Product 411: ColourPop x Kathleen Lights Dream St. Collection, Give It To Straight Shadow Palette, and In-Nude-Endo Pressed Highlighter Palette

At this point, I'm pretty much powerless to ColourPop new releases.

They introduce a new product, and I order it a minute later.

I just can't help myself.

The fact that I'm always seriously impressed with everything I pick up definitely doesn't help.

I recently bought the ColourPop X Kathleen Lights Dream St. Shadow Palette and lippies, the Give It To Me Straight Shadow Palette, and the In-Nude-Endo Pressed Highlighter Palette, and they're all pretty fantastic.

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 -- 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 Alert -- Buxom Pout Out Loud and Tarte Deluxe Amazonian Butter Lipstick Set

When it comes to choosing makeup gift sets for friends and family at the holidays, I always feel like lip product collections are often the best option.

That's because even the people I know who aren't as into makeup as I am usually use a lipstick or lip gloss at least occasionally and enjoy having several shades to choose from.

I picked up a couple of fun lip kits from Sephora and Ulta recently that I think would make great gifts or stocking stuffers for family and friends -- or provide a good chance to try out some interesting lipsticks and glosses.

Best of all, both are under $25.

Product Alert -- Tarte Holidaze of Giving 15-piece Gifting Collection

Tarte always seems to put out really impressive holiday kits, and this year is no exception. There are at least three or four out there that I'm debating getting.

I've caved on just one so far -- the Holidaze of Giving 15-piece Gifting Collection from QVC.

What makes this kit unique is that it comes with three individual boxes of products, so you could break it up into a few gifts or keep one for yourself and give the others away (or keep all three for yourself, as I'm doing).

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Divine Decadence 8-Piece Collection TSV on QVC

With the holidays right around the corner, there are so many amazing kits and sets available that deliver serious bang for your buck.

In particular, QVC usually has some really great TSV kits at the holidays -- and I'm always sure to pick up the bareMinerals set because I'm a big fan of the brand and there are usually new products included that I can't wait to try.

Tomorrow, November 9, the bareMinrals Divine Decadence 8-Piece Collection will be available as the TSV on QVC for just $49.98 (+$3 s/h). 

I ordered the kit early, so here's a quick rundown in case you're trying to decide whether or not to pick it up.

Review -- CoverGirl Colorlicious Lip Lava

My lipgloss drawer is filled to the brim -- actually, it's pretty much overflowing at the moment.

I'm always having to move tubes around inside to get it to close properly.

That's definitely a sign that you have a gloss problem right?

But that didn't stop me from picking up one of the CoverGirl  Colorlicious Lip Lavas when I was at the drugstore recently.

In my defense, I could see them sparkling like crazy in their display even a good three or four feet away -- and as big a weakness as I have for makeup in general, my weakness for sparkly makeup is off the charts.

Product Alert -- Tarte Be Your Own Tartetist 6-Piece TSV from QVC

(FYI -- I've been meaning to get this post up for days, but things have been a little crazy around here. We adopted a new dog -- yep, Charlie's got a big sister now: Brandy -- so I've been busy trying to wrangle two dogs. I'm hoping that all will calm down in the next week or so, and I'll be back to posting more regularly. Fingers crossed anyway.)

I am a sucker for all of Tarte TSV for QVC -- which means I would totally order them sight unseen just because I'm crazy like that -- but I was especially interested in the Tarte Be Your Own Tarteist Collection that will be available on February 13th on QVC and QVC.com. 

That's because it contains four brand new products, including a new foundation, and I am always interested in trying out new Tarte goodies.

So I ordered the TSV early and have been playing with it for a week or so -- and I'm really enjoying. I'll give a quick rundown of the products, in case you've been thinking about picking it up and are on the fence.

Review -- Urban Decay Naked On The Run Palette

I'm a pretty big fan of Urban Decay's Naked line of products.

I have all of the eye shadow palettes, the foundation, and one of the Flushed blush/bronzer palettes -- and they're all very nice. The Naked shadow palettes are probably some of the most used in my collection, actually.

So when the Naked On The Run Palette came out, I was seriously tempted to pick it up.

But then, I told myself that I have enough palettes that I like well enough for traveling -- which is supposed to be the main selling point of the palette; it's got everything you need to take "on the run." -- so I talked myself out of it.

Until I got some gift cards for the holidays and a coupon code for my birthday from Ulta and I figured why not.

Review -- L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints

A few months back, I bought a Too Faced kit from Sephora that contained one of the Melted Liquified Long-Wear Lipstick and though I'd seen some pretty good reviews of the product, I wasn't overly impressed.

I didn't hate it or anything, but I just didn't think it was worth the $21 price tag that the full-size Melteds go for.

Especially when there's an incredibly similar product that costs a fraction of the price and performs just as well.

The L.A.Girl Glazed Lip Paints are very similar to Too Faced's Melted Lipsticks in terms of pigmentation and texture, but you can pick them up for $4 each.

Pretty amazing, right?

Product Alert -- Upcoming Tarte Sweet Indulgences 3-in-1 Collection TSV from QVC

When I fall off the wagon, I fall hard.

So despite my best efforts to cut back on QVC beauty TSV purchases, I caved and bought the upcoming bareMinerals holiday kit and then right after that indulgence, I went and ordered the upcoming Tarte Sweet Indulgences 3-in-1 Collection TSV.

I couldn't help it, though.

It's just too good a value.

For just $59.94 (plus s/h), you get three lovely boxes full of goodies, so Tarte suggests you can break them up and give them as three separate gifts.

You totally can, I think -- unless you're greedy like me and want to keep all of the treasures for yourself.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Glamour Now TSV A/D Installment #2 Destination Gorgeous

Back in November, I ordered the bareMinerals holiday TSV from QVC, Glamour Now, and it was a a really good one.

This week, my UPS guy brought me the second installment in the auto-delivery series, Destination Gorgeous, and I'm loving it just as much as the first kit. 

The second collection includes:

• Brightening Pearl Perfect Light Mineral Veil Finishing Powder
• Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Exotic Escape
• Smoke & Define Double-Ended Kohl & Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black and Teal
• Tropical Sunset Blush
• mini Ready Luminizer in The Five Star Treatment
• Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara
• Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Glamorista
• Soft Sweet Cheek Brush
• Full Tapered Shadow Brush

Review -- Julep Sweep Eyeshadow Palette in Neutrals and Lip Gloss in Timeless and Posh

 So I've been a Julep Maven for about a year and a half.

It's another of those monthly subscription boxes, but this one is put out by Julep, a company mainly known for their nail polishes.

The difference between the Julep Maven box and others is that you can choose to receive or skip the box in any given month -- and they show you what's coming in your box each month to help you make your decision.

I typically skip every other month or so because I've got so much nail polish that unless a shade really catches my eye, I can't justify the expense.

However, over the past year or so, Julep has been expanding in makeup products and my box type (there are several different categories that you can be placed in based on how you fill out your profile; keep in mind that you can change your category for a given month if a different box appeals to you) has included these color products instead of nail polish the past few months.

You know me -- I can't resist trying new makeup, so I've been getting the boxes a little more often.

But you don't have to be a Julep Maven to purchase products from Julep, so I thought I would review a couple of the items I've tried recently in case you're curious.

Review -- New Milani Products (Baked Matte Blushes, Coming Up Roses Powder Blushes, & Brilliant Shine Lip Glosses)

I've been picking up quite a few things at the drugstore these days because it seems like there are so many interesting new products out there.

And whenever I run into CVS, Walgreen's or Target for practical items like toothpaste or allergy medicine, I can't seem to bypass the makeup aisle.

Recently, my local Walgreen's expanded their selection of Milani products (they'd previously had a single end cap that never seemed to get restocked) and they had quite a few of the brand's new items that I'd been interested in checking out.

You can guess what happened -- I went a little crazy.

Review -- LORAC Lips with Benefits Lip Gloss in Chuck

I've had my eye on the LORAC Lips with Benefits Lip Gloss in Chuck since the line first came out.

I held back from buying it because it is a pretty expensive gloss, I have plenty of other glosses in my collection, and I thought the product might be a little gimmicky.

I mean, the whole swirl of three color stripes definitely look cool in the tub, but in the end, they're all just going to blend together into a single shade like any other gloss, right?

Still, every time I saw Chuck mentioned in a blog post or a YouTube video, every fiber of my being told me that I had to have it.

It just looked like the perfect nude gloss -- and nice and opaque to boot.

Eventually, I gave in -- though I would like to point out that I waited until Beauty.com was having a 20 percent off sale to buy it so I didn't have to pay full price. That counts for something, right?

Product Alert -- Upcoming Tarte Shades of Clay Amazonian Colored Clay 7-Piece TSV on QVC

Hope everyone is having a fabulous New Year! I've started 2014 with a cold, which is kind of a bummer, but I'm still determined to get back on a reliable blogging schedule. It's one of my resolutions for the year, so don't hesitate to keep me honest.
 
If you asked me to list my favorite makeup brands, Tarte would easily come in somewhere in the top 3.

That's why it's always pretty much a done deal that I'm going to order a Tarte Today's Special Value (TSV) from QVC when they appear.

When the TSV contains a slew of new products, then I'm a total goner.

The Tarte Shades of Clay Amazonian Colored Clay 7-Piece TSV that will air on QVC on February 4th is chock full of new goodies and some old favorites, so I had to give it a try.

The kit contains:

• Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer
• Tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Liquid Foundation
• Tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Bronzer Blush in Pink Bronze
• Tarte Amazonian Colored Clay Eyeliner in Black
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
• Tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss in True Love
• Tarte Bamboo Foundation Brush

You also get a nice big, hot pink makeup bag to hold all your items.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Crystallized Full Face Collection

I was a really good girl during Sephora's recent VIB sale.

Well, by my standards anyway.

I only purchased two items -- one that shall remain a secret for the time being as it's intended for the holiday giveaway I'll be doing in a couple of weeks and one treat for me, the bareMinerals Crystallized Full Face Collection.

I hadn't known about this kit until I happened to stumble upon it while I was browsing the Sephora website.  It looked promising so I bought it on a complete whim.

While I haven't played with it enough to do a full review, I think it's safe to say that it's a real winner so you might want to check it out for the makeup lovers on your holiday shopping list ... or for yourself if you've been extra good this year.

Review -- Tarte Pure Delights 8-Piece LipSurgence Lip Set

These days, nearly every brand puts out special collection for the holidays that offer some pretty fabulous deals whether you're shopping for friends and family or yourself.

But in my mind, Tarte always seems to be ahead of the pack when it comes to holiday bargains. They put out a variety of holiday sets that really allow you to get the ultimate bang for your buck and are particularly ideal for anyone who's been curious about the brand but didn't want to spend $25 for a single blush or $24 for a single lip product.

I am always a sucker for Tarte's holiday kits (as you can probably tell from my most recent post and another one I'll post later this week.) and since I am a big fan of their LipSurgence Lip Tint products, picking up the Tarte Pure Delights 8-Piece LipSurgence Lip Set was kind of a no brainer.

Unlike last years' Lipsurgence kit that features 5 full size products, the Pure Delights sets feature 8 mini lip products (1.75 grams per product).  Personally, I like that change -- the larger lip pencils are difficult to get through, particularly when you've got a large lip product collection, so I'd rather go for a variety of shades with smaller pencils.

BE Feel the Love AD #2 (and Small M.A.C. Product Alert)

The bareMinerals Feel the Love TSV, which was originally available back in April, is certainly not the most exciting BE kit that I've ever purchased from QVC, but it has all of the basics necessary to do a complete face. 

Today, my UPS guy brought me the second installment of the auto-delivery series, and I'm pretty happy with the new shades in the collection.  They may not be for everyone, though, so if you've delayed your shipment, you should definitely check out photos and swatches to see if they're up your alley.

Like the original kit, this installment contains three face products:

• Ready Foundation Broad Spectrum in Fair
• Bisque Concealer Broad Spectrum SPF20
• Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous1

June 2013 Favorites

For many people, I'm sure what I'm about to say sounds like crazy talk but I've always traveled to the beat of my own drum so...

I'm not really a summer person.

There, I said it.

I hate the heat.  I hate the humidity.  I hate sweating.

I actually prefer the winter, if you can believe that.

So I'm happy that June's over.  It means the summer is like a quarter over (well, according to my admittedly screwy calculations...).

(Of course, July and August promise to be even hotter and sticker but ...)

But despite my distaste for months like June, I still had a few favorites that got me through.