Product Review -- Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit The Needs and The Wants Palettes

I've bought quite a few makeup products that were collaborations between a brand and a YouTube beauty influenster but in most of those cases, I only bought the items because the specific shades or products appealed to me, not because I had much invested in the influenster in particular.

When I heard that Emily Noel was coming out with some palettes with Makeup Revolution, though, I knew that I'd buy them no matter what they looked like.

I've been watching Emily for 10 (maybe more even) years, and I appreciate pretty much everything about her. Supporting her is a no-brainer.

It doesn't hurt that I've become a big fan of Makeup Revolution over the past few years too -- they put out a lot of really quality products at an affordable price point, so there's plenty to like about the brand.

Product Review -- bareMineral Gen Nude Powder Blushes

I love blush -- I am so pale that if I don't add at least a hint of color to my cheeks, I can look sick or my eye makeup can look a little too harsh -- but in recent years, I find that it's not a makeup product that I tend to buy all that frequently.

Which is weird.

So recently I decided I needed to introduce a few new blush options to my collection and I came across the bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blushes.

I've been a big bareMinerals fan since I first tried their Original Loose Foundation back in college, and I've enjoyed their foray into pressed powder and liquid foundation products in recent years.

Which is why it was kind of a no-brainer to try their new blushes.

Product Review Roundup -- Tarte Hamptons Weekend Contour Palette, Park Avenue Princess Chisel Palette, Clay Play Volume II, Shape Your Moneymaker Eye & Cheek Palette, and Foil Finger Paints Shadow Palette

I've purchased quite a few Tarte palettes in recent months, and instead of doing separate reviews on each and every one, I figured a product review roundup was a more efficient way to share my thoughts.

The first palette -- and the smallest -- is the Hamptons Weekender Contour Palette. It's only a little bit larger than a credit card, though considerably thicker, and it contains a blush, bronzer, and highlighter.  The packaging is made of sturdy cardboard, and its convenient size definitely makes it ideal for traveling.

Product Review Roundup -- Too Faced Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, Natural Face Palette, and Natural Nudes Lipstick

I tried to resist Too Faced's It Just Comes Naturally Natural Beauty Collection, really I did, but between the natural inspired makeup shades and gorgeous packaging, I just couldn't do it.

Since both of the eye shadow palettes were essentially re-releases, I couldn't justify buying both of them just to see if the new formula with coconut butter was really any different, so I wound up buying the Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, which had seven new shades. (The Natural Eyes Eye Shadow Palette, with both matte and shimmer shadows, has all repeat shades from the previous Natural Eyes Palette, which I already own).

The packaging for the palette is absolutely lovely -- instead of the old tin box compact, it's housed in a plastic compact with a lace design and gold embossed details. There is a nice large mirror inside too. The palette is slightly difficult to open, though.

Product Review -- Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Face Palette

From the moment that I first saw promo photos of the Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Face Palette, I knew I had to have it.

Peachy eye shadow tones are probably my favorite makeup item, but rose and mauve shadows are a close second -- the Backtalk Palette is full of nude mauve, berry, and rose shadows, and even includes some matching blushes and highlighters.

It's practically a dream come true.

So I ordered it pretty much the first moment it was available. I just couldn't help myself, and I have very little patience when it comes to new makeup items.

A Few of My Favorite Things -- Jan/Feb 2018

I haven't done a monthly favorites post in a good long while -- there are always so many new makeup products to talk about that sometimes it's easy to lose track of older products that can still seriously get the job done.

I really want to stop doing that -- I won't commit to doing monthly favorites, but I really want to try to mention the things that are really rocking my world whether they're new or not.

So here's what I've been loving in January/February:

Product Review -- It Cosmetics It Girl Palette

Usually, It Cosmetics puts out some type of eyeshadow palette for the holiday season -- and I buy them just as soon as they come out.

It Cosmetics' shadows may not be as fun, bright, or bold as those from other brands, but they always perform well and work really well for everyday, so it's a no-brainer for me.

This year, though, It Cosmetics took a different route and came out with the It Girl Palette, an eye and cheek palette.

I still picked this one up without hesitation because I also happen to be a pretty big fan of It Cosmetics blushes, and I'm always looking for palettes that are easy to travel with.

The It Girl Palette comes in a plastic compact that features a pretty sparkly rhinestone-like lid. I think the design is perfect for the holidays, but I have noticed that it has a very plasticky smell that I'm not a big fan of.  Though that's mostly worn off at this point, so I only smell it now if I press my nose up to it ... which, honestly, I have no reason to do.

Product Review -- The Balm Girls' Getaway Trio

It's pretty well established on this blog that I'm a huge fan of The Balm.

I don't think I've tried a single product from the brand that I didn't like, and the artwork on their packaging is always too cute.

That's why I usually buy their new products as soon as they come out -- I don't wait for reviews or even swatch photos.

I give them my money and just trust that I'm going to like whatever it is.

Over the past year or so, though, I've fallen a little behind on their new releases (new products are coming out fast and furious these days... I just can't keep up!).

That means I've been meaning to try to Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush pretty much since it came out and just haven't gotten around to it.

So when I saw that it was featured in their new face palette, The Girls' Getaway Trio, I figured that it was finally time to try it.

Product Review -- BECCA X Christy Teigen Glow Face Palette

I am a big fan of Christy Teigen.

I follow her on all social media, bought her cookbook when it came out, and generally just think she's pretty cool.

So I was pretty excited when I heard that she was coming out with a palette with BECCA.

But then I heard it was going to be a face palette and I was a little bummed.

Because my skin tone is pretty different from Christy's so I figured that shades that would work well for her probably wouldn't be the best for me.

Which is why I told myself I shouldn't buy the palette -- and I held strong for about two months.

And then I decided the shades were just too pretty to overlook and I would just find a way to make them work somehow.

Product Review -- Benefit Cheek Parade Bronzer and Blush Palette

When it comes to blushes, bronzers, and other cheek products, Benefit is definitely at the top of the class.

Their Rockateur Blush is one of my favorite blushes ever made -- it's just the perfect rose gold shade and pairs well with so many different eye and lip looks that I wind up wearing it a ton.

I also love Hervana and Coralista, so let's suffice it to say that I have a fairly large collection of Benefit's boxed blushes.

Still, whenever they put out their blush and bronzer palettes, I'm always a tempted, even though they are usually duplicates for blushes I already have. But I've never tried Benefit's famous Hoola Bronzer, which is usually included in the palettes -- and I don't know that I need a full size of it because it seems pretty dark and my skin is so fair -- so I find myself thinking that it might be worth it to pick one up.

Well, their newest blush and bronzer palette, the Benefit Cheek Parade, was the one that finally reeled me in because not only does it contain Hoola, it also features the newer Hoola Lite, which is probably a better fit for my pale skin, and Benefit's newest blush shade.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Triple Baked Blusher

I've tried quite a few baked products over the years, and usually, I love the glowy, luminous quality that they seem to have.

However, I've found that more budget-friendly baked products can sometimes wind up being pretty sheer -- and lackluster as a result.

Still, I was curious to try the Makeup Revolution Triple Baked Blushers all the same -- mainly because they're clearly inspired by the Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blushes and I was wondering how they would compare.

Product Review -- Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette

The older that I get, the savvier I try to be about my makeup purchases.

That mainly means ignoring the hype for products that I know I really have no use for.

For example, I think the new Kat Von D Pastel Goth Palette looks absolutely beautiful, but those just aren't colors that I'd personally get any kind of regular use out of  -- so I'm not giving into temptation despite all the pretty positive reviews I've seen.

In a perfect world, I'd have the space and money to buy any and all makeup items that just looked nice, but that's not my reality so I have to be a little smarter about the things I pick up.

So I was pretty determined not to give in and buy the Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette.

Product Review -- Too Faced Papa Don't Peach Blush

Back in the day, I had one of the original Too Faced Papa Don't Peach Blush.

I remember that it came in heavy cardboard packaging with cool retro artwork, and I believe it was a mostly matte peach shade with some subtle gold shimmer throughout.

I liked it quite a bit, and was very disappointed when it turned up missing after I took it on vacation with me.

I never got around to replacing it, and then Too Faced went and discontinued it so that was that.

Until recently, of course, when Too Faced relaunched the Papa Don't Peach Blush as part of their Sweet Peach line.

Product Review -- Too Faced Funfetti Eyeshadow Collection (and 5 Piece Collection)

I am a sucker for cute packaging and fun, gimmicky makeup products -- I can admit that.

That's why I've had my eye on the Too Faced Funfetti Eyeshadow Collection since it was hinted at this past summer.

The palette is exclusive to HSN, and can be purchased on its own or part of a 5-piece collection that also includes a Love Flushed Blush in Funfetti, a Funfetti Lip Gloss in Mocha Freeze, a Better Than Sex Mascara, and heart-shaped mini kabuki brush.

I purchased the entire set because... of course I did.  And I mean, really, it's a better value than the palette alone, so that's how I justified the purchase.

Product Review -- Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colour in Soft Peach

When you're a makeup junkie like I am, you wind up making quite a few impulsive beauty purchases.

I certainly didn't need another blush, but I was poking around on the Clarins website -- a brand that I've never purchased from before -- and something about the Blush Prodige Illuminating Cheek Colours caught my eye.

So I decided to try one out, despite their somewhat steep $32 price tag.

The blushes come in a very sleek gold metallic compact. There is a decent size mirror on the inside, as well as a small, pretty flimsy brush. Clarins also includes a red, velvet-like pouch for the compact that makes the packaging even more special.

Product Review -- Tarte Tarteist Paint Palette Collector's Set

Tarte always puts out a ton of holiday kits, and it's always tempting to want to pick up all of them.

But large holiday palettes are often disappointing -- and how much more makeup do I really need? -- so I limit myself to one.

I've seen some pretty lackluster reviews for the Sephora exclusive kit, so I decided to pick up the Tarte Tarteist Paint Palette Collector's Set, which is an Ulta exclusive.

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 -- Tarte Swamp Queen Palette

I'm a pretty big fan of Tarte, so I'd say that, conservatively speaking, I purchase at least 75% of the palettes that they put out.

I'm also a big fan of supporting people in the YouTube/blogging beauty community, which means I was pretty sure that I'd pick up the Swamp Queen Palette that Tarte put out in collaboration with grav3yardgirl from YouTube.

However, what really sold me on the palette was the colors -- it's an interesting combination of warm peachy, reddish tones and some pretty purple-y, taupe-y shades, all of which are right in my wheelhouse.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette

I've mentioned before that I've kind of become obsessed with blush palettes lately.

I just love having a bunch of pretty colors in one convenient place.

Most of the blush palettes that I've picked up are on the pricey side, so I was really excited to try the Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette -- because for just $10, you get eight shades.

That's a pretty great deal, right?

Product Review -- Tarte Double Duty Beauty Eye & Cheek Palette in Classic Courage

Tarte has been putting out so many new products lately that it's almost hard to keep up.

And while I pretty much want to buy all of them, I've had to restrain myself.

So I tried really hard not to cave on the Tarte Double Duty Beauty Eye & Cheek Palette in Classic Courage.

I like the idea of palettes that features eye shadows and cheek colors in a single compact because they're perfect for when you're traveling. Tarte's idea with this palette is that you could throw it in your bag so you can bump up your daytime look when you're headed out at night.

For me, the biggest lure of the palette was the shadow in Lucky Penny.

Copper shades are a serious weakness for me.

That's why, even though I kept telling myself that I didn't need another palette, I eventually wound up caving and buying the palette.

Fortunately, I don't regret it.