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Physicians Formula Touch of Blur + All Over Blur Spotted at CVS

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I have a few more Physicians Formula products to share with you from my CVS run today...the Nude Wear Touch of Blur ($14.79) and the Super CC All-Over Blur CC Cream ($16.99)! These are both "blurring" products that help to hide fine lines, wrinkles, pores, uneven texture, etc. Let's take a closer look! 


Both of these products are definitely on the expensive side for drugstore makeup, but they at least offer a $3 instant coupon that you can use at the register. I was also able to apply my CVS Extra Bucks to them for additional savings, and I'm sure at some point they'll go on sale if you're willing to wait for them.

Touch Of Blur is part of the Nude Wear collection and is a concealer, highlighter and touch-up tool that has a cushion tip applicator, rather than a brush for a softer, more blurred look. It claims to blur fine lines, wrinkles, pores, imperfections, uneven texture, and signs of fatigue.

All-Over Blur is part of the Super CC line, and is a moisturizer, primer, foundation and SPF in one. It contains color correcting pigments and is also supposed to blur pores, wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, age spots, blemishes, dullness, uneven skin tone, redness, dark shadows, discoloration, and signs of fatigue (whew!). I only saw one shade on the display, which was Light/Medium, so I'm wondering if that's it, or if there are going to be more shades.


What do you guys think? Are you hoping to find these?

Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons Spotted at Walgreens

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I was so happy to find the new Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons ($6.99) at Walgreens tonight! After seeing most of the new Spring 2016 collection at CVS, I've been looking everywhere for these. I found them way up high on a shelf, so I'm sorry that this photo isn't the best. I literally had to put my phone on a 3 second timer and then hold it up as high as my arms would reach, haha! 
maybelline color tattoo concentrated crayons

So I grabbed all ten shades and took some close-ups so the colors are easier to see. They all appear to be shimmery shades...no mattes. Hopefully they add some in the future but for now, I'm just happy to have my favorite cream eyeshadows in stick form. I love the original Color Tattoos but these seem a lot less messy!
Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons

Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons

Have you seen these in your area yet? I hope to have swatches for you guys soon! 

New L'Oreal Cleansing Balms Spotted at Walgreens

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L'Oreal has just released two new 6 in 1 Cleansing Balms, one for colored hair and one for dry hair, and I spotted them last night on a Walgreens run. I remember L'Oreal having cleansing conditioners in the past but they were in much smaller 8.3 oz pump bottles. These are more than double the size, at 16.9 oz, which is a nice improvement since typically you have to use a lot more cleansing conditioner than you would regular shampoo or conditioner. Unfortunately, there was no pricing information on the display so I'm not 100% sure how much these are just yet. 
On that note, L'Oreal is calling these cleansing "balms" vs. cleansing "conditioners". They claim to cleanse, treat, soften, shine, condition and detangle the hair. Let's take a closer look at the bottles...


The EverCreme version is meant to treat dry and damaged hair and has a Camelina Mint scent. It's sulfate-free, silicone-free (yes!), dye-free, paraben-free, salt-free and vegan.


The EverPure version is meant for color-treated hair and has a Rosemary Mint scent. Like the EverCreme version, it's sulfate-free, silicone-free, dye-free, paraben-free, salt-free and vegan. Both formulas are non-stripping and leave no build up.

What do you think? Are you excited to try these? 

NEW Garnier SkinActive Skincare Arrives at Walgreens

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I have a bunch of brand new Garnier skincare launches to share with you! I spotted these at my local Walgreens last night and there's a ton of new products as well as a few existing products in new packaging. All of the new skincare is called SkinActive and there are different formulas for different skin issues. Let's take a look...


The Clearly Brighter line includes the former Skin Renew Dark Spot Correcting products as well as one new product.
Below on the left is the Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisturizer, which is a "new and improved" version of the Skin Renew Anti-Sun Damage moisturizer. On the right is the Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer, which is a brand new product.

On the bottom row, we have the Clearly Brighter Overnight Leave-On Peel, which is the same as the old Skin Renew version in newer packaging.
In the center, the Moisture Rescue Actively Hydrating Daily Lotion isn't actually part of this Clearly Brighter line, it's just in the wrong spot on the display...I'll cover the Moisture Rescue line further below.
Finally, on the right is the Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector. This is a new formula and an update of the Skin Renew Clinical Dark Spot Corrector.

The next side of the display features the new Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water. I spotted these and posted about them several weeks ago (review coming soon!).
Below the Micellar Waters is a brand new line for oily skin types...

The Clean+ line for oily skin offers Purifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes that claim to instantly draw out dirt, oil and makeup with charcoal and they also help to mattify the skin.

Also in the Clean+ line is a Pore Purifying 2-in-1 Clay Cleanser/Mask, which contains charcoal and Kaolin Clay and the Shine Control Cleansing Gel with charcoal and menthol.

The third and final side of the display features the Miracle Anti-Fatigue line and the Moisture Rescue line.


The Miracle Anti-Fatigue line has the former Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream and Eye Cream in new packaging (same formulas). There is also a brand new product in this line called Miracle Anti-Fatigue Wake Up Hydra-Gel Moisturizer. This is a daytime moisturizer that claims to provide "continuous deep hydration for refreshed rested-looking skin" and that it "smoothes, softens and evens fine lines".

Finally, the Moisture Rescue line offers two basic moisturizers for all skin types. One version has fragrance and the other is fragrance-free for more sensitive skin. Both claim to lock in moisture for 24 hours and contain SPF 15.

What do you think of the new Garnier skincare lines? Is there anything you're wanting to try? 

CoverGirl Spring 2016 BOGO 50% at Ulta Beauty

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If you've been dying to try the new CoverGirl TruBlend Blushes and Oh Sugar Lip Balms I  reviewed a few weeks ago but haven't found them in your area yet, guess what? They're now online at Ulta.com and they're BOGO 50%. Unfortunately, they don't have the TruNaked palettes just yet, but hopefully they'll be added soon. 
Drugstore.com has the entire line, but it's not on sale, so if you're itching to get your hands on those palettes, that's the only place you can get them online at the moment. Hopefully they'll arrive at Ulta Beauty any day now. 

Recent Favorites

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As a beauty blogger, I'm constantly buying (or receiving) new products to try and a lot of times, the things I review aren't necessarily things I would buy for myself, such as matte lipsticks, contour palettes, and bright neon eyeshadow colors. But when it comes to posting reviews, I tend to choose the products that are most popular...things I know you guys are looking for reviews on. Still, once in a while, I like to talk about my personal favorites...things I've discovered and am totally loving, but haven't gotten around to talking about yet. So without further ado, here are three things I'm totally obsessed with at the moment.
Lollia Wish No. 22 Perfume ($48 at Lollialife.com)- I originally found this fragrance while I was shopping at Anthropologie. I remember spritzing the tester on my wrist and forgetting about it until later in the day when I kept wondering what that delicious smell was...and then I realized it was Wish. I could not stop smelling my wrist for the rest of the night and I knew I had to purchase it. I started out with a small bottle ($9 at Lollialife.com) because I'm finicky when it comes to fragrance. One day I'll love something but then it starts to bother me and I wonder why I liked it in the first place. So I like to try it out for more than just a day before I spring for the full size bottle.

Well, I ended up springing for the full size because I can't get enough. This is a warm, sweet scent with vanilla bean, rice flower, sugared pastille, Jasmine leaves sweetened with sugar cane, Ylang Ylang, and amber woods. It's always difficult to describe perfume to other people, especially when they smell different on everybody.  On me, this starts out warm and sweet, but not cloying or headache-inducing. It's gourmand but fresh at the same time, so it's not heavy at all. I get more of a beachy vibe from it, but it's not a suntan lotion scent...I actually smell coconut on my skin even though it's not listed as a note and I also pick up the vanilla and rice flower. I get a ton of compliments from strangers on this one because it doesn't smell like anything else. Plus, the bottle is just gorgeous! It has bees made of gold leaf with blue accents...it looks so amazing on a vanity table.
So if you're into warm, sweet scents, but are looking for something a little lighter, try the small size first and see what you think...Lollia also have other fragrances (Relax is another one I really like).
lollia wish perfume
Lollia Wish Perfume
Next up are these little Nugg Hydrating face masks ($3.29 each) that I recently found at Target. A few weeks ago, my husband was away on a business trip and my sister came to stay with me. After I put my son to bed, we ended up trying out the Hydrating one (there's enough for at least two people in one of these pods) and it was incredible! It has a milky gel-like consistency and it felt so soothing and moisturizing on my skin. You're supposed to leave it on for 5-10 minutes, but my sis and I got to talking and then I realized we had left them on for almost an hour. Once I rinsed, my skin was plumped and smooth as a baby's butt...I didn't even need moisturizer. For the rest of the night, we kept feeling our faces in awe of how soft they were. Now I'm addicted. I went back and got a bunch more and I also bought some Exfoliating ones with cranberry seed oil and jojoba beads and a Soothing version with shea butter and chamomile. If I like those as much as I love the hydrating one, I'll definitely share and let you guys know!

Finally, I picked up these Albeit Nourishing rose lip balms ($12) at Anthropologie recently and I'm in love with them! The packaging is retro and gorgeous...they come in these heavy glass jars with a beautiful gold lid...very art deco. They're packed with amazing ingredients like argan, marula, jojoba, soybean, and coconut oils and have no petrolatum. I bought the light pink Rose one first (it shows up clear for the most part) and after wearing it to bed several nights in a row and falling in love with it, I went back and got the Amaranth which looks bright red in the jar, but just gives your lips the perfect rosy tint. These don't really have a scent to them...maybe a very slight rose scent, but it's barely there. They make my super dry lips look dewy and feel so soft.

Here's a swatch of the Amaranth...it's a bit more concentrated here so it looks dark, but it's more subtle once it's sheered out on your lips. Albeit also makes a lip scrub in the same kind of jar, so I really want to try that one next. 

So that's it! Just a quick little post about three of my newest obsessions. Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear from you. :) 


Sneak Peek of the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Blush Palette

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I just saw this on Instagram and couldn't wait to share...Urban Decay is releasing another Gwen Stefani palette, and this time it's blush. I'm a total blush junkie and can not resist them especially in palette form. No word on a launch date just yet, but it's being released for Spring 2016, so hopefully soon! A lot of new products tend to hit Sephora on 12/26 every year so I'm hoping it's then! All I can say is #flymoneyfly. 
Photo: @trendmood1 on Instagram

Photo: @trendmood1 on Instagram

MORE New Drugstore Releases!

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I have so many new drugstore releases to share with you guys today! Thanks so much to Danielle and Madison (@everythingglittersintx on Instagram) for all of these photos!). These were taken at a Walgreens in San Antonio...I haven't seen them up here in CT yet, but I want to try almost everything here so I'll keep checking back. 

First up are several new products from Milani.  Big & Badder Lashes Mascara is a volumizing formula with a really interesting-looking brush. On the same display is the Length in Seconds lash extension fibers. I wonder if these are dry fibers like some of those dual-step mascaras have or if it's a wet formula, more like a primer? Going by the picture of the brush on the package, it looks like dry fibers to me...if anyone knows, please comment below! 


Next, is the Lash Trifecta mascara for length, curl and separation. The brush looks similar to Benefit's They're Real, or IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes with the spiky tip.

Here's a close-up of the lash fibers and the two mascaras:
Next, I'm super excited for the Milani Moisture Lock lip treatments! You may remember that I posted a sneak peek of these back in early November (see that here).  These are lip oils and each one is supposed to treat a different issue. They look a lot like the Clarins lip oil so I can't wait to see if these are a dupe. 



Next, it looks like the Wet n Wild brushes have arrived! I posted this photo on Instagram yesterday and have been getting great feedback from people who have tried these. They're comparing them to Real Techniques and Sonia Kashuk, but these are much cheaper.

Danielle (who sent this photo) said that this contour brush was super soft and only 99 cents!

Finally, we have a few more new releases from Rimmel in addition to the ones I posted about earlier in the week (see that here). First up are the Kate Moss contour palettes.They come in three shades and contain a highlighter, contour shade, and blush. My pal G over at Nouveau Cheap posted some reader swatches of all three shades HERE in case you're interested.


And finally, there's another new mascara from Rimmel called 24hr Super Speed Volume Flash. It claims to be a one-stroke, zero clump volume mascara. I've never applied just one coat of mascara so this should be interesting!

Have you seen any of these products at your local Walgreens or other drugstores? I want all of the new Milani products but out of all 5 Walgreens stores in my area, none of them carry the full line of Milani. :( But the CVS stores in my area do carry it, so I'm hoping to see these there soon! 
Thanks again to Danielle and Madison for all the great photos! 

MORE New Maybelline Releases Spotted

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There are a ton of new Maybelline Spring 2016 products coming out lately and they've been showing up in different stores, so it's been hard to keep track of everything! A week and a half ago, I posted about some that had landed at CVS, including the Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks, Contour Palettes, Lash Sensational Luscious mascara, setting spray and powder, and the Brow Drama pomade crayons (see that post here). Then I spotted the Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons at Walgreens a few nights ago (see those here). I knew that I still needed to find the Rock Nudes palette, but I had no idea that there was a new eyeliner and eye shadow primer on the way until I saw them at Bed, Bath & Beyond yesterday. Let's take a look...


First up are the new Master Prime Long-Lasting Eyeshadow primers. These come in two formulas, Prime & Smooth and Prime & Matte. These do have color to them...the matte one is a bit darker than the smooth one and they can either be used alone or as a base for eyeshadow.

The Prime & Smooth formula claims to create a smooth surface for enhanced color payoff and wear, making the color look flawless and more intense.

The Prime & Matte formula creates a smooth surface under shadow, or a matte nude look when worn alone.

Next are the Master Precise Skinny eyeliners. They come in three shades, Defining Black, Sharp Brown and Refined Charcoal. These have a 1.8mm micro tip with a smooth gel intensity with up to 24 hour wear.


Finally, the Rock Nudes eyeshadow palette has arrived. I wasn't a fan of the other nudes palettes (although the Blushed Nudes was the best of the bunch). Now that I've tried the CoverGirl TruNaked palettes, I know that this one might be even more disappointing, but who knows? Maybe the formula has improved. One can hope, right?

That's all I have for now...I'm going to guess that we've seen everything from Maybelline's Spring 2016 line now at this point, but we'll see. New products continue to pop up every day!

Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer Coming Soon

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The new Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer has arrived on the Sephora and Ulta websites, but both have a little "Coming Soon" sign next to them, so it's not available for purchase just yet. I keep hearing rumors of the release date being 12/26 and I remember from working at Sephora that a lot of new products launch on that day. So we'll see! 
This primer can be worn alone for a soft, feathery look or under mascara to add drama, length and separation. I'm a big fan of the original They're Real, so I'm really excited to try this one.

Profusion Perfect Ten Palette Review + Giveaway

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This year, I've developed a bit of an addiction to Profusion Cosmetics. Ever since I discovered I could buy their products at Five Below and Burlington Coat Factory, I can't help but go a little crazy when I see new items. They're so inexpensive and often get it right when drugstore products fail.  A while back, I was super excited to become a Profusion Insider and last month they sent me a huge box of goodies to play with. 
One of the things I was most excited about were these newPerfect Ten Quilted Collection Eyeshadow Palettes($6.49). I was planning to review and swatch them all, but then I realized I can review the formula and quality by swatching one palette and give the other two away! So check out the end of this post for your chance to win...
I decided to review the Perfect Smoky palette since I don't actually own a smoky palette and needed one for my collection. This one has five beautiful highlight/transition shades and five deeper smoky shades.

The first five shades are all shimmer finishes and felt very soft, buttery and easy to pick up. They also worked really well on my eyes using a brush or my fingers...either way I used them, they went on smooth and pigmented. 

The last five shades are deeper, smokier shades and while the purple and gray shades had a similar buttery texture as the first five, the hunter green, navy blue, and black shades are more matte and had a drier more powdery feel. Still, they weren't terrible...they just need to be built up a little more than  the others. I've found that's pretty typical for matte eyeshadows (although there are some palettes that do mattes very well).

Overall, this is an amazing palette for $6.49. It beats out most drugstore eyeshadow palettes in terms of pigmentation and quality and costs less too!  Plus, until December 23, 2015, Profusion is offering a special promotion:

Spend $30, Get $6 off
Spend $45, Get $13 off
Spend $65, Get $25 off
Spend $100, Get $45 off
Spend $150, Get $75 off

You can purchase these palettes at Profusioncosmetics.com

Now it's giveaway time! :)

I'll be doing two separate giveaways...one for the Perfect Glam Palette and one for the Perfect Nude palette. That way, you can pick and choose which one you'd like (or enter them both!). 

Perfect Glam has mostly bright, bold shades with a few neutrals.


Perfect Nude is a gorgeous nude palette that includes both warm and cool browns, bronzes and rosy nudes.

Please enter one or both giveaways below, and good luck! 


Profusion Perfect Glam GiveawayProfusion Perfect Nude Giveaway

Profusion Blush Boutique, Highlight, Contour Palettes Available Online!

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I have amazing news for all of you guys that saw my reviews of the Profusion Studio Contour, Studio Highlight and Blush Boutique and were upset that you couldn't find them locally. I just saw that Profusion has added them to their website, plus a Studio Blush palette which I didn't even know existed! 
These products ended up being holy grail status for me and those of you who ended up finding them loved them just as much as I did! Right now, Profusion is also running a promotion until December 23, 2015 to save you even more...

Spend $30, Get $6 off
Spend $45, Get $13 off
Spend $65, Get $25 off
Spend $100, Get $45 off
Spend $150, Get $75 off
So if you've been wanting any of these products, head on over to Profusion's website! 

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer- Anastasia Brow Wiz Dupe!

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I recently spotted the new L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer ($10.49) at CVS and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to bring one home to compare it to one of my favorite brow products, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz ($21).  Visually, it looks almost identical so I couldn't wait to see if this was a more affordable dupe. Let's take a look...
L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer- Anastasia Brow Wiz Dupe
According to the packaging, the Brow Stylist Definer is an "ultra-fine tip shaping pencil" and features a 0.5mm tip on one end, and a spoolie blending brush on the other. It comes in three shades, Blonde, Brunette, and Dark Brunette...at least those are the shades that were at my local CVS. It's possible that there are more, but I'm not positive. Compared to the Anastasia Brow Wiz, which offers nine shades including reddish tones and black options, the L'Oreal range is quite limited. I ended up going with the middle shade, Brunette to see how it compares to Anastasia's Soft Brown, which is the shade I've been using for the past year or so. 

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer- Anastasia Brow Wiz Dupe

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer- Anastasia Brow Wiz Dupe

One of the best features of this pencil (and the thing I love about Brow Wiz) is the ultra-fine 0.5mm tip. It allows you to fill in brow hairs using light strokes and they actually look like real hairs, so the effect is very natural. Then, you can just comb through your brows using the spoolie brush on the other end to soften things up a bit.
L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer

When I compare the two side-by-side, they're almost identical. The only real difference I've found is in the spoolie brush. The Anastasia version is a bit denser and seems to catch and smooth the brow hairs just a tiny bit better, but when it comes to the actual pencils, the L'oreal one blew me away with it's creamier texture. Not that Brow Wiz is hard or difficult to apply, but the L'Oreal pencil was even softer and allowed me to make very light quick strokes that looked even more natural. But it wasn't so soft that it felt like it was going to break or smudge everywhere. In fact, it stayed put very nicely!
anastasia beverly hills brow wiz dupe

When it comes to shades, L'Oreal's Brunette and Anastasia's Soft Brown are very close! The reason I love Soft Brown from Anastasia is because it's a more neutral shade for my cooler toned hair color. I find that most brunette brow pencils are way too warm for me, but the L'Oreal Brunette shade works well for me. It's a tiny bit warmer than Anastasia's Soft Brown, but it's hardly noticeable.
brow wiz dupe

Overall, I can honestly say that the new L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer is a wonderful dupe for Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. I've been using the L'Oreal version exclusively for the past two weeks and I don't even miss my Brow Wiz. That's how you know you have a dupe, when you don't even miss the original! It's also half the price, but I'm sure you'll be able to get it for even less during a sale or using your CVS Extra Bucks. Also, CVS tends to price things a little higher than other drugstores so it may be even less at Target or Walmart when it arrives there. 
Highly recommend! 

What Products Would You Like To See Me Review?

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It's that time of year again! There are a ton of new drugstore products coming out and I have a huge pile of them to review for you so far. Last year, I asked you what you wanted me to review first and it had a great response, so I thought I'd do the same thing again this year.

You can select as many products as you'd like and I'll start working down the list, starting with the most popular. Thank you so much for your help!

What Products Do You Most Want Me To Review?

Wet n Wild Illuminating Palette
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette
Burts Bees BB Cream
Physicians Formula Argan Wear Primer
Physicians Formula Argan Wear BB Concealer
Physicians Formula Argan Wear Mascara
CoverGirl Plumpify Mascara
Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation
Maybelline Master Prime Eyeshadow Base
Wet N Wild MaxFanatic Cat Eye Mascara
Rimmel Super Curler Mascara
Physicians Formula Super CC All Over Blur
Maybelline Contour Palette
Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick
Maybelline Rock Nudes Palette
Physicians Formula Super BB #Instaready Powder
Loreal Les Monos Eyeshadow Singles
Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayons
CoverGirl Tru Blend Primer for Dry Skin
Maybelline Brow Drama Crayon
L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation
Other
Other
Please Specify:
Poll Maker

Poll Results So Far...

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Thank you to everyone who has answered my poll so far! I realized that I forgot to include the Burt's Bees Lipsticks in the list of products, so if you'd like to see a review on those, click the "other" box and let me know! :) 
I'm so happy to have a better idea of what you guys are looking for reviews on so that I know what to focus on first in the new year. If you haven't gotten your requests in yet, there's still plenty of time...head on over HERE to see the poll. Thanks again! :)

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette Sneak Peek

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I just spotted this sneak peek on Instagram and had to share it with you guys...it's the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, coming for Summer 2016. It's infused with real peach essence and smells like peaches! 
These shades look summer-perfect and I can't wait to see this one in person. 
Pic: @trendmood1 on Instagram

Here's a look at the outside ...
Pic: @trendmood1 on Instagram
I don't have a release date yet, but hopefully soon. What do you guys think? Are you excited for this one? 

Favorite Lip Products of 2015

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2015 is almost over, so I wanted to look back on some the products I discovered this year that ended up becoming favorites. Since there are so many, I'm breaking it up into different categories and today, I'm kicking it off with my favorite lip products! Let's take a look...

This year, I discovered two matte lip products that my dry lips can actually wear...Revlon's Ultra HD Matte Lipcolorand L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss.  I've read some reviews on these where people said that these aren't truly matte because they don't dry down all the way, but I have a little trick to give them that matte look. I blot them with some tissue to take the top layer off...it takes away any shine and also lessens the amount they transfer. 


TheJordana Twist & Shine Balm Stains have been around a while, but I just discovered these cheap thrills this year so I wanted to include them in this post. These are about $3 at Walgreens and feel so hydrating. They also leave a nice stain behind, making them longer lasting than other similar balm crayons I've tried!


For those no-makeup days, I'm crazy about IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Lipstick Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi. It's a lipstick, lip stain, lip gloss, and lip balm in one. This shade goes on clear and then transforms into a really pretty, natural my-lips-but-better pink flush. It's also super hydrating and makes my lips feel soft and super smooth. 


Another favorite of mine when I just want a hint of color is Pixi's Shea Butter Lip Balm. While it's not a new product, I discovered it at Target this year and fell in love with the beautiful shades and lightweight, non waxy texture. These are easily my favorite tinted balms. 


My Favorite lip gloss this year had to be Lorac's Alter Ego lip gloss. I found mine at Kohls and was blown away by the pigmentation. These are full coverage glosses with tons of shine...love, love, love! Plus, the shade Goddess that I reviewed is the most gorgeous mauve-y purple ever. 


This year, I also found two amazing lipstick formulas...on the higher-end is Buxom's Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick which is a super creamy and comfortable formula that lays down tons of pigment in one swipe. Not to mention the packaging is totally badass. 
On the bargain side,Hard Candy's Plumping Serum Gel Lipsticks are just as pigmented and creamy at a fraction of the price. They have a lip balm-like hydration level and leave behind a stain that lasts for hours. 


Last but not least, I fell in love with Colourpop's Sheer Lippie Stixthis year. My normal makeup look as a stay-at-home Mom is pretty casual and these beautiful shades fit right in to my lifestyle. They offer a pop of color that's more than a tinted balm but less than a full-on lipstick so I could still feel pulled together and "finished" without feeling too made up. 


So those were my favorite lip products of 2015! I'm looking forward to new discoveries in the coming year. What are your favorite lip products? 

Favorite Blushes of 2015

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I officially became a blush addict in 2015. I've always loved blushes, but I got to try so many amazing new formulas this year I added a ton of new ones to my collection. Here are the ones that stood out to me the most...
There were two amazing cream formulas that launched this year and both are really affordable! Colourpop's Super Shock Cheeks have a beautiful, soft spongy texture that blends like a dream and they last all day. So impressive for only $8! I also fell in love with L.A. Girl's Velvet Contour Stick Blushes ($5). They're so quick and easy to use and there are so many beautiful shades to choose from! 

See my reviews of Colourpop Super Shock Cheekshere and here. 

See my review of the L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Sticks here. 

Quite possibly one of my favorite formulas ever is both a cream and a powder! The Flower Beauty Transforming Touch Powder to Creme Blush ($12.98) is super unique. It starts as a loose powder and morphs into a soft matte cream as you blend it into your cheeks. It's super long lasting and doesn't budge all day! 


On a typical day, I like to use matte blushes, but I also love glowy formulas because they wake up my face when my skin is looking dull and lackluster. Two beautiful formulas I fell in love with this year were thee.l.f. Baked Blushes($3) and Hard Candy's Blush Crush Baked Blush in Living Doll ($7). 

See my review of the e.l.f. Baked Blushes here. 

See my review of the Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush here.

I'm so happy I discovered theCity Color Be Matte Blushes($4.99) at Five Below this year because they're my favorite matte blush ever! There's no reason to ever spend more on a matte blush because these are absolutely perfect. They have a silky smooth formula, are long-lasting, and come in a huge container that I'll probably never run out of.  I reach for these more than any other blush in my collection. 

See my review of the City Color Be Matte Blusheshere. 

When Cover Girl released their new TruBlend baked blushes last month, I was super impressed with the soft, highly pigmented formula. Plus, the marbled formula reminded me of the Hourglass Ambient blushes at a much nicer price. 

See my review of the CoverGirl Tru Blend Baked Blushes here. 

Finally, there were so many amazing affordable blushes this year, I only ended up splurging on one...the Too Faced Love Flush blush. The formula is silky, smooth and highly pigmented, plus they last all day on my cheeks. Not to mention...the packaging is so adorable! 

See my review of the Too Faced Love Flush Blusheshere.

So there you have it...my favorite blushes of 2015! What blushes did you fall in love with this year? 

Favorite Face Palettes of 2015

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I'm a total sucker for highlighters and blush, so when I can get a bunch of them all in one palette, I get completely sucked in and can't resist them. In 2015, there were quite a few face palettes that I've become totally smitten with. Let's take a look...

Earlier in the year, I hauled a ton of products from Makeup Revolution, including two gorgeous face palettes...the Ultra Blush & Contour Palette in Golden Sugar ($9.21) and the Radiant Lights Palette ($12.28). (Prices may be different from my original posts due to exchange rates)
The Ultra Blush & Contour Palette has the most beautiful shades including a pearly white highlight, shimmer and matte contour/bronzer shades and marbleized blushes that remind me of the Hourglass Ambient Blushes. The texture is so smooth and they blend like a dream. I use this palette constantly and am always amazed by the beautiful glow these shades add to my skin. 
The Radiant Lights Paletteis an affordable dupe for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette...the shades are almost identical! Plus, the texture is the same...soft, blendable and just the right amount of glow. 


See my review of the Radiant Lights Palette Here.

This holiday season, there were two beautiful palettes that I just had to have...the Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette ($44) and the Sephora Ombre Obsession Face Palette ($34). I had always wanted to try Tarte's blushes and the Bling it On Palette was a really affordable way to do it, since one costs $28. These are totally worth the hype...long lasting and highly pigmented. 
The Sephora Ombre Obsession palette was a total surprise to me...it was way bigger than I thought it would be and the quality was high-end! I love the variety of warm and cool shades, plus the highlighter in the middle is beautiful. I can't link to either one, since both are sold out. :( 



I was ecstatic to see that The Balm was launching The Manizer Sisters Palette featuring Mary Lou, Cindy Lou and Betty Lou Manizers. Mary Lou and Cindy Lou are two of my favorite highlighters of all time and having them together in a travel friendly palette is the best thing ever! 


Finally, I found two amazingly affordable palettes from Profusion that I absolutely love due to their high quality formulas and beautiful shades...the Studio Highlight Paletteand the Studio Contour Palette.



So those are my favorite face palettes from 2015! Did you try any of these palettes? What are your favorites? 

Favorite Eye Shadows of 2015

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Looking back on 2015, I didn't review that many single eyeshadows (I kinda have a thing for palettes) but there were a few that really stood out to me. Here they are in no particular order...



NYX Prismatic Eyeshadows($5.99)- These are soft, buttery and amazingly pigmented. They lay down some super-intense color with only one swipe and apply beautifully with your fingers or a brush. 


bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow ($19)- The first time I tried these shadows, I didn't expect to love them as much as I do, but my mind was completely blown from the first application. These contain skincare ingredients and SPF, plus they act as a primer and a long-wearing eyeshadow. They go on sooo smoothly and make your eyelids look flawless, taking away any crepiness and covering any signs of discoloration or redness. I love to wear them on their own, but when I need my eyeshadow to stay put, I use them as a primer too. They're just amazing and I now own every single shade, even though they're not cheap. I love them that much! 


Mally Beauty 5 Pc  Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Collection ($44.54- no longer available)- I'm obsessed with Mally's Evercolor Shadow sticks, so when I saw this 5 piece collection on QVC that contained all wearable, neutral shades (for less than the price of 2!) I jumped at the chance. These eyeshadow sticks are totally bulletproof and stay on all day (until you take them off). I love how easy they are to apply...they're my everyday go-to! You can still purchase her original shadow sticks individually here.

See my Mally 5pc Evercolor Shadow Stick reviews here and an older 5pc set here.

Finally, the City Color Shimmer Shadows ($6.99) are a beautiful collection of intense metallic shades that are total dupes for the Kat Von D Metal Crush eye shadows! These are super soft and pigmented and come in 16 gorgeous shades. 


So there you have it...my favorite eyeshadows of 2015. Which ones did you discover this year? 
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