November 2015 Favorites

This is a long overdue post, about favorites that is.....But I haven't really fallen head over heels in a while.  Until this past month!  I have fallen in love with entirely too many things! Shhh, don't tell my husband (muah!).

First up is this NARS Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette.  This palette comes with 4 blushes, a highlight/contour duo and a bronzer.  Gorgeous packaging, long lasting color and beautiful shades anyone can wear.  Perfect staple for everyday use!!

Paloma contour duo, Laguna bronzer top row, Robotic, Blasphemy, Luster and Dolce Vita blushes bottom row

Courtesy of bubblymichelle.com

Laguna bronzer and Blasphemy blush

Next up is Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation.

My favorite blogger, Stephanie Lange, raves about Chanel foundation so I had to try it myself.  I love it.  It has beige undertones and since I am more neutral, those shades work more with my skin tone. This goes on very light and I find is best applied with a beauty blender to achieve light coverage and a second coat for medium to full coverage.  It does have a very perfumey smell but it did not irritate my skin or make me break out.  It has a hefty price tag but a little goes a long way!!

My next favorite this month is Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer.  To be honest, I can't believe it took me this long to try it.  I fell in love with Double Wear foundation last year and since I am always on the hunt for a heavy duty concealer for my dark under eye circles, this should have been a natural selection for me.  It goes on light but dries to full coverage.  It is offered in a range of shades and I chose light.  It does not crease on me and stays on all day until my makeup remover takes it off!

Next, I tried Benefit Gimme Brow in a Sephora sample pack.  Since my brows are so thin to begin with, I was always nervous to try this product.  Since I have gotten bangs this winter, I have been letting my brows grow (thank god for bangs!!) and this is literally the perfect product to brush my brows in to place and add some color and volume.  It is described as a brow volumizing fiber gel and it does just that and looks so natural!!

Another sample I got from Sephora is the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara.  My short stubby lashes always need a lift (hee hee) and this does the trick!!  It adds nice length and blackens them perfectly with 2 coats.

And my last favorite from this month are my ear jackets from Asos  These are another rec from Stephanie Lange.  They are gorgeous.  I have gotten so many compliments on them and even bought my mother a pair!  Sadly, they are currently sold out since I started this post but hopefully they will stock again soon!

And there ya have it!  My November 2015 favorites.  There have been so many holiday releases as of late and I just recently won an amazing giveaway on Instagram so I will be doing a haul post along with some more reviews soon!  Hopefully I can provide some great gift ideas for you!

And it is also that time of year when the DIY crafts and gifts start so let me know if you have any special requests!!

If you have any favorites from this month or love any of my favorites, let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Review And The Brush Version Of The Beauty Blender

You may remember my review on Estee Lauder's Double Wear and how much I loved it.  That was also a post I had written when I had my old phone, so all of the associated photos were deleted with the transfer of data.  The link is still above so you can read my thoughts on it but wait until you hear about Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light.

This is Double Wear's younger, hotter sister.......Quite frankly, I am ashamed I haven't reviewed this sooner. If you love the full coverage, matte finish of Double Wear but find it a bit too drying or heavy, than Double Wear Light will be your new obsession.

It comes in only 10 shades but if you are an online shopper like I am, it is much easier to make your selection than it is with the Double Wear.  I think the fact that it has such a narrow shade range makes it easier to find one that matches you.  Sometimes too many options can be confusing.

There are of course several ways to apply this, for me fingers is the worst way. I feel it just smears the product on and doesn't allow for an even application.  I tried with the amazing beauty blender and that works great but I am literally about to tell you about the brush version of the beauty blender.....I am so serious!!

Sephora Pro Airbush Blender #78

This brush has over 100,00 bristles.....it is so soft and allows for smooth, even application AND you can stipple it for targeted concentration on an area.  Think of how many beauty blenders you buy when they need to be replaced and you can justify the cost (at least that is how I did).  My foundation goes on like it is air brushed every time I use this brush.

So soft and lovely

The only negative is it takes a while to clean it and it also takes 2 days for it to dry completely but it is worth it if you want a photo shopped smooth face!  Click HERE to buy it and read even more reviews!!

I wore it this weekend and used the brush for application.

#nofilter loves

I think it looks amazing, it goes on light and doesn't make you feel like you are wearing makeup.  I am using Laura Merciers translucent setting powder for under my eyes and to set my face lately.  I am still on the fence about that powder, and am looking to try Bobbi Brown's pressed powder next.  Laura Mercier's powder sets my under eyes perfect and doesn't crease but I don't feel like it lasts all day and that is a problem with dark under eye circles like mine.

For reference, I am 1N2 Ecru, pale ivory beige with neutral undertones, for Double Wear.  That is why I selected Intensity 1.0 in Double Wear Light.

Currently Sephora is offering a primer, night serum and foundation brush for only $10.00 with purchase of either Double Wear Light or Double Wear! Click HERE to get that!  Otherwise, you can go to any department store counter and get a free 10 day sample of either!

Have you used Double Wear light before??  What are your thoughts on it??  How soon are you going to get this brush??

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

December 2014 Sample Society Unboxing

The last few months were meh months for Allure's Sample Society in my eyes, including last month's.  Read about it HERE.  So of course I was super excited when I opened this month's box. They surely made up for it with the goodies in the December Sample Society box which I was hopeful for with it being the holidays and all.

For those that are new here (thanks to my last giveaway we have tons of new people.....say hello ya'll!), Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription full of deluxe to full sized items for $15 a month.  We all get the same box so that is the only drawback, that there is no personal profile to fill out.  Each month you also get a $10 off $50 purchase coupon to be used on Beauty.com (just like Sephora's site).  Click HERE to sign up today!

Let's get to reviewing, shall we......

Now I am excited about each item so this is surely not in order of preference here.

First up is Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Creme.

Since I am piggybacking off of the Double Wear post I thought I would do this little guy first.  Okay, he may be small but he packs a punch (ha, I feel like I've heard that somewhere before I was married)......this creme reduces all the signs of aging around the eyes.  It is cool and more like a gel than a creme.  I have been using it every night for the last few nights and I will tell you it is making a difference.  My under eye area is much more hydrated and I can tell when I put my concealer on. The price point is high, as with most Estee Lauder items, but it inevitably seems like it will be worth it for the results.

Next up is Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base.

I love highlighters and luminizers so was happy to see this.  And what is even better is all the ones I have ever used have been pink or golden and this one is like a white sheen.  It comes in two colors and this is called Nude Radiance.

with flash

without flash

It is pretty and thin so it doesn't make your makeup drag or move when applying it.  Perfect to have in my makeup bag in my purse, but the staying power on this over blush and other points is great.  I am going to try adding this to my foundation next to give an all over healthy glow.  This seems just the right consistency and is not shimmery but luminous (duh, Brooke, that's the name of it....)

Next, is RGB Nail Polish in OxBlood.

Full size bottle valued at $18 so we have already exceeded the cost of the box.  This picture does not do it justice.  I love dark colors and this is no exception.  And funny enough it does look like blood on my fingertips.

I also think it complements my skin tone which is just another plus.  This is two coats and you can't get away with one.  But I don't have a glossy top coat on (just a quick dry) so you can see how shiny the polish itself is.

Next up is Butter London's Lippy in Abbey Rose.

This is also a full size product, valued at $20.  The color is very pretty.  Perfect for work and light skin tones.  It is more of a neutral than a pink.  This lipstick glides on and is full of avocado and shea butter.  Almost good enough to eat....almost :)

And last up is a favorite brand of mine, Crabtree and Evelyn's La Source Hand Therapy.

Growing up, my grandmother would always get me the fanciest products for Christmas.  I mean I wasn't showered in lavish gifts and stuff, I just mean she always knew just how to spoil me.  Whether with fancy bubble bath or shampoo or gift sets from brands I had no idea who they were.  I only knew if Nany liked them then they were good because she had impeccable taste.  This lotion melts into your skin and immediately soothes any dry patches and crusty cuticles.  More avocado in this baby.  I mean this could be the best hand creme I have ever used.

And there ya have it.  December's Sample Society box.  They hit it out of the park as far as I am concerned.  A great holiday box and each item I have used daily since I got the box.

Also, there is a new feature on the site, you can order any of their monthly boxes if you don't currently have a subscription for the same $15 fee.  They always have 2 day shipping which is amazing!!  Click HERE to get this December box yourself!

Have you signed up already? What did you think of this months box?  Which item is your favorite?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!!xo

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review aka My New Holy Grail Foundation

I am a foundation and concealer junkie, I am always looking for the next best thing.  Let me tell you guys, I have found it and am done looking.    I recently just did a post on Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation (check it out HERE).  Based on several recommendations from my beauty junkie friends, this foundation is better than Kat Von D.  So I had to put it to the test since I liked KVD but there were enough cons to make me look elsewhere.

I blindly ordered my color online at Sephora since there was no exact color match for me based on my color IQ number.  I ordered Rattan.  Now, just so you know, Estee Lauder has so many shade options covering all ranges of skin tones.  Many more than Kat Von D.  From warm, to cool to neutral.  I am usually warm in other foundations, thus the reason I chose Rattan.

When I got the actual foundation though I was worried it was too yellow.

Hard to tell from the swatch I know since it actually looked like a perfect match to my hand.  So I thought I would still apply it to my face to see what I thought....did you hear that? It was angels singing when the foundation touched my face!   Now I am a committed beauty blender user since all the foundations I have tried using brushes with just smear and look cakey.  But I did my research and it does say this is best applied with a foundation brush.

I used my Real Techniques foundation buffing brush (all the way to the right) to apply.  It went on smooth, it covered my blemish, it covered my pores, it looked airbrushed and it was overall beautiful.

The problem was that yes, this color was much too yellow for my face and there was a noticeable difference in my face and my neck, my ultimate makeup pet peeve.  But I thought maybe it would tone down throughout the day so I bravely left the house.  Luckily I have long hair (long hair, don't care) and could hide my neck.

Now, those who know me, know I want what I want when I want it.  Sooooo, I spent all day trying to figure out how I could get my right shade since I don't have a Sephora right by me.  Well, Carson Pierre Scott down the street from me has an Estee Lauder counter and not only will they color match you, they will give you a 10 day sample of your shade! Done!  I knew that would get me through till Friday when I could exchange my Rattan for my correct shade.

It turns out that I am Desert Beige, a neutral shade in this foundation line.  The match is incredible.  My dream foundation look is one that completely matches my face so I can really rock a bold eye or a lip.

SO I got my sample and used it this morning and it matched perfectly.  Unfortunately for me, I tried a new lotion and primer (today I used NYX pore filler and yesterday I used Benefit porefessional) and my face is pretty dry today which affected the flawless look I am going for.  I am also on fertility medication (another post for another day) and that is of course affecting my skin.

But I love it, I love the way that it looks and it literally lasted all day, no smudging, no blotching.  I looked the same at the end of the day as I did when I walked out the door at 7:30 am. And best of all, I did not ever once even feel like I was wearing makeup.  And I obsessively checked this stuff out on my face all day to make sure it looked the same.

Now this one does dry quickly too so work on small sections of your face.  But even when I did that with Kat Von D, I couldn't get a seamless look and it just wouldn't stay on and it oxidized throughout the day no matter what I did.

The con is the price point at $38 a bottle and that there is no pump on the bottle.  It is a pour top which can be quite messy especially if you are in a rush in the morning.  But other than that I am in love.  If I feel the need for a bit of extra coverage in a spot, it doesn't look cakey at all.

So I went out and got my full size bottle :) EEEK! I love it!!

Here are a few more pics in different lighting.  The last one is at the end of the day, it looks the same as when I put it on.

Now this foundation also claims to be transfer proof, well I don't believe that any makeup is truly transfer proof. I mean if I put a white shirt on over my head I am sure this is going to smudge.  But I will tell you I am sick and blowing my nose, and I don't get a tissue full of makeup when I do so it doesn't come off easy.

That being said, it is a 15 hour wear makeup so make sure you are using a makeup remover prior to cleaning your face to ensure that you got it all off.

And there ya have it, I am in love.  If you are on the fence about this foundation, GET THE FOUNDATION :)  The end.

Have you tried Double Wear yet?  What are your thoughts and tricks?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo