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 -- LORAC Romantic Eyes Collection

Between the holidays and my birthday, I've had a couple of Ulta gift cards burning a hole in my pocket.

Now, I definitely had a few items in mind as must-haves, but I also spent a little time exploring the Ulta website for hidden gems and stumbled upon the LORAC Romantic Eyes Collection.

I'm not going to do a full review because I've only used the kit a couple of times, but the set is an Ulta exclusive and limited edition so I thought I would give a quick rundown in case anyone might be interested.

Product Review -- Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

As a rule, I'm not really a fan of high-end mascaras.

It's not that I don't think any of them are good -- I just don't think it's worth it to spend $20+ on a product that I can only use for three months.

I have a couple of higher end mascaras that I really love -- the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes and bareMinerals Lash Domination Mascaras are my two biggest faves -- but I almost always buy those as part of a larger kit so I'm not paying full price for it.

I know that I'm probably missing out on fantastic mascaras because of my refusal to pay big bucks, but I am that stubborn.

So I was pretty excited when Influenster gave me the chance to try the new Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara.

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 -- Tarte Beauty in the Basics 6-Piece TSV from QVC

If you're in the market for a makeup set that covers all the basics and is less than $50, you're going to want to know all about the upcoming Tarte Beauty in the Basics 6-Piece TSV set to air on QVC on May 11th.

I wasn't really in the market for it, but I couldn't resist picking it up considering that each item in the kit is less than $9 each and there are several interesting new products I couldn't wait to try.

So I ordered it early and I thought I'd give a quick rundown in case you're trying to decide whether you want to pick it up.

The collection contains 6 items:

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 -- The Balm Nude'Dude Eyeshadow Palette & Body Builder Mascara Set

The Balm's Nude'Tude Palette is one of my all-time favorite eyeshadow palettes, hands down.

I love the shadow formula, the range of colors and finishes, and, of course, the adorable artwork on the package.

Given how much I adore that baby, I wouldn't really think it possible for The Balm to ever top it.

But they decided to try with a sequel to the fabulous Nude'Tude Palette, the Nude'Dude Eyeshadow Palette -- and of course, I had no choice but to pick one up.

As far as I know, the palette is only available at Kohl's at the moment as part of a set that also includes a tube of the What's Your Type? Body Builder Mascara.

(But the copy on Kohl's website refers to the set as providing a "sneak peek" of the Nude'Dude Palette so I assume it's going to be available in other locations, including The Balm's website, shortly.)

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.

Review -- Too Faced I'll Stop The World and Melt With You Fall 2014 Full Face Collection

The other day, I finally got around to organizing my desk after months of intending to do it.

I seriously will stack file folder after file folder on top of one another until they form a pile so high that every time I bump against the edge of my desk, I'm worried that they're going to topple over.

I'm not the most organized person in the world, that's for sure.

But I was rewarded for finally tiding up because among my mess of folders and junk mail, I found a Sephora gift card that still had a little money on it.

Naturally, I decided that it was a sign that I should treat myself to a little shopping trip -- as if I ever need any convincing.

I didn't just want to load up on more palettes, though, so I decided to look at some of the value kits instead.

And I came across a pretty interesting one, The Too Faced I'll Stop The World and Melt With You Fall 2014 Full Face Collection.

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

Deal Alert -- bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling & Too Faced All I Want For Christmas

I got a couple of really fun items as Christmas gifts, and when I was checking to see if they were still available, I saw that they're both marked down now that the holidays have passed.

Instead of spending a while testing them out for a review, I thought I would do a quick overview while you can still get both in case anyone is interested in picking them up at a discount.

You know, a little post-holiday gift for yourself.

Considering how crazy the holidays always are, I think we all deserve to treat ourselves.

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.

Tarte Journey to Natural Beauty AD #3

Last week, the UPS man showed up the third (and final) AD installment of the Tarte Journey to Natural Beauty TSV from QVC.

I first ordered this kit back in January, I believe, and while it's probably not the most exciting Tarte TSV that I've ever ordered, it's one that I will remember fondly since it introduced me to two products that have quickly become staples in my makeup bag. You can read my reviews of the first and second installments, if you're curious.

The third installment included:

• Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation 
• The Brow Architect Brow Shaper, Liner & Definer
• Lights, Camera, Flashes! Mascara
• Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Inspired
• Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Roseberry
• Foundation Brush

Product Alert -- Upcoming bareMinerals Glamour Now Holiday TSV from QVC

As I mentioned yesterday, QVC always has the best beauty TSVs right around the holidays.

It makes sense, of course -- they make ideal gifts for all those makeup lovers on your list... or yourself.

There's nothing wrong with treating yourself, I always say.

The upcoming bareMinerals Glamour Now TSV that will air on November 25th is definitely a treat in my book.

Product Alert -- Upcoming Tarte Bow & Go 3-in-1 Gift Collection TSV

My name is Jennifer and I'm a QVC beauty TSV addict.

Seriously, they get me every.single.time.

The values are just too good to pass up.

Particularly at the holidays.

Like last year, Tarte has an excellent holiday TSV coming up on November 18th that is perfect for gift giving.

The Bow & Go 3-in-1 Gift Collection contains 3 different gift boxes of products that you can give as a single gift to one very special person on your list or split up for three different people this holiday season.

A Few Recent Favorites

 In my last Favorites post, I explained that I was going to share my favorites whenever the mood struck.

Or whenever I had enough products to do one, really.

I've been trying out a bunch of new stuff recently, but whenever I'm experimenting with brand new products, I like to incorporate some old classics so I know that at least some of my makeup won't wind up looking like a total mess. So that's why some of my recent favorites are -- old goodies.

But there are a couple of new (to me) products thrown in for good measure.

New QVC TSV Installment -- Mally Easy on the Eyes #2

It seems like just yesterday that I received the Mally Easy on the Eyes TSV from QVC, but the second installment already showed up last week -- and I think I might actually like it better than the first kit.

The AD collection contains six items:

• Mally Citychick Celebration Shadow Palette
• Mally Perfect Prep Under Eye Brightner
• Mally Volumizing Mascara in Black
• (3) Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liners in Steele, Enchanted Violet & Sailor 

It also comes with a small pencil sharpener for the eyeliners.