I'm a beautyblender fan and am first in line when a new product drops. My favorites are the beautyblender pure cosmetic sponge applicator (the white one), liquid blendercleanser, blendercleanser solid and the Blender Defender beautyblender Protective Case. These beautyblender products are a must have in my makeup drawer and travel cosmetic case. I'm assuming anyone who reads my blog, is familiar with beautyblender, so details about the brand's original lineup are unnecessary. My not so recent beutyblender purchase was the beautyblender Re-Dew Set & Refresh Spray and the Power Pocket Puff. Of course I stocked up on blendercleanser and threw a new beautyblender pure in my cart too. I've had these products a while, but have been cheating on beauty for decor and neglecting my cosmetic reviews. beautyblender Re-Dew Set & Refresh spray is a refreshing spray that illuminates your skin and sets your makeup. The Hydrolyzed Silk conditions your skin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid moisturizes and the Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate helps balance your skin. Eva Longoria would approve (that commercial irritates me). What I didn't realize is this spray requires a little shake before applying it to your skin or cosmetic sponge. The first part of the two-phase solution is supercharged water and the second a milky oil. Initially, I neglected to read the directions, didn't mix the two and only dispensed the water. Of course, the results were disappointing. My second go was more successful and gave great results. I mixed the product, sprayed directly on my cosmetic sponge and gently dabbed my skin in areas I wanted to highlight or needed a little extra hydration. If you apply Re-Dew to the back of your hand, you can see that the oil is sitting on top of your skin and slow to absorb, so I recommend using a sponge to press the solution in to your skin. You can also use your fingers to massage the product for better absorption. The next-generation beautyblender Power Pocket Puff is intended for powder formulas. But, the versatile, two-sided puff can be used for so much more. The teardrop shape and built-in finger pocket allow for precise application. The soft pink side has a gel-like insert and special fibers to collect powder and apply a controlled amount to set and bake your makeup. The tan buff side resembles a thin cosmetic sponge allows you to blend. I like to use the buff side to blend and re-blend my liquid formulas. The interchangeable finger band stretches to either side easily, as a secondary means of holding the puff. I'm not a big fan of applying spray to set makeup, or refreshing throughout the day, but Re-Dew has convinced me to jump on the bandwagon. beautyblender's Power Pocket Puff is a double-duty makeup tool that is versatile and has earned a spot on my must-have list. beautyblender is an innovative cosmetic brand with a growing lineup. These products are worth the high cost and add value to your makeup routine, while allowing you to get the most out of your makeup. ![]()
I received a lot of fabulous gifts this holiday season AND gave a few great gifts to the ladies in my life as well. Some of which inspired me to post this Valentine's Day gift ideas list. I'm a lip balm addict and am always searching for a new "it" balm. These Glossy Pops have a lip balm in the sphere and lip gloss in the tube. AMAZING! The scent is delicious and the balm is super nourishing, non-sticky and seriously addictive. I received two for Christmas and then purchased two more. These balms are cute and the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Keep it simply thoughtful and gift a unique pen and notepad. I KNOW! Everyone keeps notes on their phone, but Imma a paper-note kinda girl. This gift is inexpensive, can be personalized and plain or outrageous. I love my pink fluffy pen and oversized notepad - I love anything pink. Victoria's Secret reigns supreme in every aspect. Anything from this store is appreciated and loved. I gifted these fluffy slippers and flannel shorts and kinda wanted to keep them for myself (almost did). The best gift is one you you'd buy for yourself. If you wanna keep it and buy them something different, that's ok too - just don't buy something else you wanna keep, otherwise you'll have a ridiculous pile of stuff and no gifts. YUP! I'm still promoting Beautyblender (this is not an ad). I love this brand - anything from this brand. Almost everyone I know has a Beautyblender makeup sponge, so now I'm gifting accessories. The MALLOOM Power Puff Display Stand is perfect for drying your makeup sponge. These stands are inexpensive and available at Amazon. I purchased this Beautyblender Defender for myself. It is the perfect capsule for drying your makeup sponge on-the-go. The flexible, shatterproof silicone case allows airflow and protects it from dirt. The black piece slides into the pink part to create a pill-shaped case that can hold up to two Beautyblender makeup sponges. LOVE. Personalized gifts can be a hassle and take time, but they are oh so thoughtful. YETI gives you many options and processes orders quickly. You can chose text and simply have a name or message engraved or submit a logo. Every year, I get something new with the b.a.gorgie logo on it and I absolutely love my personalized YETI tumbler and wine glass. The tumbler keeps my tea warm for hours and the stemless glass keeps my wine cold (I don't know if it keeps it cold for hours, cause I drink my wine quickly). Chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day is boring. If you wanna go sweet, opt for fun candy or healthy snacks. These "green Juice" Gummy Bears by Sugarfina are the perfect not-so-healthy candy. The name "kinda" makes you feel like you're snacking on healthy gummies and they they're delicious. Sugarfina has a variety of unique candies to suite every personality. Feel like being a little more extravagant - sunglasses are necessary and if your someone is into designer brands, sunnies are a great way to purchase the name without spending too much. Yeah, designer sunglasses can be expensive, but they're essential (I'm justifying my addiction)! I love these MIU MIU star embossed sunglasses and Swarovski crystal embellished sunglasses and chain. I snagged these at Holt Renfrew - a little pre-Christmas gift to myself. I received this personalized b.a.gorgie Pinot Grigio for Christmas. A week later, I created a new label and purchased a case. I love wine and I love seeing my logo printed on anything - it's become a Christmas tradition in my b.a.gorgie world. This Pinot Grigio was purchased at www.personalwine.com. Ordering wine with personalized labels takes time, so get on it.. ![]()
It's the product junkie in me! I'm not a fan of the "franchise", but can't help but peruse and purchase the latest and "greatest" on KKW Beauty (and every other cosmetic site I can think of). There's something about the KKW Beauty brand AND it's not the makeup! Admittedly, I have fallen victim to the Kardashian world domination effort. I love the KKW Beauty packaging. It's good quality and attractive. The brushes are great. They're dense, soft and a pretty shade of pink (me and pink is like a bull headed for a red flag). I haven't washed any of my brushes yet, so I might retract that statement.. I lost the instruction card that came with this light concealer kit, so I watched the KKW Beauty tutorial a few times to be sure I'm getting the application right. The tutorial shows Mario Dedivanovic applying Kim's makeup and explaining his process. Kim Kardashian starts off by saying that Mario doesn't want her to speak during the tutorial, but she continues to chime in.. No surprise there - she is royalty after all! The concealer is nice. The color in the light kit is No. 4 and suits my pale, olive-toned skin nicely. The texture is medium and blends well. I would compare this concealer to the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer (LOVE this one). The KKW Beauty concealer does have a strange chemical scent - Hmm.. This liquid concealer comes in a small 0.162 oz container and has a doe-foot applicator. It's not gonna last long. As per the Mario Dedivanovic KKW Beauty tutorial, let the baking begin.. But first, lets put things into perspective here. Kim Kardashian has a near perfect base (no-makeup base) and doesn't have the same struggles as most of us. I'm pushing 40 and masking dark circles is the least of my worries. I think women of a certain age should stop wearing eye liner and mascara under the eye - makeup is meant to accentuate and why would you want to call attention to your tired, puffy, wrinkled eyes? You don't! Thats is why I avoid powder in this area. It seeps into your wrinkles and creates a dried-up prune"ish" look. KKW Beauty Baking Powder is no exception and not suitable for anyone with even one wrinkle. This stuff made me look dry AF and only accentuated my wrinkles. I let the baking powder sit for a about 10 minutes and tried to smooth out the result with my beautyblender, but the powder was relentless and caused serious streaks under my eyes. Step 3 - I applied the Brightening Powder No. 1. I hoped this would finalize the application process and possibly make it look better, but NO! It's too light and I looked like an alien! It definitely covers dark circles, but unless you plan to pile on a ton of makeup, this look is too much. This is not a no-makeup-makeup kinda look. I have NEVER experienced makeup "boogers" before and was checking may eyes all day to make sure none had returned. I had these pale clumps of goo in the corners of my eyes and am assuming it was the excessive powder under my eyes. GROSS! Should women approaching or over 40 "bake" their under eyes? NO, keep the baking in the kitchen and I don't mean do your makeup in the kitchen. Women of a certain age should opt for minimal makeup. Eat healthy, drink water and get lots of sleep - leave the faux, too much makeup look to the youngins. Under eye makeup baking is a dangerous zone for most of us. Albeit, I love the KKW Beauty brushes. The Dual Ended Sponge and Brush Applicator in the concealer kit is perfect for travel. The sponge is great for blending under the eyes and around the nose. This dual-ended brush has landed a permanent spot in my Cosmocube. I'm sure the KKW brand was created and is backed by expert makeup artists and specialists and suitable for the younger generation, but this kit fell short of my "old" expectations. I was hoping for a perfect look, but ended up with prune face - I get botox three times a year and take good care of my skin, so if this kit accentuated my minimal wrinkles, I'd be cautious if I had a few. JANUARY 19th - It's been a few days since my initial experience with this kit and my opinion has slightly changed. I'm still not a fan of the the baking powder, BUT I revisited the Brightening Powder No. 1 over my go-to concealers and LOVE the result. I apply Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown concealers, let it sit and after 15-20 min, I gently swept the Brightening Powder No. 1 along the dark areas. This powder made my eyes look brighter and gave me a fresh look. I'm a fan! ![]()
..TOODLES 2018. It was a rough one emotionally, but my beauty exploration and fashion addiction survived the madness and remained strong and exciting! I'm heading into 2019 with a new attitude towards health and beauty. My shoe and handbag addiction will probably continue to be ridiculous (by some standards), but 2018 has taught me to make changes, embrace new brands and get creative with my style and makeup. My biggest obsession is sunglasses. I purchased too many Chloé sunglasses this year! MIU MIU sunnies recently took over my looks, but Chloé reigns supreme on my sunnies shelf. I just snagged these MIU MIU star embossed sunglasses and Swarovski crystal embellished sunglasses and glasses chain at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. LOVE! I'll be seeing stars in 2019! My personal style remains the same - chic joggers and sock-style boots with printed t-shirts and sweatshirts. My favorite clothing brands are 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fenty X Puma, Tularosa, GRLFRND, Mother, Spell & The Gypsy Collective, For Love & Lemons, Monrow sweatpants , Karl Lagerfeld and Fiorucci (t-shirts and sweatshirts) and Nation LTD (to name a few). My infatuation with designer shoes and handbags remains expensive! Louis Vuitton handbags are still taking over my collection. I finally found myself an LV sales representative in New York and she's fabulous. Some LV bags are impossible to get (unless you have a rep). She snagged me a Summer Trunk tote and Time Trunk Alma handbag as soon as they hit the sales floor. She's my handbag fairy! After a five year hiatus, Gucci has made a comeback in my collection. My husband tracked down a Gucci bag I had been coveting for months and gave it to me for our 10 year anniversary. Best gift a girl could get! AND, of course, I'm still a Chloé girl and LOVE Chloé handbags. I LOVE BOOTS! I'm still rocking Fendi Rockoko and Yeezy sock-style boots. I purchased too many Adidas sneakers in 2018, got some Chloé boots and a new pair of Fendi fur slides (possibly the best purchase of 2018). I'm looking forward to summer, so I can strut around in my mew Fendi slides. Another year gone and while I spent most of my time shopping and exploring new beauty products, my go-to brands remain the same. For anti-aging, Neocutis is my favorite. I got a mini fridge for Christmas and am keeping my Neocutis products in there. Applying cold eye and face creams is new to me and I love it! AND, I still love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Face Cream (great for calming rosacea) and Extra Eye Repair Cream. My favorite make-up brands list has changed a little. Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Dior and beautyblender reign supreme in my Cosmocube. Oh and there's a few KKW Beauty products in there too - love the brushes. My long-time favorites, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are still taking up some real estate in the cube. I still get IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Treatment) and Clear + Brilliant laser Treatment. These two combined leave my skin looking fresh, vibrant and reduce the appearance of my rosacea. They are painful and expensive, but worth it. I'm also still doing botox. I've had a few botched jobs and am a little turned off, but I think it's about finding the right dermatologist.. My hair is finally back to normal. I suffered from botched hair for two years and it was a struggle. The silver lining is that I tried too many hair care products and shared my thoughts on b.a.gorgie.com. I hope my product reviews helped a few of you. Surprisingly, I introduced a new shampoo and conditioner to the routine in 2018. My long-time favorite Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil shampoo and conditioner still have a permanent spot in the shower, but now I'm alternating with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance conditioner. This stuff is amazing!
I tried Coolsculpting and got "minimal results". Highly disappointing. After waiting four months for maximum results and feeling like I spent too much money and wasted my time, I decided to start working out (there are no shortcuts). I also changed my eating habits. I'm eating healthier and smaller portions. I'm proud to say, I've lost 14 lbs. YUP! It was a slow process (took an entire year)! I have another 6 lbs to go and am hoping to get a MIRROR Home Gym in the 2019. HINT HINT.. I'm also considering the new fat reducing procedure Vanquish. I'll let ya know how it goes. My favorite body wash and creams are Sol de Janeiro and Aveeno (for those sensitive days). The caramel-pistachio scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum body cream, Brazilian Crush body mist and Brazilian 4 Play moisturizing shower cream-gel are delicious! This cosmetic brand has made a few appearances on the blog and still reigns supreme. That's my favorite cosmetics, procedures, fashion brands and style diary for 2018. I'm still a cosmetic junkie and am obsessed with shoes and handbags. I have a few trips in 2019 and am already planning my outfits.. ![]()
I'm a huge BEAUTYBLENDER fan. I've purchased all but one product in the lineup and have yet to be disappointed. The beautyblender cosmetic sponge is available in two sizes - original and micro.mini. The smaller beautyblender is one-quarter the size of the original and perfect for blending makeup in small areas. The beautyblender is also available in a variety of colors - green, black, blue, nude, white, gray and shades of pink. The lineup also includes innovative tools and cleansers. Liquid Blendercleanser, Blendercleanser Solid and Instaclean Sponge and Brush Cleansing Spray all do a great job cleaning your cosmetic sponge. I use the solid while traveling - it comes in a plastic case and has a custom grid for drying. The liquid is my favorite. A little goes a long way and the scent is refreshing. The Instaclean Sponge and Brush Cleansing Spray is for quick removal of surface stains, so you get true-to-color application. It's like dry shampoo for your beautyblender. BEAUTYBLENDER also has Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation (haven't tried this one yet), Blender Defender Beautyblender Protective Case (LOVE this - great for travel), Liner.Designer Pro (for perfect eye liner application) and the Power Pocket Puff (a double-sided puff used for powder formulas). I'm awarding BEAUTYBLENDER Outstanding Makeup Tools of 2018. The Best Eye-Care Award goes to Lumify Redness Relief Eye Drops. These eye drops selectively target redness for whiter, brighter eyes. The unique formulation targets redness, while still allowing oxygen and nutrition to the eye, eliminating the risk of re-bound redness. This stuff is AMAZING! It starts working within one minute and last for hours. Bausch + Lomb claims it lasts up to 8 hours. It doesn't last that long for me, but I'm sure each person is unique. Albeit, the bottle is small, so you can take it everywhere and apply the drops on an as needed basis. The downside to the small bottle is that it doesn’t last long. Here's where my product hoarding, cosmetic junkie quirk benefits me - after the first application and miraculous transformation, I purchased five bottles (just in case it sells out). Another amazing anti- redness solution - It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Correcting cream. I have 'officially' (nothing I declare is really official) branded this product the 'anti-redness warpaint'. If you have Rosacea or hyper pigmentation, this stuff is going to change your life. Bye Bye Redness by IT Cosmetics deserves the Bye Bye Redness Award. It's kind of a foundation, primer and cream in one. Bye Bye Redness is thick, has a silky texture and gives you super full-coverage. This product is smooth, goes on like a primer (similar to Colorscience primers), and has a tinge of green (to combat redness). Apply to your cheeks, nose and forehead, and blend outwards. AND little goes a long way. I know I've exhausted the Sol de Janeiro lineup and posted too many reviews, BUT I'm addicted and had to award the BUM BUM Body Cream and Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter Best Nourishing Products of 2018. The pistachio-caramel scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is delicious! The scent is strong, but sweet and intriguing. The cream is super-nourishing and has a slight shimmer that gives your skin a subtle glow. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter is one of my favorite lip balms - I have one in my bathroom, one at my computer and one in my handbag! The light, creamy texture is nourishing and the tube is BIG, so it will last a long time. This super-hydrating lip balm is a must have. I'm a Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil super-fan and have tried a ridiculous number of other shampoos and conditioners, but always go back to Bb. Not this time - Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner have landed a permanent spot in my haircare routine. The No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner have a subtle, delicious coconut citrus scent. The combination of these two haircare products will leave your hair feeling soft and super-nourished. Olaplex, please accept my Superior Haircare Award. This twist-up, crayon-like Bb. color stick is the perfect root touch-up product and worthy of the Quick Fix Award. I hate when my roots show, and admittedly, I have three grays (that I can see)! I dye my hair every three weeks, so my roots are maintained. I do however have very fine hair, and this color stick is great for filling in sparse areas. Just glide the twist-up pencil along your hair for perfect coverage. The Beauty From Within Award goes to SkinnyMint Tea. The two-step detox program is comprised of 28 day teas and 14 night teas (for every second night). The creators of SkinnyMint Tea have carefully curated all-natural ingredients that compliment each other. The 'food synergy' is potent. The Morning Boost contains green tea (the list of green tea benefits goes on and on..), Yurba Mate to curb your appetite and boost your metabolism, Nettle Leaves are a natural diuretic, Dandelion for digestions and Guarana fruit for cleaning. The fruity flavor is light and delicious. I'm addicted! The Night Cleanse Tea has anti-bloating Ginger Root, Orange Leaves to aid with sleep, Senna Leaves are a natural laxative, Peppermint for digestive and colic relief, Licorice Root as an antacid, Hawthorn Berries for anti-anxiety and the natural laxative Psyllium Husk. Each of these all-natural ingredients have additional benefits. This ingredient combination is super-cleansing. ![]()
I'm a huge BEAUTYBLENDER fan. I've purchased every product in the lineup and have yet to be disappointed. I'm partial to the white beautyblender, referred to as pure. I'm a clean freak and wanna see that my makeup sponge is perfectly clean after each makeup application. The beautyblender is available in a variety of colors, but after a cleansing the colored sponges, it's hard to tell if you got all the makeup off the sponge. A darker shade might be beneficial for "I don't wash my sponge daily" people - GROSS! Beutyblender 101 - don't waste your money on a beautyblender makeup application sponge if you're not going to use it properly. It is meant to be drenched in water, then squeeze out the access and use to apply your makeup. You can even apply facial oil (I like Farsali) to the wet sponge for smoother application. If you are using the sponge dry, you are wasting your money! Get yourself a less expensive makeup sponge and you'll get the same effect. Cleaning your makeup tools is of the utmost importance (in your makeup routine). I know it's annoying and time consuming, but you don't want to apply yesterdays (or last weeks) oil and dirt to your face. Eww.. The blendercleanser solid is great for travel. It includes a cleansing soap and custom grid to dry your beautyblender makeup sponge. Both products come in a compact, plastic disk for easy storage. The scent is fresh and the bar of soap lasts a long time. BEAUTYBLENDER INSTACLEAN is fairly new in the BEAUTYBLENDER lineup. The waterless cleansing spray is great for on-the-go removal of surface stains. It's like dry shampoo for your hair. While this sponge and brush cleansing spray doesn't necessarily "clean" your makeup tools, it will remove surface residue - including color, so you're not mixing shades and always getting true-color application. Spray the solution onto your application tool, saturate and wipe with a tissue or towel. It's INSTACLEAN! BEAUTYBLENDER has a variety of sponge cleansers. My favorite is the liquid blendercleanser. Apply a little cleanser to your sponge, run it under water and give it a good wash. Make sure to squeeze out the excess water and remove all the soap. This cleanser has a light scent and a little goes a long way. It's available in 3 oz, 5 oz and 10 oz. The MALLOOM Chicken Feet Power Puff Display Stands are not a BEAUTYBLENDER product, but are the perfect drying device. It's important to allow your beautyblender makeup application sponge to dry completely and this cute stand allows for an all-around dry sponge. These all-around drying racks are available at amazon.com. This is kinda strange, but the colors are randomly chosen, so you get what you get?! The footed stands are available in mint green, purple and pink. ![]()
Famed beauty vlogger, Farah Dhukai, is one lucky girl. She's absolutely stunning, is blessed with perfect hair, has a widely successful online presence AND her husband created a small product line as a solution to her beauty needs! This girl gets a lot of hate online - people do love to complain. Albeit, she could be a total bitch off camera, but I think her quirky online personality is endearing. She's funny, her DIY beauty tips are unique and her tutorials are super entertaining. I say f**k em! They're just jealous! I'm sure you've heard of Farsali Rose Gold Elixir. The facial oil containing tiny bits of 24-karat gold launched in July 2015. The must-have moisturizer became widely popular on social media. Sephora launched Farsali Rose Gold Elixir and Farsali Unicorn Essence on their website in February 2017 - the Rose Gold Elixir sold out in 24 hours. The popular cosmetic brand is slowly expanding, launched Unicorn Tears (now Unicorn Essence) in 2016 and Sephora launched Farsali Jelly Beam this past January. I'd be happy to test drive any product this company releases.. Farsali Unicorn Essence was originally named Unicorn Tears - umm.. kinda sad! Beauty vloggers and bloggers took to Instagram AGAIN, this time dripping Unicorn Essence or Tears down their face. It's a little weird, but intriguing nevertheless. Unicorn drama aside - this skin enhancing, antioxidant serum contains açaí berry, goji berry, elderberry and blueberry. Combined, these extracts contain anti-aging properties and tons of vitamin C. The water-based formula soaks into your skin nicely, is non-greasy and leaves your skin feeling moisturized. The light solution is a pretty pink with micro sparkles. I guess unicorns cry pink, sparkly tears?! It smells nice too - the light scent is sweet and lingers. I don't love it as much as I do the Rose Gold Elixir, but if you have time for one more step in your routine, this product is delightful.
I was super excited to try the Farsali Jelly Beam Illuminator. This gel-to-powder highlighter is concentrated and LOADED with pigment. If you want a high-shine look, you'll love this stuff. The gel-like formula goes on nicely and quickly turns to powder - I found it a little difficult to blend, but the pale, peachy-pink color and high shine is gorgeous and effective. This is not an everyday kinda highlighter. Farsali Jelly Beam Illuminator is good, but not enough to replace my go-to highlighter, Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter. While I'm sure I won't use the FarsaliJelly Beam Illuminator on my face, I will however combine Jelly Beam with my body moisturizer to add a little shimmer to my shoulders, décolletage and legs. Oh, and a little goes a long way. Farsali Rose Gold Elixir is a facial oil with tiny particles of 24-karat gold floating in it. This beauty oil has forever changed my makeup routine and enhanced my look dramatically. I apply my tinted primer, tinted moisturizer (and maybe foundation). Then I apply 'many' drops of the elixir to my damp beautyblender and gently blend for perfect coverage. I use the same beautyblender (and Farsali Rose Gold Elixir) to blend my concealer, under eye brightener and cream-to-powder highlighter. This 24-karat gold infused beauty oil is amazing.
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In September 2017 the much-anticipated brand, Fenty Beauty by Rhianna launched with just a few products. The famed cosmetic collection now consists of makeup in universal shades developed for hard-to-match skin tones, vibrant lipsticks, lipgloss and a few cosmetic tools to help you conceal, contour, highlight, blot and blend. I'm super excited about this one! Imma start with the packaging. The pre-bundled sets are magnetized - LOVE this! The hexagon shaped tubes are larger than the average lipstick tube, but still considered compact and the magnetic feature is super convenient. The earthy, rose-tone shades, pink brush bristles and white packaging are exactly what I'm attracted to. It kinda reminds me of the KKW packaging! Hmm.. Maybe everyone's in a skin-tone, neutral kinda mood?
The thoughtfully curated Match Stix Trio sets include two Match Stix MATTE Skinsticks (conceal and contour) and one Match Stix SHIMMER Skinstick (highlight). There are four sets - light, medium, tan and deep. I purchased the Match Stix Trio in light 100. The linen concealer, amber contour and starstruck highlighter are perfect on my pale, olive skin-tone. The cream-to-powder formula is creamy, lightweight and blends nicely. I always highlight, but contouring seems like too much work. The shades in this trio work really well together and make the 'conceal, contour and highlight' process easy. This magnetized trio has landed a permanent spot in my travel cosmetic bag. Of course, I purchased the Fenty Beauty by Rhianna Portable Contour and Concealer Brush 150 to go along with my Match Stix Trio. The magnetic and retractable contour and concealer brush attach to the Match Stix - this is genius. The synthetic bristles are super soft AND PINK! The brush is dense and blends the cream-to-powder Match Stix nicely. I prefer to use my beautyblender® to blend at home, but for on-the-go makeup application and touch-ups, this brush is perfect. ![]()
In my house the unveiling of the stocking stuffers is kinda like the warmup to presents. Stocking stuffers should be small, exciting and typically inexpensive - I'm not opposed to a high-value gift card though! Here's a list of unique stocking stuffers for the product junkie, makeup loving person in your life. Sephora Christmas inspired sheet masks are the perfect stocking stuffer - They're Christmas themed and pink. Choose from Sephora Avocado Skincare Gloves or Sephora Almond Skincare Socks or both. When you open the packet, you'll notice the gloves/socks are attached - tear at the perforated line, put them on, and pull the tabs around your wrist/ankle to seal in the moisturizing treatment. The inside has a fiber lining drenched in solution and the outside a plastic lining. Best thing about these masks is you can go about your business while wearing them. The M.A.C Snow Ball collection is AMAZING! I wish I was privy to the launch sooner, cause many items sold out before I had the chance to splurge. The collection is winter themed, sparkly and festive. I'm super excited to get the Face Powder in Here Comes Joy in my stocking - yes, I filled my stocking with amazing gifts. The high-impact shimmer will light up your complexion. AND I love the Festive Bling! crystal and glitter festive adornment. It's the perfect accessory for a New Years celebration. KNC Beauty Collagen Infused Lip Masks are super fun. There are five masks in a package, so you can share (maybe). These all-natural, jelly-like lip masks moisturize your lips, and well, they're just fun to use. Apply the squishy mask to your lips and relax for 15-20 minutes. This is some of the best beauty news I heard all year - Sephora has a mini section now. YES, mini, travel-size products from our favorite brands. Mini cosmetics are great stocking stuffers. AND now we can try the best products for a fraction of the cost. These mini's are perfect for travel too. I was so impressed with the mini lineup, I purchased way too many products. Joking, I knew exactly what I was doing - creating the perfect Christmas stocking (for myself). These are three of my favorite products in 2017.. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist is the same yummy scent of Sol Janeiro Bum Bum cream, but in a light body mist. You're gonna want to surround yourself with this pistachio-caramel scent. Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir is worth its weight in gold! This beauty oil has forever changed my makeup routine and enhanced my look dramatically. I apply 'many' drops of the elixir to my damp beautyblender and gently blend my foundation, concealer, under eye brightener and cream-to-powder highlighter. LOVE. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream is a concentrated 30 percent hyaluronic acid cream. If water was creamy- this would be it. It's so refreshing, and leaves your skin feeling silky and super-nourished. I need to chime in on this makeup blender sensation - I'm a beautyblender® fan, but was curious about the Dab + Blend Applicator by MILK. If you're into foundation and heavy makeup enhancement, this is a fun tool for you. Unlike a sponge, this silicone-like applicator doesn't soak up makeup and washes easily. On that note, beautyblender® releases new products often. I lost count of the colors this egg-like sponge was available in throughout the last few years. I LOVE this makeup applicator. Pair with Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir and you've just changed your makeup routine forever. The new beautyblender® keep.it.clean kit includes a small (very tiny) bar of soap and cleansing mitt. You can use any soap (I like the beautyblender liquid), add little water and gentle rub the makeup applicator against the mitt for a super-cleansed sponge. ![]()
Admittedly, there's a few 'to me, from me' gifts under the tree this year, AND a few that didn't even make it to the tree! I'm a self-proclaimed gifting master and every year I buy myself awesome gifts. Here's a 'Perfect Gifts List' for the shopaholic, tea lovin', cosmetic junkie in your life.. The perfect gift starts with great wrapping paper, bows and tags. Choose a color scheme and get creative - I like black, white, red, silver and gold. I purchased these gift tags by eighty seventh ST. last year. This year, I also have 'No Peeking' tags, and HUGE 'From Santa' and 'Merry Christmas' tags in black and gold. The array of gift wrapping under my tree should be displayed in a department store - if I do say so myself. Christmas tree ornaments are the perfect gift for the 'I'm obsessed with Christmas' person in your life. I LOVE Christmas and each year I receive a new champagne ornament. Pier One Imports has the best ornaments. Every holiday they release new ones, but kinda stick with the theme they've had previous years - Christmas penguins, owls and lots of sparkly tree splash. Gift cards are the ultimate gift. I like giving and receiving gift cards (hint hint). You still have that moment when you exchange gifts, BUT the idea keeps on giving.. You get to shop your favorite store or if your lucky enough to get an AMEX or VISA gift card, you can shop anywhere. I know some people think gift cards are not personal and denote a lack of effort - So opt for a unique card holder. I purchased this faux-fur pouch at Pier One Imports. I love anything furry. Yes, this gift is for me. From my gift giving experience, people love to receive gift cards. Of course I have some beauty products on my list. This Amika Polished Perfection Mini Straightening Brush is unique and inexpensive. This small thermal straightening brush is great for touch-ups and on-the-go styling. There is a full-size version of this hairbrush-straightener, but I like the mini size better. This heated tool won't give you results like a traditional straightener, but does minimize frizz, leaves your hair shiny and is great for travel.
I LOVE the Peaches and Cream Collection by Too Faced. These products are infused with peach and sweet fig cream. Who wouldn't want peach scented makeup. Too Faced should produce a body cream with this scent.. The Peach Kiss Moisture Matte Long Wear Lipstick is a velvety formula that feels creamy and gives you a matte look. Oh, and it smells like Strawberry Shortcake (the doll). LOVE. The peach scent of the Peach Frost Melting Powder Highlighter is delicious. The highlighter feels creamy to touch, but glides on seamlessly, and transforms into a powder on your skin. The peachy, gold-tone is warm and gives you a nice glow. The Peach My Cheeks Melting Powder Blush is a cream to powder product as well. The product is nice and goes on smooth - I recommend applying it with a kabuki brush or your fingers. Too Faced Translucent Finishing Powder is a peach-colored powder that smoothes imperfections and gives you a nice warm look. The powder contains optical-correcting spheres - for a luminescent finish, but gives you a warm, matte look. Too Faced Sweet Pie Radiant Matte Bronzer looks and smells like a delicious pie. This is not a contouring bronzer, but rater an all over, radiance-boosting bronzer. I use it on my face, neck and décolleté. For the makeup loving, product junkie in your life, anything from this collection will do. Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir is on my 'Perfect Gifts List' again this year. This beauty oil has forever changed my makeup routine and enhanced my look dramatically. I apply my foundation with a brush. Then I apply 'many' drops of the elixir to my damp beautyblender and gently blend my foundation for perfect coverage. I use the same beautyblender (and Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir) to blend my concealer, under eye brightener and cream-to-powder highlighter. This elixir is amazing. Sephora recently added the Farsáli lineup to their shelves. This Rose Gold Elixir is available in two sizes - 15 ml and 30 ml. My list wouldn't be complete without tea products. I'm obsessed with tea - I drink five to seven cups a day. This 24 Days of Tea Set by Davids Tea was on my wishlist, but I was worried the limited edition would sell out, so I bought it for myself! Anyone who likes tea will love this set of 24 popular tea blends. Davids Tea has smaller tea sets as well. I'm hoping someone buys me the 'Best of 2017' set. ![]()
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