Spring Lip Picks

Even though there is a blizzard outside, I am going to go with the groundhog and say "bring on spring"! Winter can not end soon enough, so instead I hoard similar shades of lipsticks to wear in warm weather (my strange addiction?) I had prepared a similar series for fall/winter... but ain't nobody got time for that (sweet brown reference, yup that just happened). Clearly I will be wearing a lot of bright pinks and corals- these are some of my favorites. My obsession with lipstick is recent, I only owned about 3-4 before about 6 months ago, and now I have a deep rooted obsession/problem.

From Left to Right:
1. Dior Addict St. Tropez
2. Dior Addict Extreme Candide
3. Burberry Tea Rose
4. Burberry Nude Beige
5. YSL rouge volupte #30
6. Nars  Schiap
7. Nars Roman Holiday
8. Bobbi Brown creamy matte true pink
9. Too Faced la creme Juicy Melons
10. Tarte Glamazon Fierce
11. Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense #38
12. Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense #37
13. Mac cut a caper
14. Mac chatterbox
15. Mac lovelorn
16. Mac impassioned

January Empties 2013

January was a horrendous month full of snow, obscenely cold weather, and slight hibernation, and apparently I felt like going through a shit ton of samples. (shit ton= a whole lot) I finally organized my samples, so it is much easier to see what I have, and be able to get through them- and possibly bought my own weight in beauty products this month. Sorry not sorry.

YSL le teint touche eclat foundation in B30- So I had another sample of this, and got different results this time. 1. I find this color to be just a bit too dark for me right now, and has a bit of an orangey tint to it. 2. VERY liquidy texture, but easy to blend 3. wear was OK- lasted about 4 hours with no powder 4. clung to my dry patches like a mother!! did not look very cute. 5. The finish was OK, not as glowy as you would think. -- after this sample I was not as in love with this product. It really clung to dry patches, which I have a lot of. So, no dice.
L'occitane Precious Cream- This was a thicker cream- and I only used it at night. I maybe got 3-5 uses from this sachet, and didn't really notice any differences. The smell was nice, but unless I get more samples of it, and can give it a solid 2 weeks- I won't be picking it up.
Philosophy take a deep breath moisturizer- this had a great smell and texture (gel- like). It sunk in really well and left my skin feeling great. I think this would be a really good day-time moisturizer for summer time, and will probably be my go to.
Lancer Natural Sea Mineral Polish- OH MY GOD! I am in love! This has stolen my heart from my Laura Mercier face polish. They both have similar textures, but this has the best smell. I love that algae, ocean smell that this has ( as well as OSEA products--yumm). So at $50, I am probably going to pick this up after I finish my Laura Mercier, and luckily I have about 4 more sachets of this.
Ole Henriksen truth creme- was not blown away at all by this. The cream was thick and smelled like citrus and vanilla, which to me don't go together, it was sickly sweet. Not a fan and I didn't notice any differences in my skin, not brightening, not moisturizing, nothing.
 Givenchy Photo'perfexion in 5 Perfect Praline- again, this was one shade too dark for me and as it sat open it was oxidizing darker and darker. The first time I used it I was able to blend it and make it work- after that it was a touch of the Wonka look. This was even MORE liquidy than the touche eclat,  but did not cling to my dry spots- and left a pretty gorgeous finish. I would be interested in getting another sample from Sephora in my actual shade and see how that goes.
Rodial dragon's blood sculpting gel- I can not even put my finger on why I love this stuff so much. The smell, the texture, love it all. This is supposed to be a plumping formula, which I noticed slightly after only 3 uses. This is another expensive purchase- but its a possibility.
Laura Mercier foundation primer- I know this gets a lot of hype of being the best primer, but I honestly didn't notice that it did much of anything. I have dry skin, so I never really have a problem with foundations lasting on my skin, so I look for covering pores and fine lines, which I don't feel like this did at all. (debbie downer trumpet solo)
Sephora fond de teint eclat- another instant radiance foundation, except at a fraction of the price- and MUCH better. This had a similar texture, but didn't cling to dry spots and had a similar finish. Pretty decent foundation.
Strivectin Get Even Brightening Serum- I only got about 5 uses out of this, and it says to expect results after two weeks. So needless to say, I didn't notice anything. It sunk in quickly, wasn't very moisturizing, and didn't notice any brightening.
Stila in the light palette- I got this sample in a Sephora gift bag. I have been eyeing this in Sephora for a while, but every time that I swatch it, the pigments kind of crumble and make SUCH a mess! I know this gets really good reviews, but the powderyness scares me. The colors are really nice, but I am not sure if I should go for this or the Lorac pro palette. I am leaning more towards the Lorac. 

 ** and a  cameo from a very curious kitten paw

Flora by Gucci Body Lotion- I used this once, and the packaging of this lotion INFURIATED me. The top unscrews and you are supposed to dump the product in your hand, but the product is a thick lotion that is IMPOSSIBLE to get out. Pretty sure I bruised my hand trying to get this out. Thanks for nothing giving me this with my perfume. 

Sensodyne Pronamel- same as every other month

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub- This smelled like Girl Scout thin mint cookies, and that is where the compliments end. Okay the whole telling everyone to lick this off of their lips after they scrub them- eww. Licking off my dead skin? No thanks. It barely exfoliated my lips at all, the top of the container the crystals were loose, but when you get to the bottom it is super oily. Clearly it need to be mixed or something. I would never purchase this again. 

Lancome Triple Action Anti-Wrinkle Cream- this was probably the lightest weight anti wrinkle cream I have ever tried, but didn't notice any differences in my fine lines on my forehead or around my eyes. The smell was clinical, and because it has SPF 15, I used this as a day cream. It was OK, but definitely not worth the price. 

Lierac gommage sensoriel- Words can not express how much I hate this product, at least not eloquently. I got this in my Glossybox, and switched out my Laura Mercier for this- UGH! the granules were so big that it just felt like it was scratching my skin. This was supposed to be a cleanser that when water hits it, it activates a milky cleanser- well it does, and it does leave this horrible greasy film on your skin afterward. Meaning that I have to double cleanse after using this exfoliating cleanser. Nonsense. Oh, and the packaging was terrible, after I decided this was going nowhere near my face I started using it to scrub my feet, but there's definitely product left in the tube that I have no way of getting without cutting it open. Not worth it.

Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion- another one with a clinical smell, and there was nothing dramatic about this lotion. It was very standard, no frills, and no results. Not impressed at all. 

Ole Henriksen truth serum- I was so excited for this when I got it in my Glossybox. The smell of oranges were nice at first- got annoying towards the end. I didn't notice ANY results after using this. This was very disappointing. 

Ren micropolish cleanser- the granules were very small, so it was not an aggressive exfoliant. The smell was nice, but I didn't feel like this was an AMAZING cleanser, but it wasn't terrible.

Revlon Whipped Foundation in Buff- When I first got this, the color was WAY too light for me. It sat for a good 2 months, and I tried it again- and sure enough it had oxidized and now was a good match. The packaging is terrible. Bulky, and I have to dip my fingers into the pot to get the foundation??? The finish was OK, but it made me break out like crazy- so this is going in the garbage.
Stila stay all day waterproof mascara- this was a really good mascara if you want waterproof. It was a little difficult to get off at the end of the day. But it separated my lashes nicely, and looked nice- I don't lean towards waterproof because they are a bitch to get off.
Smashbox Photo Finish Bronzing primer- I am not even sure if they sell this anymore, and I know they have changed their packaging. But this was a decent primer, and definitely gave my skin a little color. It was nice to put on with some concealer- it evened my skin out enough for those days where I don't feel like wearing foundation. I think Clarins has a product similar to this.
Bare Minerals stroke of light- this was a pinkish eye brightener. It was OK, I honestly couldn't notice a difference.
Nars sheer glow foundation in Fiji- this was a really nice foundation- very light coverage, but left the skin looking really glowy and fresh. I have the sheer matte and can't stand it, but I would love to get this.
BCBGMAXAZRIA eau de parfum- this was a really fresh, clean scent. It wasn't too floral or too fruity- just the right, light, spring scent. Another one that got a thumbs up from the boyfriend.
Acacia Protein oil- another sample from Glossybox, this was a thick oil for your hair. It actually worked really well and noticed my dead ombre'd hair felt more nourished. I am going through numerous other hair oils right now and probably have enough for a year and a half, so this is not on my immediate radar.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara- this mascara was pretty good at volume and length. It didn't transfer at all on me. It didn't BLOW me away or anything, but considering that I got this at ulta on sale for 10 dollars, I think it was definitely worth it. 

Best of 2012 Beauty Favorites

Some of these are not necessarily holy grail products, but they were my favorites from the year.  I am determined to find my ultimate skin care routine in the year of 2013- it's looking like it could be a lot of natural oils. The *notes products that I will ABSOLUTELY repurchase!

Makeup Remover- Caudalie Cleansing Water*
Cleanser- Ren Clear Calm Clay Cleanser
Toner- Mario Badescu glycolic toner*
Serum- Ole Henriksen truth serum
Moisturizer- didn't care for anything that I used
Eye Cream- Ole Henriksen Fresh Start Eye cream
Mask- Ren glycol lactic renewal mask

Shampoo-Ouidad meditteranean bay shampoo
Conditioner- Bumble and Bumble creme de coco
Hair Mask- Orofluido hair mask*
Hair Oil- Ojon dry recovery oil
Hairspray- Bumble and Bumble thickening hairspray

Primer- Benefit porefessional
Foundation- Chanel vitalumiere aqua
Under-eye concealer- Clinique airflash
Spot concealer- Make up Forever full cover concealer
Blush- Illamasqua (zygomatic, naked rose, hussy) and Nars (sin, gaeity, deep throat)
Highlighter- Dior amber diamond
Eye Primer- Mac painterly paintpot
Eyeshadow- Burberry eyeshadows (rosewood, midnight brown)
Crayon Eyeliner- Stila smudgesticks
Liquid Eyeliner- Stila stay all day pen
Mascara- Benefit They're Real
Lash Primer- Diorshow Maximizer
Lipstick- Too Faced la creme (spice spice baby), Dior addict extreme (st. tropez), Chanel rouge coco shine (boy), Tarte glamazon (wild), Nars (schiap), Mac plumful
Lipgloss- Buxom lip creams (white russian, creamcicle)

What's on my nightstand?

I have become extremely obsessed with the night-time skin/body care and make sure that I lube myself up, and have noticed such a difference in my skin. I started getting slight wrinkles at 25 and began to panic. Hopefully, this will subdue my anxiety. Neuroses are running rampant!!!!

raw shea butter- I use this for my feet mostly and sometimes for my hands. This isn't too greasy and sinks into the skin pretty quickly. Really great for the dry winter weather.

Lush lovely jubblies- this is a breast firming cream... um yeah- another one of those irrational anxieties I suppose. I can't really tell if it actually works, but I do know that it has a beautiful rose smell. So I enjoy putting this on before bed, mostly for the smell.

Elizabeth 8 Hour Cream- This stuff works really well to nourish dry skin or chapped lips. I use this when I have a very dry patch of skin or extremely dry lips.

A combination of jewelry and accessories that I am too lazy to put away and what I use before bed.

Caudalie lip balm- I always make sure to use a lip balm, and this one is really great. A nice clean scent typical to all Caudalie products (grape extracts). It's also super nourishing and I wake up with nice amount of moisture on my lips.

L'occitane hand cream- I have since used this lotion up, now I am using the Caudalie hand cream, and love it. The L'occitane is great too though.

December Empties 2012

Another month, and more hoarded garbage. My only "resolution" will be to go through products- and if I find it doesn't work for me, not to feel like I NEED to use it. Try to give it to someone who can use it, or get rid of it. I am determined to find my absolute holy grail skin routine.

Marc Jacobs Lola body butter- I always get gift sets with my perfume purchases, and have really NEVER used any of the other products. Usually, they sit in my drawer until I feel it's old enough to throw away. Not no more! It was decently moisturizing, and obviously I liked the smell, since I have the perfume. I don't like overly perfumed body lotions, since it interferes with any other scent that I use. But, it's gone- Woo!
Organic Indulgence french lavender & plumeria creamy body wash- another really good scent from this brand. I enjoy the texture, smell, lather, and it doesn't dry my skin out. It's relatively cheap from TJ Maxx, and I would definitely buy more of these.
Secret fresh effects deodorant in Cucumber Aloe- NOT an invisible solid. Leaves a thick residue left on me. Works decently well, and for the most part didn't irritate my underarms. Wouldn't purchase again. Right now I am using up some Dove deodorants that I had gotten on sale, and after that I am moving on to aluminum free deodorant.
Dove ultimate fresh deodorant- I kept this in my purse at all times for those times that I forgot to put it on, or just kind of stink. Works OK, but again, going for aluminum free.
Sensodyne Pronamel- dedicated to using this now, and I recently purchased the extra whitening one, as I am paranoid about my wedding pictures.
Giovanni facial cleansing wipes- loved these and already repurchased. Great for those lazy nights that I don't feel like doing a full cleansing routine. These stay moist the ENTIRE bag, not irritating, and remove makeup relatively well and certified organic.

Glymed Plus Acne Management system Exfoliant Wash- OK, so after I got a facial, apparently I had some breakouts and they recommended  that I get this. I am not prone to acne, but I was prone to getting stress/hormonal breakouts on my chin area. Don't know why they felt that this was necessary, it dried out my already dry skin, making it worst. This is pretty much full, but I am just throwing it away. Now that I am taking better care of my skin, I have noticed a HUGE difference in the amount of breakouts I am getting.
Jack Black Lip Balm in Natural Mint- one of the best lip balms ever. Super moisturizing. I already repurchased for my boyfriend- this is his favorite. But, I always sneak it and use it too.
Ren ClearCalm 3 Total Clarity Day Fluid- I love the REN brand, but I really didn't like the texture of this lotion, nor did I really understand what it was supposed to do. It was a bit too runny for me, and felt more like a serum. I didn't notice anything different.
Ren Radiance Perfection Serum- This was OK, again didn't notice anything different. Liked the citrus smell, very similar to the Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask. Probably wouldn't repurchase this product either.
Skin & Co Truffle Serum- got this in my glossybox, and holy shit ANOTHER serum. I have no idea how I  got through so many serums this month. This serum smelled like coconut, which I hate, and was even runnier than the Day fluid. The package was only about half way filled or less, so that was disappointing. Hated the texture, hated the smell, and didn't notice anything different.
 Nivea kiss of Milk and Honey lip balm- I know that these get raved about, but I felt like it was drying out my lips, and unprovoked my boyfriend said the same thing. Not sure why people think these are so great, I think it sucks and isn't even worth the 3 dollars that I paid for it. Sits on your lips and doesn't moisturize at all. Its about 75% done, and I'm just tossing it- it's winter time and I need something that actually works.
Biofreeze pain relieving gel- I have absolutely NO idea where I got this sample from, but thank God. I have bad back pain, so at night I would put this on before bed. It leaves a cooling sensation and relieves the pain. When I tried to repurchase it, I couldn't find it anywhere. I asked a friend of mine that works in a pharmacy, and found out that apparently you need a dr percription to get it??? So how I got a sample of it baffles me. However, they do sell it on Amazon, and possibly in Sallys beauty supply. I will definitely be purchasing this after I finish up my other samples.

Freeman Peel-Off Mask in Cucumber- I got this for free with an online Ulta purchase. I only used it once, but I HATE this packaging. Its a mask that clearly you can get more than one use out of, and yet the sachet it is packaged in has no way of preserving what is inside. It is all dried out at the top- gross. The peel sucked- it was super sticky and a bitch to peel off. Kind of hurt when peeling and and some areas never even fully dried. No thanks.
Rite Aid exfoliating Cotton Rounds- more shitty cotton rounds. they suck. rip apart when using them. The back of them is rougher- still haven't really figured out how I am supposed to use that side, but whatever.
YSL le teint touche eclat foundation in BR30- this was a really beautiful foundation. I think I got 2 or 3 uses out of this sachet. I have dry skin, so it left my skin looking really fresh and dewy without looking greasy.
Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base- this was kind of amazing, I don't know how I hadn't treid this before. It had a slightly tacky texture and left no color on the eyelid. I definitely noticed that it helped my eyeshadow last longer and not crease. Even though I have dry skin, my eyelids stay oily and are prone to making shadows crease. I will probably purchase this at some point in the future.
Lancome Maquicomplet concealer in Ivory- this was pretty light. It worked OK under my eyes, but definitely not on spots. It was a pretty good concealer, but I feel like the color was a little too light, even for under my eyes. Since the coloring was off, I never really used this, and now I feel like it kind of smells funny- so it's getting tossed.
Giorgio Armani luminous silk foundation in 5.5- I didn't notice the color shade until I put it on my skin. WAYYYYY too dark for my skin. Couldn't use it as a liquid contour either because of the luminosity of the foundation. So this is another product just getting tossed.
Matrix Exquisite Oil- Pretty sure I got this in my glossybox too. It was ok, I didn't notice a huge difference in the texture of my hair. Wouldn't purchase this.
Bvlgari omnia crystalline- I'm attempting to work through all of my perfume samples that seem to be multiplying!!! this was ok. not going to run out and get it.
Angel by Thierry Mugler- this gets SO much attention and people rave about it. I have never liked the scent at all. I put it on and immediately felt nauseated by the smell. whatever, I left it on. I got into the car, and my boyfriend said I smelt disgusting, and what the hell I was wearing. Glad, I wasn't alone on this opinion. Horrible stuff.
Diptyque Paris Volutes- this was a really beautiful, subtle perfume. I am glad that I have 2 other samples of this, but not sure if I would drop almost 100 dollars on this perfume. It was really nice though.

November Favorites 2012

Shopping too much leads to having lots of new favorites- silver lining? maybe? tell it to my bank account.

Orofluido Shine Spray- since my hair has been incredibly dull as a result of the aftermath that was ombre'd hair over the summer. I've never had trouble with shine, but this stuff is great to finish off after I'm done styling my hair.
REN glyocol lactic renewal face mask- one of the best face masks ever. leaves your skin feeling glowing and amazing. great smell- only downfall is that the texture is a little tacky, and it never fully dries on your skin, but it's worth it.
Laura Mercier flawless face polish- my absolute holy grail face exfoliator. I use this about 2-3 times a week in the shower. You only need a pea sized amount, the exfoliating beads are tiny so it doesn't feel like it is scratching your skin, and it leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean.
Diorshow Maximizer- This is a lash primer that you put on before your mascara. I love it, don't think I will ever not have this on. Makes every mascara look amazing- love it!

Illamasqua Naked Rose blush- I have been really loving nude/ natural color blushes that go with any eye color or lip color combination. These Illamasqua blushes are super pigmented and SO soft and buttery. They can be a little powdery, but you only need a little bit.
Nars Sin blush- my absolute favorite blush EVER- beautiful berry/plum color with gold shimmer. Leaves the most amazing color on your cheeks and wears beautifully. Just like most Nars blushes true to pan color, and super soft.
YSL pur couture in Rose Carnation- love this lipstick formula- so creamy and moisturizing. It doesn't cling to dry spots on your lips. This color is a mauvey pink color- gorgeous and wearable.
Stila smudge crayon in Pink Violet- I love this chubby eyeliner stick and the color is so pretty. Just like the Stila Smudgesticks, it is very long lasting. I like to pair this with the cream eyeshadow shown. FYI I can't find these on sephora's website, but I can find them in person.
Buxom cream eyeshadow in Mutt- beautiful taupey bronze color- goes on smooth and blends really well. Good pigmentation and not patchy.
Tarina Tarintino eyeshadows- so sad that these are being discontinued at Sephora- and that it took me so long to find them!!! Incredibly soft eyeshadows and blend very well- some of the best I've used. BEAUTIFUL!

November empties 2012

I keep waiting for that month where I really don't go through much stuff at all, and yet these things keep emptying! It is so satisfying to use something up completely- loving this! So here's my garbage.

Still working through my box of samples, and everytime that I make a big dent, I get more!! Pretty sure the samples will be never ending.

Deborah Lippman Stripper- nail polish remover towelette that you keep in your purse. It smelt somewhat of lavender- which was odd for a nail polish remover but not terrible. It worked well and was convenient since my nails always look like complete shit about 90% of the time. However, I would not pay whatever the price is for it- may look for a cheaper alternative.
Smashbox BB cream- another American BB cream- this one has great reviews and people seem to like it best. The color was a little too light for my skin, I didn't find the coverage to be more than a tinted moisturizer, and felt it left my skin greasy and tacky. Didn't even use the entire sachet, wasn't a fan.
Bliss youth as we know it moisturizer- another sachet of this. still like it and still won't pay $79 dollars for it, YET! we will see.
Sephora moisturizer- this was a decent sized sample and I got multiple uses out of it. It wasn't amazingly moisturizing and didn't leave my skin any different, but I think perhaps under makeup as a daytime moisturizer it would probably work well.
Rodial Dragon's blood sculpting gel- LOVE this. love the texture, love the smell, love how it makes my skin feel- and it's red. I am strongly considering buying this product- on the long list of maybes! I have another sample of this coming in- so after that I may have a definite answer as to whether I might buy it.

Miracle Skin- can't read the label anymore- completely worn off (hate shitty packaging) This is supposed to be a tinted body lotion that evens your skin tone. I used this on my legs a few times- it was definitely tinted- had an odd texture. But it also had shimmery glitter in it that would get all over your hands, terrible. The pigment from the lotion also transferred onto clothing and wore off pretty quickly. definitely would not purchase this.
Clinique eye makeup remover- I got this sample in a gift with purchase set, which I've pretty much given everything else in the set away. I bought the full size of this product- but won't buy it again. It is OK, doesn't get off mascara as well as I had hoped and leaves skin a little greasy, but plus side is that it doesn't burn eyes.
L'occitane hand cream- This was the hibiscus scent- it smelt more citrusy than I thought it would be. It was nice, went on smooth, sunk into skin quickly. I put this on every night before bed- I would consider purchasing more of these.
Organic Indulgence Body wash- LOVED this smell it was pear and fig. amazing. It lathers well, smells good, and doesn't dry out your skin- what more can you want in a body wash. I purchased another one in a different smell, but do LOVE this smell.
Up and Up cotton rounds- another bag of these gone. they are OK- do leave some fuzz on your face- so that is annoying.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque- so at first I was completely smitten with this product, towards the end, not as much. Still LOVE the smell of this, but I don't feel like it is repairing my hair like it says, I think it is just a deep conditioning treatment that will make my hair feel soft for a little bit but eventually wears off. I am trying other hair masks to see the difference.
Benefit They're Real Mascara- such a sad day when this was too dry to use anymore, and unfortunately that day happened to be Thanksgiving. I attempted to put it on- and it was FULL ON spider lashes- looked terrible. So, since my eye makeup was already done, I had to McGyver a makeup wipe to get off the mascara and apply something different. I will definitely repurchase this mascara. I have a lot of others that I am trying to get through, but after that- this will be mine again. It adds volume, length, everything- constantly get compliments on my eyes when I wear it.
Joico Color Endure Conditioner- I know a lot of people like this brand, but I wasn't crazy about this conditioner. It was decent- but nothing great. Wouldn't repurchase.
Lush Ocean Salt- went through another tub of this- again love the smell. Leaves my skin soft, and I do love this salt scrub. I am using other scrubs now, but would repurchase this again.
Espa soothing face mask- as you  can see I didn't use all of this up. It claims to be a soothing mask, but it would immediately start to make my face tingle and burn and would leave my skin red and irritated. Pretty sure that this broke me out too. Not sure if I'm allergic or it's the actual product that sucks, either way its garbage.