy shopping!

Current Obsession: Peach/Copper/Orange Eye Shadows

Because I have blue eyes, I’m always told that I should give orange eye shadows a try.

That’s because blue and orange are opposite one another on the color wheel, so they’re contrasting colors that help one another pop.

However, as sound as that reasoning may be, I was never willing to give shadows in the orange range a try simply because I don’t like the color much. I would wear peach shadows on occasion, but that was as far as I’d go.

Products I Could Live Without (Or: Stuff I Don't Like That Much)

There's a few products in here that just don't thrill me...

Last week, I wrote about a few products that I wouldn’t ever want to be without.

Today I thought I’d mention a few that I wouldn’t have any trouble going without. 

You know, stuff I’m just not that crazy about.

Now, don’t get me wrong - I don’t hate any of these products or even regret trying them (I think I’ll do products I regret purchasing in the future, so stay tuned). I used (or am using) each of these products up or until they were no longer usable, so they certainly aren’t so terrible that I’d tell someone never to try them. They just didn’t quite live up to the hype or work well enough for repurchase them. 

As always with this type of thing, your mileage may vary.

Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes

Ever since Urban Decay released the Naked Palette about two years ago, nude, natural or neutral eye shadow palettes haven been all the rage. I remember that when the trend started, I was kind of disappointed because I didn’t think of myself as someone who really liked neutral shades. I tend to gravitate toward soft peaches, purples, greens, and other colorful shadows.

But I bought the Naked Palette anyway, just because I love Urban Decay’s shadows and figured it would be a good basic collection for traveling – and a funny thing happened. I started to realize that over the course a normal week, I probably wore colorful shadow looks two or three time. The rest of the days, I was using neutral shadows – many from the Naked Palette and other single shadows I’d accumulated over the years.

It turns out – whether I knew it or not – I am a big fan of neutral, natural, nude, whatever you want to call them shadows.