Sephora Epic Rewards Choice-Smashbox Makeup!!

A few weeks ago, Sephora once again had their epic rewards choices.  Epic meaning 1,000 points and up reward choices.  Some were valued at 10,000 reward points.  I know my chances were slim but I tried nonetheless to get in on the action.

And I was able to choose one!!  I  ended up going with the Smashbox reward.  It was 1,000 points and I knew I would use all of the items, as opposed to some of the other choices, where I already had or wouldn't use some items.

All of the above items came in my reward:

• Smashbox Primer Water
• Smashbox Mascara
• Smashbox Infrared Matte Red Lipstick
• Smashbox Crimson Red Lip Liner
• Smashbox Shape Matters Palette

The approximate value of all items combined is $157.   Not bad!

Now on to the star of my reward choice, the Shape Matters palette.

Look at how gorgeous it is.  I have had my eyes on this palette since I got a sneak peek of it.  

The left side is for brows, the middle is for face and the right is for eyes.  I mean, it really covers everything.  If I could change one thing, it would be to have added a blush in the mix.  They just released a palette full of shadows and blush and I think that one looks beautiful too!

You may remember in my January Favorites blog post, click HERE to reread, I reviewed the Smashbox contour palette and have loved it ever since.  This palette is sturdy and perfect to take on a trip.  The sizes of each pan seem like they will last forever, too.  They are all very pigmented and smooth and the brush that comes in the palette is great quality!

Do you have this palette?  What do you think about it?

Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great night xo

April 2015 Choix Unboxing And Review

Last month was my second month of the Choix subscription.  It is $20 a month and you get to select the 5 items you sample, all high end brands that I myself, have limited access to.  Tom Ford, Kevin Aucoin,Chanel,YSL,etc.....

the goodies

You also get a $10 coupon code to use towards a full size product out of the items that you sampled for the month.

Let's talk about what I selected this month.

• Nars Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Phoebe-what's neat about Choix is they send you the sample already pressed in a little pan for you.  You can get a little palette from them to hold all your shadows in so you can take them with you or keep them all in one spot.  I actually really liked this color and it lasted forever on my lids.
• Smashbox Primer Water-I have been wanting to try this for a while but didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.  It was very refreshing but to me not worth the price tag. I also found it did nothing for my pores prior to foundation application and found it better suited for a finishing spray.
• Bobbi Brown Foundation in Cool Beige-I liked this so much that this is what I used my $10 off code on and am waiting for the full size product so I will do a full review then!  It truly is "your skin but better" foundation.  I find application best with Real Techniques Expert Face Brush!
• Chanel Illuminating Base Primer-this primer was a little too shimmery and sticky for me.  Ya know how Smashbox's original primer feels?  This is the exact opposite and again too hefty of a price tag. If you don't have crater sized pores then this would be better for you than me!
• Lastly, Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector in Light Bisque-I love this stuff and have written a post on it before.  In fact, I merely ordered it too be able to use the $10 off coupon on it but I fell in love with the foundation instead!! This is a miracle product that you use under your concealer to counteract the discoloration. 

Click HERE if you would like to try this monthly sub!! As you know, I LOVE surprises but since this box lets me access such amazing stuff I really was glad I tried it!!  I mean sure, you can have them pick your products for you if you want though :)

So overall this was the best box I have received from them so far but I can't blame it on Choix since I made all of my own selections.  Being the foundation and concealer junkie I am, those were where I ran into problems since color selection was hard.  They don't offer all the choices for each brand so I found myself going back and forth reading shade descriptions on Sephora's website.

What do you think?  Have you tried Choix before? Do you think you will?

Let me know in the comments below!! xo

January 2015 Product Favorites

Welcome to the future!! 2015 has arrived :) Truth be told, I was expecting my beauty boxes this month to be filled with fabby new trendy items or new twists on old classics but nothing really blew me away.....BoxyCharm was my number one box this month.  Read the unboxing HERE.

SO let's talk about my favorites this month.

First up is Urban Decay's DeSlick Setting Spray.  Since I started using MAC's Studio Sculpt, read about it HERE, I haven't been as dehydrated looking in my face.  Translation-a bit oily!! I was looking for something that would not only set my makeup but help reduce unwanted shine.  Ya know, there are some times where you just don't want a powdery, finish on your face.  Urban Decay has a few setting sprays but this one was what I chose and I am very pleased with my choice.  It sprays on like a dream, a nice even misting application.  My face is set all day until I decide it's time to come sliding off ;) My advice when spraying a finishing spray on your face is to sit still for about 10 seconds or until you feel that it is dry. Don't make any facial expressions and let it do it's thing :)

Next up is Too Faced's Melted Liquified Lipstick in Fig.  I got a sample of this a long time ago in a light pinky color. I wasn't a fan.  And it all came down to the color.  I never gave the product a chance.  Recently Too Faced came out with a ton of new shades for this line.

When I saw this picture, I lost my mind and knew I had to collect pretty much all of them :) But I started with Fig.

The color truly doesn't translate as well as I had hoped in this picture.  It is a gorgeous muted purpley shade that even the most conventional people can wear.  It is so pretty.  As for the product itself, the first use is a bit messy.  It comes out a bit watery, but it dries to a matte finish.  Use a good lip exfoliator prior to wearing any lippies, especially in the winter. I recommend elf's lip exfoliator for a no hassle one or DIY with some sugar (white or brown) and some oil (olive or coconut).  I will be sharing my recipe for my own lip balms coming up on the blog :)

And here are the newest shades released for this Spring!  Melon has my name all over it!

Courtesy of BeautyPointofView

Next up is Sigma's E40 Tapered Blending Brush.  I know it is a $16 eye brush.  BUT if you have a discount (which you will at the end of this post!) it is worth it. If you have hooded eyes, it is also WORTH it! This brush is great!! It fits into the hooded crease of my eye perfectly where as other brushes don't.  If I can find a cheaper alternative I will but for now it is a great score.  Plus these brushes are known to last forever.  It blends like a dream and picks up the perfect amount of product. Also, the product comes right off the brush.  Meaning, I don't have to wipe each color off after I have used it.

And lastly, my product favorite for the month of January is Smashbox's Contour Kit.  I prefer a cream contour but I like this because it is all in one kit and the contour color is an actual contour color. And the bronzer is a bronzer color. I started out contouring using bronzer as my contour but realized what a difference it makes when you use two colors.  The contour color is a nice cool color that creates the shadows I want and the bronzer offers a nice healthy, warm glow.  The highlight doesn't really provide enough color to highlight my skin so I use the powder to set my concealer.  Since it is a tad yellow it works perfectly!  This kit comes with instructions on the mirror and are perfect for beginners.  FYI-I had tried the IT Cosmetics contour kit last year and returned it. There was zero pigmentation and nothing showed up on my skin.

And there ya have it!  Have you used any of these products? What are your thoughts?  Fall in love with any products yourself this month?  Let me know in the comments below!!

Use MISSYOU10 on your order at Sigma for 10% off your order!

Also, don't forget I am having a giveaway!!  There are only 5 days left to enter!

Click HERE to enter and good luck!!

Have a great day!! xo