Weekly Poll Results - Which Area of your Makeup Routine Needs More Work Perfecting?

Which Area of your Makeup Routine Needs More Work Perfecting?

In this weeks poll I wanted to see which area of your makeup routine do you struggle with. Maybe you can't get your eyeliner to match, or maybe no matter how hard you try to apply your blush as best as you can, it always comes out uneven. Even if you've been a lover of makeup from the beginning of time, I still think that many of us have things we'd like to improve - small or big.

I think I manage pretty well, but if I could improve on something, I'd pick eyeshadow 100%. I don't have trouble with blending or anything - I think it's mainly technique and shadow placement. Sometimes when I want to try something new it ends up being a muddy mess, so I tend to stick with looks I've done before that I know work, or "safe" looks. I suppose it all comes with experience, though! Or maybe creativity? Whatever it may be, I give tons of credit to those who have the ability to wear different eye looks every day.. I'd love to have skills like The Queen of Blending.

The Results Are:

Foundation and/or Powder - 81 votes (29%)
Blush Application - 34 votes (12%)
Bronzer and/or Contouring - 95 votes (34%)
Eyeshadow - 96 votes (34%)
Eyebrow Filling - 50 votes (18%)
False Lashes - 59 votes (12%)
Lips - 19 votes (6%)
None! I think I manage pretty well with everything. - 11 votes (3%)
Other (not specified) - 14 votes (5%)

This poll received 277 votes. (Voters were able to choose multiple answers)

There votes were really close. It looks like the majority struggle as well with eyeshadow being the #1 answer. With one extra vote, Bronzer/Contouring takes second place and Foundation and/or Powder takes third.

If you voted, which did you vote for and why? If you didn't vote, let me know what your answer would be in the comments!

*The weekly poll can be found on the right side-bar. Let me know if you have any ideas for future polls! A new poll will be up shortly.

Sephora Beauty Insider 500 Point Perk - Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers.

Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers Kit

In my five years of being a Sephora Beauty Insider, I've never cashed in on my 500 point perks. I guess I never find them to be that amazing, and usually wait around for some really awesome 100 point perks (such as fragrance minis!) Well, I thought the Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers Kit was a pretty sweet deal and decided to cash in on some of my points.

The Laura Mercier Flawless Best Sellers Kit contains:

• Foundation Primer (0.5 oz) $9 value
• Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Nude (0.5 oz) $14 value
• Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic (0.14 oz) $25 value
• Eye Basics in Wheat (0.1 oz) $13 value

I calculated the values based on the full-size products, and the total value for this kit adds up to $61! It sure as heck doesn't look like it, but Laura Mercier is a pricey brand. I think the 500 points was well worth it!

I have yet to try the products, but I've had samples of both the Laura Mercier Primer and Tinted Moisturizer and really liked them. You can see my past review for the Tinted Moisturizer here. Granted I haven't tried any other tinted moisturizers, I think it's quite good for some of my more "natural" days. I'm not sure how the shade Nude (light beige for fair/light skin) will work out, but if anything, I can most likely mix it with other foundations to sheer them out. 

From left to right: Golden Mosaic swatched individually and swirled together, Wheat Eye Basic, Nude Tinted Moisturizer and Primer. 

The Laura Mercier Eye Basics is something pretty new to me. The product description is pretty vague, but it comes in an array of natural skin-tone shades, that work to correct imperfections and discolorations on the lids. So it can be used as a corrector, or as an eyeshadow base. Wheat is a lovely medium beige that looks like it would work well as a base with my neutral and warm eyeshadows. I'm excited to try it out, and I'll have a more in-depth review of it later on.

Lastly, the Golden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc was an exciting product to get in this little kit. It's a pretty generous size, as it's more than half of the full size product which retails at $38. Golden Mosaic consists of a copper, bronze, gold and cream shade that can be used individually on the eyes or swirled together on the cheeks for a golden glow.

This perk was replaced with another offer a couple days ago, but I thought it was still worth mentioning. They might still have them in select stores. Call me crazy, but I log in to my Sephora account every day to see if there are any good new point perks. I don't like missing out on anything!

Do you usually cash in on your points right away? Or do you let them build up?

My November Favorites!

November Beauty Favorites

I know I rarely ever do monthly favorites, but I had to do a favorites list this month since there are several products I've been loving lately and have been getting most of my attention! The list can pretty much go on forever, but I'll try to keep it short!

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - I've had a few samples of this and loved it, but have only finally purchased a tube this month. It's probably one of my favorite cream foundation as it's full coverage, yet it looks like skin. It's comfortable to wear and the color Bamboo Beige is perfect for me when I am in the MAC NC30 color range. My only gripe is that it's not budge-proof and starts to get a little shiny and fade around my mouth around 5-6 hours in wearing it. Despite that, I really do love this foundation.

MAC Bombshell Lipstick - This has been the only lipstick I've been wearing all month. It's such a pretty rosy pink with a hint of frost. It can look a little bright sometimes, so when I want something more subdued, I like mixing it with a lighter shade, such as MAC Creme D' Nude.

Revlon Bordeaux Lipgloss - Bordeaux has been my favorite pick for an easy berry lip this Fall. I love how pigmented and moisturizing it is, and that I don't have to bother with a lip liner. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a very wearable berry.

MAC Bamboo Eyeshadow - Bamboo is a fairly popular shade by MAC, but it's never one that I thought I needed. Well, I was wrong and this light beige-peach with a matte finish has found it's way into my MAC Everyday Palette, and has been a color I tend to reach for just about every day. Fabulous for warm skin tones, it's a great blending color and pairs well with copper, golds and browns. It leans slightly orange, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for cool skin.

MAC Mulch Eyeshadow - Mulch is another great shade by MAC that I surprisingly didn't own. Although it's pretty much a standard dark bronzy-brown with reddish undertones, it compliments my skin really well and I find myself using often.

MAC Staunchly Stylish Pro Longwear Lip Pencil - Highly recommend it for those with rosy lips, and who want a natural shade of lip liner that will pair well with most lip colors.

NARS Sin Blush - I love when products I don't expect to be any good turn out to be incredible, and Sin is one of them! It's a soft plummy pink and is a beautiful shade for every day. I've literally been using it 6 days out of the week, and it never applies patchy or looks uneven. Just perfect, smooth color every time.

NARS Laguna and Casino Bronzers - I haven't used Laguna since I finished my first pan back in '06, but I recently got back into it, and have been loving it for my "subtle bronze" days, and I use Casino when I want to be a bit darker. I don't think I'll ever be without these! Great bronzers.

MAC Superb Extra Dimension Highlighter - This rose gold metallic powder has been a staple in my collection since it's recent holiday launch. It's always the highlighter I reach for on the days that I want my skin to have a rich glow.

Guerlain Meteorites Pure Radiance- I purchased this during Sephora's VIB sale because all of the other shades were sold out, and I'm so happy this one ended up working out great. If you didn't know by now, I am obsessed with Guerlain Meteorites and it's another product I'll never be without in my collection. The combination of colors in this one really works together well to even out my skin and soften the look of my pores. Correcting colors (blue and pink counter the yellow tones in tired complexions), skin-evening colors (beige and orange warm up the complexion and create an even tan, and illuminating (ivory and white gold are light reflectors without a whitening effect).

L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture Nourishing Creme - For those of you love the conditioner in boxed hair dye, you'll love this thick and rich, moisturizing conditioner. It smells amazing and it really makes my dry hair super soft and helps moisturize my ends to limit breakage.

Nexxus Emergencee Strengthening Polymeric Reconstructor - I've only used this treatment twice so far (you should use it 2x a month) and it's actually suppose to strengthen and repair damaged hair. Each treatment is said to dramatically improve hair's health, condition and shine. If you look up the reviews for this product, the ratings are pretty astounding. It seems that the majority of those who use this product benefit from it. Even after only two uses I can definitely tell my hair feels stronger. Highly, highly recommend for damaged hair, and for those who regularly heat style their hair.

Got 2B Powder'ful Volumizing Styling Powder - Due to the popularity of this product in the beauty community, I decided to give it a try. It's basically a silicone based powder that you rub through your roots to give you instant lift. It works pretty well when my hair has fallen flat, and it's super cheap!

What have you been loving this month?

Have any recommendations for products you'd like me to try?

Nars Friends and Family + Other Great Cyber Monday Deals!

NARS Friends & Family 2012

Starting at midnight last night, NARS began their Friends and Family sale! You get 20% your order + Free Shipping!! It's a great opportunity to pick up some of your favorties that Sephora doesn't carry, or for those of you that missed out on your Nars favorites during Sephora's F&F and VIB sales.
Use Code: NARSFF2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your purchase to save an extra 4%)

*Ebates is also doubling their cash back on many stores, so I've included the savings for each store listed.

Some other great sales:

Coastal Scents
Coastal Scents Black Friday is extended until Wednesday! Take 50% Off Everything!
No code necessary.

Express
40% Off Everything + Free Shipping! Ends 11/26.
No code necessary.

Forever21
Free Shipping with no minimum + up to 70% off on select items! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: CYBERMON.

Josie Maran
For those of you who are running low on your Josie Maran Argan Oil, now is the chance to buy! Take 25% Off Josie Maran's Featured Products + Free Shipping on orders over $25! Ends at 11/26 11:59PM.
Use Code: ARGAN25.

Lancome
Take 20% off your order at Lancome now through 11/30 11:59PM EST. Also, enjoy Free Shipping on orders of $49+.
Use Code: HEARTS. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Lancome purchase to save an extra 14%!!)

NYX
20% off all items + Free Shipping on orders over $40! Also, 30% off all eye and lip sets!
No code necessary.

Origins
It's the final day to make your purchases at Origins for $10 off your orders of $25 + Free Shipping!
Use Code: TENOFF. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Origins purchase to save an extra 12%!)

Sephora
Free Mystery Sample bag with $25 purchase! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: UNDERWRAPS. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Sephora purchase to save 8% on your purchase!)

Shu Uemura
Stop by Shu Uemura and take 20% off your order of $50 or more + enjoy Free Shipping! Ends at 11/27 11:59PM EST.
Use Code: WISH2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order to save an extra 10%!)

Smashbox
It's the final day to make your purchases at Smashbox and receive 25% off your order of $50 or more + Free Shipping and Free Samples!
Use Code: FRIENDS2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Smashbox order to save 12%!)

Tarte
Take 25% off your order + Free Shipping on orders of $40 and more! Ends 11/26 11:59PM EST.
Use Code: CYBER. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Tarte order to save an extra 4%!)

The Body Shop
50% off the entire store + Free Shipping on orders of $30! Ends 11/26.
No code necessary. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order for an extra 10% savings! 6% for Canada.)

Too Faced
Take an additional 50% off Vintage Items! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: BLACK2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order for an extra 4%)

Topshop
Free Shipping on all orders worldwide! Ends 11/26 23:59 PST.
No code necessary.

Ulta

Shop Cyber Monday Deals + $10 off $50 and $20 off $100. Ends 11/26. Also, free beauty bag containing 15 samples with any $35 purchase! Ends Tuesday.

Use Codes: 85224 for $10 off $50 and 85118 for $20 off $100.

Let me know in the comments if you know of any great Cyber Monday deals!

I will be updating the list shortly with more deals.

Step by Step Autumn Smokey Eyes Tutorial!

Autumn Smokey Eyes Tutorial

I wanted to show you an eye look that I've really been loving lately, and have been recreating on most days I've been going out. The star of this look is MAC Club Eyeshadow, which is a really beautiful soft brown with reddish undertones and a metallic green duochrome. What I love about it is that it can transform with whatever base you use. In this look I've layered Club over a black base, and it makes the green tone really stand out and appear as a beautiful, rich emerald green. On the rest of the lid where the black wasn't applied, it appears as a reddish-brown. So before I even picked up any other eyeshadows, it looked like I've already used more than one. 

For a cheaper alternative to MAC Club ($15), Wet n Wild has a great dupe in their Comfort Zone Color Icon Palette ($4.99). You'd actually be able to re-create most of this look with the Comfort Zone palette.
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Products Used:

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Bobbi Brown Black Ink Long-wear Gel Eyeliner 
MAC Club Eyeshadow (red-brown with greeen pearl)
MAC Bamboo Eyeshadow (light peach-beige, matte)
MAC Jest Eyeshadow (soft peach with icy shimmer)
MAC Mulch Eyeshadow (red-brown with bronze pearl)
MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow (warm antique gold)
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara
False Lashes (cut in half)
L'Oreal Gold Charge HIP Chrome Eyeliner 

*For this tutorial I used the site Beauty Sets to quickly and easily create a collage of images. Please let me know if you find this method of tutorial confusing. It's much easier and less time consuming for me, but if they aren't helpful, I'll continue doing them the way I did before. Thanks!!

Autumn Smokey Eyes in 10 Steps

Step 1: Prime your eyelids. (Photo #1)

Step 2: Apply black cream/gel liner to the top lash-line. It doesn't have to be perfect, because in the next step we are going to smudge it. (Photo #2)



Step 3: Quickly before the liner sets, use a small brush to smudge the liner. Drag the liner upward and extend it slightly outward. I dragged the liner up the highest at the end of my eye. (Photo #3. When it's done, it should look like Photo #4)

Step 4: Apply MAC Club Eyeshadow all over the lid, covering the black liner. Also, smudge it through and slightly above the crease of the eye. Make sure to blend out any harsh edges of the black. (Photo #5)

Step 5: Using a tapered blending brush, buff MAC Bamboo in the area above the crease. Lightly blend Bamboo into the edges of Club so there are no harsh lines. Extend Bamboo upward. (Photo #6)

Step 6: Apply MAC Jest Eyeshadow as a highlight under the eyebrow. (Photo #7)

Step 7: Apply the same black eyeliner to the bottom lash-line and smudge the line with a small brush. (Photo #8)

Step 8: Apply MAC Mulch Eyeshadow on top of the black eyeliner on the lower lash-line. Then, apply MAC Woodwinked for a pop of gold along the beginning 1/3rd of the lower lash-line. (Photo #9)

Step 9: Apply Mascara. For more intensity, add false lashes. I used lashes cut in half for more drama, that's not over the top. (Photo #10)

Step 10: Apply a gold eyeliner pencil to the bottom waterline. If you don't have gold, brown or black would work great. Or, you can keep it bare. (Not pictured)

The Finished Look!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Final Chance for Black Friday Sales!

Last Chance Black Friday Sales!

As the Black Friday sales are coming to a near end, here's a list of sales that are still going on right now!

ASOS
20% Off Everything site-wide! Expires 11/25 @ midnight PST.
BLACKFRIDAYBONUS

Banana Republic
25% Off Your Purchase of $150! Expires 11/24.
BRSHOP25

Becca
$20 off $50 + Free Shipping! Expires 11/24 @ midnight PST.
GIVETHANKS

Coastal Scents
50% Everything Site-wide! (A great time to purchase brushes or eyeshadow palettes)
(No code necessary)

Charolette Russe
20-50% Off + Free Shipping when you spend $50! (Great deals on trendy shoes!)
(Discount is automatic at checkout)

Cherry Culture
20% Off Everything Site-wide! Expires 11/25.
TKGS20

E.L.F. Cosmetics
Free Shipping on Orders over $30 + Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off! Expires 11/24 @ midnight.
BLKFRI
(Although the code ECD2 gives you 50% off Studio products, so if you're only purchasing Studio products, it would be a better code to use)

Eve Pearl
40-60% Select Products! Expires 11/27 @ 11 AM EST. (The Salmon Concealer is 40% off if you've been curious about it!)
BPCM2012

Express
$15 off $50
$30 off $90
$60 off $180
2476 (Or print in-store coupon here)
Expires 11/25 11:59 PM ET.

Forever 21
Extra 50% Off Sale Items! Expires 11/25.
EXTRA50

Giorgio Armani
20% Off + Free Shipping on Orders of $75! Expires 11/25.

BLKFRIDAY12

Illamasqua
20% Off Everything Site-wide! Expires 11/26.
XMAS20

J-Crew
25% Off Your Purchase In-store and Online + Free Shipping on orders of $150! Expires 11/25 @ 11:59PM ET.

Jewelmint 
Get 50% Off Your Entire purchase!
BFGET50

Shoemint
Get 25% Off Your Entire purchase!
HAPPY25

Smashbox
20% Off Orders of $50+!
FRIENDS2012

Victorias Secret
$30 Off $150 + Free Shipping when you spend $50! Expires 11/27 @ 11:59 EST.
FREE50 & 30OFF150

YSL
20% Your Order!
BLKFRIDAY12

Zara
Up to 50% on Select Items + Free Shipping!
(no code necessary)

Happy Shopping!

The Original Tangle Teezer Review!

The Original Tangle Teezer

I stumbled across the Tangle Teezer ($12.99) in Sally's recently while I was on my venture to find some new hair brushes. I remembered seeing the little handle-less hair brush featured on many British blogs a while back and with it's promises of leaving the hair tangle-free, I was sold.

Some of the product claims are that the Tangle Teezer works to detangle the hair quickly, painlessly and better than any other hair brush. The Tangle Teezer glides through wet, vulnerable and colour treated hair with no pulling, tugging or yanking. 

• Use in the shower on wet hair to distribute the conditioner evenly throughout the hair. (many of us apply a big glob of conditioner to the ends of our hair, and it doesn't get evenly distributed unless it's combed through) 

• Use after you've exited the shower to rid the hair of any tangles and knots.

• Use after you've applied any leave-in treatments, serums and heat protectors to evenly distribute the product through your hair. 
• Works on all hair types. 
• Works on wet, dry and synthetic hair.

I have naturally thick, fairly fine/brittle, curly hair. I don't use combs on my hair (even wide tooth combs) because they always get stuck in my hair. I know I've said it before, but I've broke many combs in my day, and my Mom went through truckloads of Johnson's No More Tangles as a kid. Brushing my hair when I get out the shower is usually a struggle, and if I wait to comb my hair after it has already started to dry... forget about it. At 50% dry, my hair is completely frizzy, tangled and pissed off. 

I'll keep this review short, because how much can you possibly say about a hair brush. Well, what I can say is that it works! 

I use it after every shower and there is absolutely no struggle getting through my hair. It's nothing short of a miracle. I don't know how it does it, but it does it. It detangles my hair better than any of my other brushes, and I even find that my hair dries slightly quicker when I brush my hair a few times while it's drying. 

I find that it works the absolute best on my wet hair, as it glides through my hair with ease with no tugs. It almost feels like it's not even combing through my hair.. it feels like I'm just brushing the outside of my hair. That's how gentle it is!

Once my hair is dry, I still run into some knots here and there, but they come apart very quickly with no pain. With a regular brush, I'd have to brush through them firmly and slowly, pulling my hair and breaking off ends. I can brush my hair quickly with the Tangle Teezer and reduce breakage (there is still some breakage when my ends are really dry, and because of heat damage, but not nearly as much as I would have with a regular brush). I also notice less hair overall in my brush. 

I absolutely love this brush, and if you struggle with tangles, definitely give this brush a try. Even if you don't struggle with tangles, I'd still recommend this as an awesome gentle brush. 

To read additional reviews, check out Makeupalley, It's currently rated 4.6/5 with an 89% re-purchase rate.

Do you own one of these? Do you think it's worth the hype?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Gentle on the hair and tangles
• Detangles wet hair better than any other comb/brush I've used
• Less breakage and less hair loss in the brush
• Distrubtes conditioner throughout the hair very well in the shower
• Lightweight - great to carry in your bag
• Great stocking stuffer!

Cons:

• Doesn't completely stop breakage when my hair is dry. But, it's minimized!

Price: $12.99, Sally's, Amazon. For those who aren't in the US, you can also purchase directly from the Tangle Teezer website.

Weekly Poll Results - How do you typically get through reading blog posts?

How do you typically get through reading blog posts?

In this weeks poll I was curious to see how you all tackle keeping up with your favorite blogs. Now, the list of blogs I'm subscribed to is enormous. I've subbed to just about every blog that I've found interesting over the past few years. Many of which I'd love to read on a daily basis, but between keeping up with my favorite blogs as well as my favorite YouTube channels... I have to do a lot of skimming, or I'd never get anything done throughout the day.

I can honestly say that if a post doesn't have photos, chances are I'm most likely not going to read the post - unless the post has a catchy title or talks about something I'm particularly interested in. I love looking at photos. I'm guilty of buying magazines only to look at the photos. Sometimes I won't even read one article. Is that weird? Many times, I'll look at the photos of a blog post and maybe read a couple of the main points and leave. Sometimes I'll read the whole post and get addicted and go through every single post until I realized an hour or two passed and I'm not being productive with my day.

So, I wanted to know how you go about reading blog posts!

The Results Are...

I read everything - 47 votes (29%)
I skim everything - 47 votes (29%)
I mainly look at the photos - 58 votes (36%)
I skim to the conclusion/end - 10 votes (6%)
I only read it if it's regarding a product I'm interested in - 81 votes (50%)
I do not read reviews for products that aren't available in my country - 11 votes (6%)
I glance and leave - 3 votes (1%)

This poll received 161 votes. (You were able to choose multiple answers)

This brings me to the question.. Do you have a strategy you stick by or does it differ from blog to blog? Do you read some and skim some? Do you skim because of the text overload? Time management, laziness, lack of interest or because of the author? In regards to your favorite blogs, will you read posts about products you're unfamiliar with because you want to learn something new, or do you typically skip?

For myself, it differs from blog to blog. I skim and look at photos for the most part. Depending on the author, I may read the full post. I only read reviews/posts about products that aren't available in my country/products I'm not familiar with if I have extra time to kill, otherwise I stick to reading about products that I might want!

Thank you all for participating! Let me know if you have any ideas for future polls.

Nars Sin Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Sin Blush

Nars Sin Blush ($28) is described on the Nars website as a berry tone with gold shimmer. Sin is actually one of the top 3 best selling Nars blushes, but it's never a color that really appealed to me in the compact. In the pan it appears to be a dusty mauve-plum with fine golden shimmer. I always assumed it would look dull or dirty on my cheeks, but I guess it's a best seller for a reason, so I decided to give it a try.

Once the color hits my cheeks, the color seems to come alive, and it changes from the boring and dull color in the pan, to a soft rosy-berry color on my cheeks. It does definitely pick up some of the warmness from my skin, but I love that the color doesn't completely change once it hits my face. Because of my prominent warm tones in my skin, blushes usually morph into a warm peachy shade, but Sin doesn't seem to do that. The color is soft and muted, yet completely sophisticated. It's subtle enough for every day, and for intense eye looks. The shimmer in Sin is very refined, and doesn't make the cheeks look shimmery - just a soft glow.

The blush itself is pigmented, and all I need is a touch of the brush. To avoid looking bruised, I always make sure to powder my cheeks after my foundation and apply the blush very lightly on top so it applies smoothly with a seamless finish. I like using a brush that isn't dense, so it won't apply too much color in one spot. (I've been using the Sigma Large Angled Contour Brush and it works great!)

Sin is exactly what I've been looking for. A blush that is soft enough for every day - something soft and neutral that won't wash out my complexion, and something different than the average pink neutral or nude blush.

I'm particularly excited that this blush is perfect for the Fall, and pairs really nicely with my warm eyeshadow colors and plummy pink lipsticks.

Nars Sin Blush on my cheeks

Nars Sin Blush swatched on my hand

Overall, I'm extremely happy with this blush, and it's definitely one of my favorite Nars blushes. It's a color I can enjoy often all year round, but I know it's going to be a shade that I'll reach for in the colder months.

Sin has overall positive reviews (4.3/5 with a 78% repurchase rate) on Makeupalley which is fantastic, but still, there are some negative reviews. Most of the negative reviews claimed that this blush looked "dirty" or "bruised" on their cheeks. I think it mostly depends on your application. Make sure your cheeks aren't tacky or damp from your foundation, so the blush won't cling to the spot you first lay our brush down (resulting in a patchy application). Use a brush that isn't too dense and only touch the blush with the edges of the brush so you don't lay too much product down at once. Lightly brush the color onto your cheeks, and build if necessary.

Have you tried Sin? How'd it work for you? I think I'll do an updated Nars blush collection post soon.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• A subtle berry that is perfect for the Fall/Winter - it's subtle enough for every day and can be worn with intense eye looks.
• Looks very natural and glowy on my cheeks
• Applies easily 
• Great pigmentation - isn't too pigmented where you have to be careful and it's not sheer where you have to build the color.
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• None for me! 

Price: $28, Sephora, Nars.

How to Apply the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Every Time!

Applying winged eyeliner is difficult, even for those who apply it every day. I've been winging my eyeliner since I was around 14 or 15 years old, and I still don't get it right on many days.

There are so many methods for applying winged eyeliner, but today, I'm going to over the way I typically like to apply pen style eyeliners. I find that when I use this method, my liner turns out perfect every time! And, it's super quick!

The eyeliner I'm using in this mini tutorial is my one of my favorite eyeliners - the Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum. It's incredibly easy to use, the tip is perfectly shaped for a thin, precise line and it never dries out or frays.

Step 1: In the first photo I started out with a clean eye. Typically, the ideal time to apply eye liner is after your eye shadow and before your mascara. (For the records, I'm wearing mascara for this tutorial, but it's much easier to apply eyeliner without mascara, as your lashes won't get in the way as much.) *If your eyelids are prone to getting oily, powder your lids and apply an eye shadow base.
Step 2: Examine where you want to start your wing. Use your bottom lashline as a reference. In photo #2 you can see the arrow going from my bottom lashline extending diagonally outward. You almost want it to look like a continuance of your lower lashline.
Step 3: With the tip of the liner touching the very end of your upper lashline, draw a thin diagonal line (45 degree angle) upward as shown in photo #3. It should be going in the direction of where your eyebrow ends.

Step 4: Now, with your one eye closed (the eye you're applying liner to), put your pointer finger (of your left hand if you're right-handed) on your brow bone and slightly pull your lid upward so your skin is slightly taut. With your other hand, starting from the top of the wing, draw a straight line ending at the middle of your lid. Think of it as there being an invisible ruler from the end of the wing that connects to the middle of your lashline. You want to trace that invisible ruler. (See in photo below.)

Step 5: Now, fill inside the lines as shown in photo #6.
Step 6: All that is left is continuing lining your full lashline. It's up to you if you'd like it to be thick or thin. I like drawing a thin line towards the beginning of my lashline, so it looks like the line is getting thicker towards the end of my eye.

That's it!

If you need to clean up the edge to make your lines crisp, use a small angled or liner brush and dip it in your favorite concealer (or makeup remover) and trace along the edges.

You can experiment as you'd wish in making the wing longer, curved or angled higher.

I sometimes like snipping some false lashes in half and applying them to the outer edges of my eyes to further elongate my eyes, giving the ultimate cat-eye look!

Ardell Accent Lashes

Hopefully you found this post somewhat helpful! 

Talk to you all soon!

Preview of Sephora Black Friday $10 Deals!

Black Friday is always an exciting time to see what cool deals brands will put out, and I'm always really eager to see what my favorite stores have to offer so I can plan my shopping accordingly!

Every year Sephora puts out products and sets that you can purchase for $10, but are worth more. I remember being a little underwhelmed by the selection last year - this years selection isn't bad. There are a couple I'd probably purchase.

All Sets are $10 Each

• Sephora Collection Gilded Brush Set Trio
• Bare Escentuals Let it Glow Set
• Boscia Best of Boscia Set
• Ole Henrikson Three Little Holiday Wonders Set
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple 12 oz
• Stila Travel Palette & Deluxe Kitten Lip Glaze
• TokyoMilk Femme Fetal Trio
• Too Faced Deluxe Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder & Travel Kabuki Brush
• Tarte Full-sized Gifted Mascara & Mini Multipleye Lash Primer
• Jack Black Comfort Joy Shave and Lip Duo
• Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes & Bear Naked Nail Wipes
• Tocca 3 Mini Rollerballs
• Bite Mini Lipstick Palette
• Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and Shadow
• Buxom In the Spotlight Set

See anything interesting? I'd probably be the most interested in getting the Ole Henrikson Skincare set - I've tried samples of their products many times and have always liked them. I'd also maybe get the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer since it's such a popular bronzer. I never wanted to purchase the full size since I don't really need any more bronzers, but I'd definitely purchase a mini.

These products will be available in-store and online on Friday, November 23rd.

*Prices in USD. CAN $12. While supplies last. Limit 2 per item. Not available inside JCP. Not available in Canada.

Snowman Holiday Nail Polishes 2012!

Holiday Snowman Nail Polish

Around the holidays each year you might spot these cute Snowman Nail Polishes at your local drugstore for an average of $2 to $3 a bottle. They're only around for a couple months, and they're totally adorable and make for great stocking stuffers.

The Snowman Nail Polishes are available in a fairly large selection of fun holiday colors and some really pretty glitters. Although I see these polishes every year, I've never used them. I know some nail polish junkies love these, so I picked up a couple bottles to give them a try.

The odd thing is that neither bottle is labeled with an actual name or color, so I couldn't tell you the name of these, but I thought I'd share with you a couple of photos.

The pink polish is a raspberry pink filled with purple shimmer. It reminds me a lot of Essie Jamaica Me Crazy. The formula is really easy to work with. It's thin, yet it's not very sheer. I found that it dries very quickly and I don't have to wait much time at all to apply my next coat. It's opaque with two coats. It has a dull finish, so I applied two coats of a shiny top coat (Seche Vite).

The glitter polish is a festive combination of chunky silver, gold, blue, red, purple and green glitters. It's sheer with one coat, but the glitters get distributed pretty evenly across the nail. It's a really fun polish to top off your nails with.

The polish is a little more purple toned in person - it photographed rather red-toned on my nails.

I apologize for the weird lighting and my dry hands. I had to take these photos indoors and the lighting wasn't cooperating.

I really like both polishes. The lasting power is average. I'm hard on my hands and I had chips in a couple of days. I've had the pink on my toes for a little over a week, and they're holding up perfectly.

I purchased these from Jewel-Osco for $2.99 each. I haven't popped in my Walgreens to see if they have them, but I've read that some people spotted them at their local Rite Aid.

Final Day for Sephora VIB Sale!

Final Day for Sephora VIB Sale

If you're a Sephora VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider), today is the final day in Sephora's exclusive VIB Sale. Everything is 20% off, so stock up on some of your favorites!

This is the first year I wasn't a Sephora VIB (I was $43 away), but someone was kind enough to share their code with me so I can receive the discount on my online order.

I've never experienced ordering online (I usually shop in-store) for this particular sale, but I was really surprised to see so many items sold out, including items that I was planning on purchasing. Almost every Nars blush is sold out!

Here's what my order looked like-

I wanted some new Guerlain Meteorites (my favorite setting powder) so I thought this sale was a great chance to grab one, but unfortunately, I waited too long to place my order and within a day every shade sold out. So, I was stuck getting the Limited Edition Emilio Pucci Meteorites from the Summer Collection. I'm hoping they'll work out fine - which I'm sure they will.

I also picked up my favorite facial self tanner Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint (must-have!) and one of my favorite brushes for bronzer, the Sephora Pro #40. Since the brush is already on clearance, it was too good of a deal to pass up, and I could always use an extra.

I've been curious to try the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector for a while now because of the rave reviews, so I picked up the shade Opal. If you want to see a quick review/comparison, Bloomin Beauty Blog has an awesomely helpful post.

I tried a generous sample of Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation last year, and I thought it was amazing so I finally ordered a full-size!

Lastly, I cashed in on 500 of my Beauty Insider Points and got the Laura Mercier Best Sellers Kit which includes: Foundation Primer (0.5 oz), Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Nude (0.5 oz), Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic (0.14 oz) and Eye Basics in Wheat (0.1 oz).

That's it! Nothing too exciting, but I was happy to save $40, and using Ebates, I was able to save an extra 4%, which ended up being a little over $6.. yay!

Did you end up getting anything?

*To become a Sephora VIB, you must spend $350 at Sephora in a calendar year. (read more)

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer 

When you're looking for a picker upper, what's better than indulging in sparkly and needless material things? Or maybe taking a stroll through Godiva or See's Candy for a piece of ridiculously overpriced, yet completely delicious chocolate. I like browsing the Chanel counter, and that's how I came across this little gem. Absolutely necessary? Absolutely not. Gorgeous? You bet.

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer ($29.50) is a vibrant pink with a purple pearl. You could also call it a glistening fuchsia. (Jalousie means Jealousy in French, btw!) This shade launched in the Roses Ultimes De Chanel Collection earlier in the year. As far as I know, it's limited edition, but is still available online.

If I was rolling in money bags, I'd love to own every shade of this angelic gloss, but for now I only own a few, and I don't wear them daily because they are just that precious.

Glossimers differ in terms of color payoff, some are sheer, but Jalousie is opaque with one swipe. As it wears down, the color sheers up slightly, but it still provides full on color.

It of course looks great on it's own, and it pairs really well with other pink lipsticks to make them a little brighter and pinker. You could also layer it over a similar fuchsia lipstick, such as MAC Lickable Lipstick or MAC Girl About Town for an intense pink lip. 

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer on my lips.

Glossimers are slightly thick, but due to their texture, they last really well on the lips in comparison to other lipglosses. With one layer they are very comfortable, but if you build it a few layers, it tends to feel a little heavy on the lips.

The formula is really smooth and moisturizing - even after several hours my lips remain soft.

It lasts at least three hours on my lips before I need a touch up, which I think is great for a gloss. Most glosses are gone after a maximum of two hours.

A single swatch of Chanel Jalousie Glossimer

Have you tried Chanel Glossimers? Do you like them? If so, which is your favorite?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Opaque color
• Doesn't accentuate dryness
• Creamy and smooth on the lips
• Moisturizing 

Cons:

• Can feel heavy and a bit thick and uncomfortable on the lips if too much is applied.

Price: $29.50, Chanel, Macy's, Bloomingdales.