Recent Faves and Raves!

A little birdie told me to do some product reviews for my next blog entry (hey Laura! 😉 ) But I decided I would do a little combination of product reviews and my recent most favorite products.

In the past few months, I’m not going to lie, I have been on whirlwind spending spree. Buying Clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, and anything with a sale tag basically. Its getting bad…butttt my frivolous ways are the reason you will get info on some super awesome products and things!…. You’re welcome.

Beauty
First things first, The ol ball and chain and I went to the Big Apple in May. I had a list in mind of makeup products I had drooled over on Sephora.com for while. So I decided to bite the bullet and put out some more cash on “better” products. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loveeeeeeee cheap things. If I can get something at a discount or a drugstore product that is of good quality, I’m excited! That being said, these products were worth the eye twitch, punch in the stomach feeling I felt when the girl gave me my total for just a few things.

I just have to say one thing about Urban Decay products…….Where have you been all my life?!?! Why was I so stubborn to not give in to all the hype of the “Naked” pallet series before this. Stupid me.. Don’t let this happen to you!!! Urban decay is a legit brand if you’ve never tried it.

The Urban Decay Naked 3 pallet is beautiful. Perfect neutrals for everyone. Rose golds are the main color scheme in this and they are super flattering. I haven’t been able to try it out on anyone else but myself yet, but it will most definitely be a staple in doing any makeup for friends for weddings, proms or anything really. I think that either the Naked 3 pallet or even the other two versions would be perfect for someone who doesn’t want or need a lot of makeup. You can do so many looks with the shadows in each, whether that’s subtle or dramatic. You can bet, I will be going to get the other two eventually. (when I let my debit card cool down )  Urban decay also includes some samples of their eye primers in this box! I’ll probably break down and get those some day as well. Dam samples. Those marketing people know what they are doing……….

Next new pallet and the new love of my life is the Urban Decay Electric Pallet. O…M….G…..If you want super pigmented shadows, this is for you. Gorgeous purples, bright blues, yellow, etc. The brightest of bright shadows. This is a really fun pallet if you aren’t afraid to play with a little color from time to time.  Only issue I have with this is there is a disclaimer on the packaging saying 4 of the shadows are not for use on “the direct eye area”…..Ummm what?! This is eye shadow, and the last time I checked, you wear them on your eyes….The only information I was able to find on this issue is that these certain colors may have dyes that people can have reactions to. So I decided to be brave (or stupid, whatever) and try those said colors all over my eyes. The verdict is, I can still see (good sign) and my eyelids didn’t fall off ( also, very good sign)….So if you have sensitive skin or allergies to certain dyes, maybe patch test this pallet before you go crazy with it.

In my recent Sephora travels, I also purchased The Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. This product has been around for a while and I just kept putting off buying it. If you need to know one thing about my hair routine, Its basically either wear a huge bun in dirty hair or wash and put in a braid or use headband curls. This saves my lazy butt from blow-drying my hair. So a spray that makes you have beachy waves is right up my alley. It doesn’t make my hair sticky and it just helps encourage the wave in my hair. I think I will  love this product even more come summer time! Only regret I have in regards to this is I bought the mini size they have laying in those containers surrounding the Sephora counter…..they lure you in with those cute mini sizes of products. It sucks me in every time. Should of just bought the large size and saved myself the time and money.

Next thing I bought was the Elizabeth and James Black Nirvana perfume by Mary Kate and Ashley. I also have the white version I purchased a few months back. I equally love both fragrances. They are each very different but both very pretty. The black is defiantly the more muskier of the two and the white is more floral. When I save up so more $$$, I may splurge and buy the larger versions….orrrrr anyone can buy them for my birthday….just saying….its next month….you would be my favorite person….ever.

Next stop on my makeup buying bender, We hit up New York’s iconic “Macy’s”. FYI I would live there if I could, but that’s a whole other blog post. So many floors of clothes and shoes and makeup. High end brands and more affordable brands. Needless to say, I loved it. Their makeup section basically looked like a mini Sephora ( much to my delight 🙂 )

 

Here I bought more Urban decay products. I bought one of their Revolution Lipsticks in the color Native. I am obsessed. The perfect nude pink. Super smooth texture and I have gotten quite a few compliments on it, so therefor, its a keeper in my books.

I also decided to try out some Too Faced products for the first time. I have heard so much on the Chocolate Soleil bronzer, that I had to try it out for myself.  My luck, they had it as part of their limited edition bronzer pallet called ” Bonjour Soleil”. This came with the chocolate soleil bronzer, then a shimmery bronzer called Sun bunny and a highlight/bronzer called Snow bunny. All three of these are very nice bronzers and they smell like chocolate, so you can’t get much better then that.

On the drive back from NYC, I also picked up a mac lipstick pallet from the spring 2013 collection ( all bright colors) and some Perfume from Guess.

MISC Objects and more makeup……

I am a little purse obsessed. Never really been huge into brand names till My bf decided to buy me my first coach clutch two years ago. Poor guy doesn’t know what he started…..High Standards now Stephen!!!!!!! This trip I splurged and bought not only the purse, but the wallet and clutch/coin purse.

I was only able to get these at the outlet store in Boston for a very good deal…otherwise I never would of got all 3 of them.

Obsessed with the coral color and I don’t find the coach pattern as corny looking as a lot of the prints they make their purses in.

 

Next Favorites are just some random things I’ve picked up in the last month or two.

I have been constantly wearing these shades I bought at Spring and this head wrap I won from an Instrgram page I follow. Her name is “Doda wraps” and she makes some really fun pieces for adults and the little girl headbands are precious. Check her out at http://instagram.com/dodawraps …tell her I sent you 🙂

I managed to snag these beauties at Lawtons drugmart. I have been trying to get my hands on NYX butter glosses for forever!! only catch is I had to pick up the whole set in order to get them…which is fine because one can never have two many pink and nude glosses. I also tried the Real Techniques beauty blender. I will say its decent quality if you don’t want to shell out the cash for the real beauty blender from Sephora.

I don’t know if have been living under a rock for a long time or what. But I honestly don’t believe I have ever tried Greek yogurt till I accidently grabbed this berries and granola mix at the grocery store. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I love Greek yogurt wayyy, wayyyy more then its boring old cousin, regular yogurt.

Next recent purchase was my two Lime crime lipsticks. I do like the formulas. However, I am not crazy over the colors I chose. I picked Coquette which is a real nude, and cosmopop, which is a orange soda sort of color. But, the packaging is very pretty and girly and it has unicorns on it and well we all know I’m a sucker for good packaging and advertising. I’ll eventually try other colors and find one that is right for me.

First off….I’m not much of a Glee fan anymore, but I will always love Lea Michele. She’s pretty, smart, witty and brunette ( I think we were separated at birth actually! HA!HA! jkjk!) Her book was a fun and easy read with recipes, makeup/fashion ideas, homemade spa treatments, workout tips and fun info on her background & career. If anything, it makes for a pretty coffee table book 😉

 

And there you have it. Some of my most recent purchases and recent faves. Hope this helps if anyone was on the fence about buying and trying any of the things I mentioned.

Have a Great Night…or day…whenever you’re reading this and don’t forgot to either follow this blog via wordpress account or email. I’d really appreciate it! 😉 Thanks!!

-Nicole