January Favorites

1) Dior Amber Diamond, 2) D&G 3 L'Imperatrice, 3) Revlon ColorStay in Sand Beige for Dry Skin, 4) Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, 5) MAC Peaches blush, 6) Benefit Boiing Concealer in #2, 7) MAC Fluidline in Dark Diversion, 8) Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid

Holiday Wishlist

1) Chanel Le Vernis in Graphite, 2) Rouge Dior Nocturne #961 Lipstick, 3) Stella by Stella McCartney roll on perfume, 4) NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Cordura, 5) MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe, 6) NARS Multiple in Maui, 7) Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, 8) Fresh Soy Face Cream, 9) Lancome Visionnaire, 10) Le Metier De Beaute Silk Road Kaleidoscope 

November Favorites

1) Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed ($25): I own exactly 3 blushes, not counting the Coastal Scents Blush Palette that I have still yet to use (from swatching, they're not very pigmented). Pigment is pretty much the most important thing when it comes to makeup. If you're going to spend an hour or however long it takes to really emphasize your features, it better show up on your face! I personally think Exposed is a universal color and will look wonderful on a variety of skin tones. It's a dusty pink/mauve color on me. It's a matte color, which is great because I hate glitter on my face (I'm talking to you, NARS Orgasm!). Does it last 12 hours? Haven't put it to the test, but my skin is dry/normal so it should last longer in comparison to someone with oily skin. [If you sign up for emails on TarteCosmetics.com, you get 20% off your first purchase!]

2) E.L.F Studio Powder Brush ($3): This brush is amazing! This three dollar brush has helped me achieve flawless skin because it provides full coverage. My favorite product to use this with is MAC Studio Fix Powder with Foundation (more on that later). I also use this with my blushes and it really grabs on to the color. The bristles are super soft and there's minimal shedding. Definitely worth a try! Great stocking stuffer, too. :)

3) Fresh Soy Skincare Set ($38): Why didn't I get this sooner? My friend had raved about it many times before, but I was delirious in my Philosophy world; hence why I discovered these awesome products so late. Picked this set up during Sephora's FF sale (but instead of the eye cream, I got the facial serum) and only started using it recently when my skin erupted like ... well, a volcano. It was badddd. I don't know who the culprit was: reaction to new product, diet, lack of sleep, hormones or all of the above. So I cleaned my slate and changed my routine. I think my favorite product of the three is the facial cream. That thing is the bomb. My dry skin felt the difference immediately! The best part is it doesn't leave a greasy sheen afterwards (I know that bothers some people). That's not a big deal to me, because I like to slather jojoba oil on afterwards before bed. If you haven't tried it, you must! It's so moisturizing and natural, this set would be a good place to start.

4) Lancome Le Crayon Kohl in Black Ebony ($24.50): Usually I wouldn't consider spending so much on eyeliner. There are many more affordable options out there, but I've been after something that has wonderful pigmentation (there we go again) and ease of application. I picked this up for around $16 during Black Friday at a cosmetic outlet store. It goes on super smoothly, without tugging on my lids and blending is a breeze. I've used eyeliner pens, gel liners, retractable liners and pencil liners over the years, but my favorite has got to be pencil. It goes on exactly where I want it to and isn't a big inky mess.

5) L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof ($9): I've already talked about this in my last post, so let me just reiterate how much I love this mascara: I LOVE THIS MASCARA! Head to head with my Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume for sure.

6) Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey ($14.50): I purchased this over the summer and to be honest, I didn't really like it. I was going for a dark berry color, however this went on rather sheer on my lips. Plus it didn't do my chapped lips any favors even though it was suppose to be half lipstick and half lip balm. What's it doing in my November Favorites? Well, I've cured my chapped lips with the help of some Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments (love Honey and Plum) and now this baby glides on effortlessly. The color is  flattering and it's supposed to look different on everyone (I'm a sucker for universal shades). It offers the right amount of rosy tint, and you can go as light or dark as you want. I will repurchase, if I ever finish this tube.

7) MAC Studio Fix Powder with Foundation in NC30 ($26.50): If your face is spotless and without flaws/discolorations YOU DO NOT NEED THIS. This powder is full coverage and it gives me a perfect airbrush look when I use it in conjunction with Lancome's Miracle Teint Foundation and/or any glowy foundations. Since this powder is matte, once it goes on top of a dewy foundation it totally sucks up the sheen. If you have oily skin, I think you'll enjoy this powder. I like to top it off with a bit of highlighter and blush to create some dimension to such a matte face. Also, on my repurchase list.

8) Chanel Le Vernis in Peridot ($25): I have been lusting after this for months! It was sold out at my nearest Chanel counter so I gave up on the search. It's $25 nail polish, after all. I tried to find dupes, but nothing comes close. When Chanel offered free shipping (till mid-December) online, I leaped for this. Two coats were enough and I still can't stop staring at my nails after a week. I never having chipping issues with polish, and this includes Peridot. Graphite is next on my list!

9) Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 02 Medium ($19): This was a spur-of-the-moment purchase for me. I'm always on the look out for good concealers; most tend to be too drying on my skin. When I tried this at Sephora, I was immediately enamored with how smooth and "wet" this was. It glides and blends easily. The color selection is a rather lacking with only 3 shades, fortunately 02 matches almost perfectly! I use this after foundation and before MAC powder. I haven't really used it for dark circles, mostly just for blemishes, acne scars and all around redness. I was devastated when I realized I lost this concealer today. Hopefully, it's somewhere in my parents' house. I've already bought another one, this time on ebay (for $10!!!) to replace it. I WILL NEVER EVER BE WITHOUT BOI-ING! lmao

Hope you guys had a splendid Thanksgiving!

Wishlist

1) The Body Show Vitamin E Hydrating Toner ($12), 2) Chanel Le Vernis in Peridot ($25), 3) Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($59), 4) Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense in Lust Red ($32), 5) Rimmel Day2Night Mascara ($8), 6) Rimmel Mousse Eyeshadow, 7) MAC 182 Buffer Brush ($49.50), 8) TopShop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels ($12), 9) Chanel Bronze Universel ($48), 10) Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso ($7)

In addition to these products, I want to add Dior Amber Diamond to the list. Figures, right? All the beauty bloggers are in love with this product, which makes it so hard for me to resist! But for now, I will just put my Benefit High/Moonbeams to work! So tempted to run to Target to see if they restocked the Milani blush and maybe pick up the Rimmel Mousse shadows.

Earlier in the month, I tried P10P (Project 10 Pan), and well.... I don't have a success story. It's just too difficult! However, I did walk away from P10P with some facts: 1) I have enough skincare to last a year. 2) I do not need anymore foundations, powders and eyeshadows. Lately, I've been more selective and reluctant to spend money... it helps that I'm a broke college student.

I realized that all the beauty blogs that I read have really high quality photos and clean layouts. Unfortunately, I don't have a nice camera.. or a camera for that matter right now. I may need to remedy that soon.

CURRENT FAVORITES

1) Soleil Tan de Chanel: Moisturizing Bronzing Powder in Terre Ambre ($50 USD): "Gently illuminating, oil-free bronzing powder in the form of wave-swept sands delivers a naturally gorgeous bronze glow that never looks dull or flat." I bought this early August, but I went to the Chanel counter looking to purchase the infamous bronzing base instead. Unfortunately they were out of stock and the MUA tried this on me and I of course, caved. This product is actually hydrating and it never looked cakey on top of my makeup. I don't own any other bronzers (except a $5 one from the drugstore) so I can't compare it to other popular choices. However, I've swatched NARS Laguna at Sephora and found it too glittery and dark for my pale skin. Click Here.

2) CoverGirl Waterproof LashBlast in Black ($6-8 USD): This is probably my favorite mascara of all time. I love that it's cheap and it does its job. My other favorite is the original Dior Show and I'm really liking the sample of YSL Faux Cils I got from Sephora. I recommend the orange lashblast over the red and purple.

3) Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte No. 03 Beige Ultimate ($34 USD): I'm actually not a big lipstick person. Although lipstick > lip gloss in my book. I think I like the idea of a lip stain more (but that's for another post hopefully). I purchased this YSL lipstick over the summer (see the trend here? summer = more beauty purchases) while shopping with my best friend. Many beauty bloggers/vloggers were raving about 02 Sensual Silk, deeming it the perfect nude color. So I tried it for myself and I hated it. It looked like I had pink Elmers Glue dried up on my lips. Beige Ultimate was PURRfect. It looks natural on me and it gave my lips the right amount of color. It is described as a mauve taupe and smells like watermelon. Click Here.

4) Lancome Teint Miracle in Buff 5C ($37 USD): I bought this during the promotion Lancome had at Macy's (7pc gift with $35 purchase). I've been using this foundation for about a month now and I like it. However, I do not consider this my HG product. Apparently, it took 10 years for the people at Lancome to create this. It is supposed to bring out the "lit from within" look and provide 18 hours of sheer to moderate coverage while doing so. I have normal/combination skin (dry & tight if I don't moisturize enough and oily when I'm outside). I wouldn't suggest this to people with oily skin because the purpose of this foundation is to bring luminosity to your face. If you're oily, you'll end up looking like a lightbulb methinks. I tend to follow up with a powder to set everything. This is good enough to fix uneven skin tone but if you have really troubled skin, this would not be able to hide more prominent flaws. Click Here.

5) Sephora Brush Wand ($10 USD): "Four detachable brushes that come together magnetically to form a wand for applying makeup to the eye area." I really like the idea of having multiple brushes in one package, especially for traveling. Unfortunately, I only use 2 out of the 4 brush heads. It's not bad for the price though. I use the angle brush for tight-lining and I use the smudge brush for my gel liner (which may not be that smart... somehow I manage). Click Here.

6) Smashbox Photo Finish Primer with SPF 15 ($38 USD): I own the small sample tube version of this primer (free from Sephora... can't imagine paying $38). To be honest, I never thought primer was that necessary but this one really changed my mind. My foundation just goes on much more easily and smoothly. I'm addicted. I usually put a dot on each cheek and a little bit around my nose and chin area. A little goes a long way with this one, I suppose a full tube will probably last me a year or more. I'm about half way done with my sample, so I actually purchased the Loreal Studio Secrets Primer and it doesn't really compare to the velvet feeling I get with Smashbox. Click Here.

7) MAC Blacktrack Fluidline ($15 USD): I've been using this everyday since I bought it and I do like this a lot. I've used pencil, liquid and gel before. There are many pros and cons for each one but at the moment I'm loving the control I get with this liner. The best thing is that it stays in place. It's not budge-proof like certain liquid liners but it's pretty good (better if you have a base). I'm looking to try the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner next to see how they compare. If you've tried both, let me know what you think! Click Here.

8) MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork ($17.50 USD): A lot of people dislike MAC paint pots because it dries too quickly. I never had any issues with that. Paint pots are commonly used as an eyeshadow base or primer because it helps bring out the vibrancy in your eyeshadows. Generally, I don't wear eyeshadows. Therefore, paint pots are a great medium for me. Groundwork is a neutral light brown sheen and all I do is swipe it over my entire lid, line my eyes with Blacktrack and I'm good to go. It provides my lids with a bit of dimension and color to make them less dull. Click Here.

9) Lancome Dual Finish Versatile Powder in Neutrale II ($35.50 USD): What is so wonderful about this powder is the fact that you can wet the provided sponge and swipe some of the powder to give your face a fuller coverage or just use it dry over moisturizer for lighter coverage. I haven't really dabbled with the wet usage because I have a lot of fluid foundations. I mainly use this as a setting powder for my Teint Miracle. Before I bought this, I used MAC Studio Fix powder to set my makeup. In comparison, the Dual Finish looks much more natural while Studio Fix gave me an airbrush (but you can clearly see makeup) look. However, I don't think there's much for oil control. Click Here.