My Makeup Must Haves

I, like many beauty fanatics have a problem with shopping. Especially when it comes to makeup. In an effort to tone down my spending habits, I have compiled a list of products that I feel are necessary essentials and basics. This is a great starting point if you are just getting into makeup or you are completely revamping your collection for whatever reason.

Face

Primer:
Everyone should be using a face primer if they are using any sort of foundation or powder. Not only will it further protect your skin from makeup and environmental impurities, it will help your makeup last longer. Many are also formulated for specific skin concerns, for example oil control, pore minimizing, tone correcting or luminosity.

Tinted Moisturizer/Foundation
I never leave the house without some form of coverage on my face. I don't have perfect skin and I feel more comfortable knowing that my skintone looks even and my face is not exposed to the elements.

Concealer
This is a big staple for me because I have horrible under eye circles. I love Nars Creamy Concealer in Chantilly.

Powder
For those with oily skin or who like to use foundations and concealers, this is a crucial product to have. It will prevent oilyness throughout the day and will set your makeup to make sure that it stays where it is supposed to. I prefer translucent powders but that is a personal preference. I have been using the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Translucent Powder.

Blush
My personal recommendation is that you should have at least one blush and if you like to change your look for the seasons up to 4. Although I have way more than that as I am sure that many of us do. Start out by figuring out what your favorite blush tone is. Do you like peach or coral blushes, rosey or bright pink, or do you prefer plums and reds? Next, decide how often you wear certain colors and pick up to your top four. Anything beyond that, probably isn't necessary even if it is nice to have. I have four must have colors; a natural pink for spring, a peach for summer, a rose/berry which is my favorite year round and a red for the winter. I recently purchased the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette which has just about every color that I need in it. There is a nice, natural pink, a beautiful peach and a gorgeous dusty rose color. For my red blush I prefer MAC's Fever.

Bronzer
Not everyone likes bronzer. I only use it to contour because I personally do not like the tanned look on me. However, I still think it is a good staple if you feel that your face could use some contour. I always look for a bronzer that has a cooler undertone, which can be a challenge as most bronzers are warm or even orangy. Two that I would recommend are NYX Blush in Taupe and Kevyn Aucoin's Sculpting Powder.

Eyes

Eye Primer
This is necessary if you wear eyeshadow. It will prevent it from creasing throughout the day. Do not forget it! I love ELF's primer and it is only $1. Better and more affordable than Urban Decay's in my opinion.

Eye Shadow

Skintone Eyeshadow
Look for a matte or satin eyeshadow that is at least the same shade as your skin, if not a little lighter. I use MAC's Blanc Type and apply this as my base color all the way up to the brow. Not only will this even out your eye area but it will provide an extra layer between your other shadows and the oils on your skin. Your eye makeup will be less likely to crease this way.

Neutral/Everyday Eyeshadow Palette
I love having most of the main eyeshadows I like to use in a palette. This is something you could even do at home with a Z Palette. My favorite for everyday is the Urban Decay Naked and the Naked 2 Basics. Your palette does not have to be neutrals, just one that consists of just about every color you wear on a daily basis.


Eyeliner
I wear eyeliner about 90% of the time. If I don't it is usually because I used a powder to add definition to the lash line or I was rushing and only had time for mascara. I am extremely picky with eyeliner and it is one of few the beauty products that I don't particularly like to experiment with, brand wise. I have a select few brands that I like and usually stick to them. My favorite is Rimmel London's Scandal Eyes Eyeliner because it is so soft and creamy.

Mascara
This is more of a must have than eyeliner. If I had to leave the house with one or the other, I would choose mascara hands down. You look more put together with mascara vs just using eyeliner. I have been trying higher end brands but I just don't like them as much as the drugstore ones. I love the Cover Girl Clump Crusher and Maybelline Lash Stiletto.

Lips

Lip Liner

If you don't wear lip liner often but still want to have one for special events, go for a clear liner. This works with literally everything. I also always recommend getting a separate red liner. When wearing bold lip colors with a clear liner, the lipstick may still wear through and instead of seeing more color, you would be seeing bare lips. When I do a red lip, I always apply it in layers, red lip stain, red lip liner, and 2 coats of lipstick, blotted in between each coat. Lip liner does not have to look old ladyish; in fact it can make you look more put together. Lip liner should not, under any circumstances, be darker than the lip color you are wearing. When in doubt, go lighter and fill in the entire lip. My favorite everyday lip liner is Rimmel's Eastend Snob.

Lipstick

There are three main categories that I go by when I purchase lip products from a new brand. I always try a nude, a pink/rose and a red. If you are looking to have a minimal but well rounded makeup collection, that is all you need. A nice nude color that does not make you look dead, a 'my lips but better' color (or your favorite kind of pink) and a classic red. Obviously you can tailor and customize this to suit your personal taste and style. Maybe you don't like red but really love the dark vampy plums or you prefer mauve instead of a natural pink. Tailor to fit your needs. My favorite grab and go lip products are Loreal's Sheer Linen, Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey Amour, and Lipstick Queen's Medieval. 

Lip Gloss

The same rule applies to lip gloss. Find a clear or nude color that is flattering, a pink that is similar to your own lip color and a classic red. I love NARS Scandal.

Running Late?

I usually keep a few products in my bag that I can throw on if I really have to run out the door. I always try to get at least my primers, foundation, concealer, and powder on before I leave but sometimes there just isn't time for anything else. These are products that are similar to ones you would use every day but not so much that you would have to go into your bag for them constantly. So what is in my emergency makeup stash?

• Concealer (something easy to apply with fingers)
• Mascara
• Single Eyeshadow, Quad or Small Travel Palette (you can apply this with your fingers, included applicators or if you decide to have a small travel brush on hand)
• Small Blush (you could also use your lipstick or have a travel palette that includes this)
• Lip Liner (this should either go with your natural lip color or the color in your bag)
• Lipstick and Gloss (these are usually my grab and go products mentioned previously)

I keep these either in a section of my bag or in a small makeup bag, that way it is separated from all of the other makeup products I end up carrying around with me in between bag organizations. Let me know if this helped you and I would love to hear what your makeup must haves are! Leave a comment below!

Too Faced Snow Bunny Bronzer Review

This is my first time trying anything by Too Faced so I was really excited when I finally got off my bum and placed a (very small) order on their website. I didn't get too much at once because I didn't want to risk wasting the money if I didn't like the brand.

Too Faced Snow Bunny Bronzer

The actual product that I ordered was the Snow Bunny Bronzer. I wanted something more shimmery for the holidays and this looked perfect. Plus it felt seasonal with the name and everything. The whole idea behind this bronzer was that it would give you a natural bronze look in the winter when you wouldn't normally be tan, not that I like being tan anyway.

I really liked the packaging. The box was cute and the actual compact felt nice and heavy. It also has a great mirror. I love the elaborate pattern and the gold; it's different from the sleek black packing from a lot of brands, drugstore and high end. It is cute without being tacky.

Too Faced Snow Bunny Finger Swatches

Too Faced Snow Bunny - Separate Swatches

Too Faced Snow Bunny - Mixed Swatch

The colors themselves I was impressed with. They did not look too orange or dark which, for me works fantastically. However, the bronze was the only one that you really noticed a color. The white was a very pretty highlight but the two pink shades looked nearly identical and were not very pink or pigmented. They are not really meant to be used as a full on blush but you can't see them at all on camera and it is hard to see them in real life. They just give the skin a shimmery glow. I have not decided whether that is good or bad yet. When all of the colors are mixed together, they give a really pretty subtle bronzed glow to the skin. I would not use this as a contour because I think matte bronzers work better for that purpose but this is great to add an extra glow.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Powder

When checking out, you get the option of picking two samples. The first sample I chose was the Primed and Poreless Powder. The first day I tried this, I was rushing so I just stuck a bunch of powder on my brush and all over my face. BIG Mistake! I ended up in a cloud of powder and I felt like I applied too much and my skin felt slightly too dry for most of the day. However, I love the effect the powder had on my skin and especially my pores! It felt silky smooth in a way that no other powder has ever felt on my skin. I also had very minimal oiliness and wear by the end of a busy 13 hour salon work day. My foundation did not look overly slick or like it had streaked off anywhere. It also did not settle or cling to any dry patches. You also get a lot for just a little sample, there is 0.07 oz which you get for free with a purchase! Assuming you don't do what I did and accidentally use 3 times the amount of product, this will last you awhile. The dry feeling, I suspect came from using too much. I am officially hooked! The only thing I am not fond of is when you are applying it onto your face, you get a cloud of product and I actually have to hold my breath so I don't breathe it in. If you have asthma or cannot be around smoke or other irritants for what ever reason, I would avoid this product.

Too Faced Lip Insurance Primer

The second sample was the Lip Insurance Lip Primer. It is a good size, especially for a sample. It has a basic doe-foot applicator. The product itself is clear and goes on a bit like a gloss but dries quickly. It can feel drying on the lips and a bit tacky. I applied the primer first, then applied whatever lipstick I intend to wear that day. The first time I applied it, I realized how drying it felt and I reapplied my favorite lip balm, Smith's Minted Rosebud Salve ontop of my lipstick. I have tried a few different lip products from different brands and I am not really wowed by this. I think just using a clear lip liner would give you better results.

If you have never tried Too Faced products before and don't want to pay the higher price tag for one item, you should check out their holiday collections! It is a great way to try out more products from any brand at a less expensive cost per item. Be sure to leave a comment below, I wold love to hear your Too Faced recommendations!

I bought these products with my own money. All opinions are my own and these are not affiliate links. 

New Skincare Routine

If you read the very first post on my blog then you will probably know that I have been using the Simple face wash, scrub and moisturizer for a few months now. I still really like them and they are definitely the best drugstore skincare products I have ever tried. However, I have been noticing that they were making my face red so I decided to switch back to my Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser. I am also trying out a bunch of new products and I have noticed that my skin improved dramatically ever since. I still get breakouts and black heads but they are far more manageable now. I would still purchase Simple products if I really needed to replace something and could not get my hands on anything else for whatever reason but I think I will be sticking with higher end products from now on.

Morning Routine

I use my Dermal Clay Cleanser in the morning. I love this face wash so much. It has menthol in it so my skin always feels de-congested. This is also great if you have a cold! The only thing that I am not overly fond of is that if you use this in the winter when your house is colder, you will freeze! It makes your face feel extremely cold. The first time I use it as a mask; I just leave it on for about 5-10 minutes before washing it off. Then I apply it again as a regular face wash.

I use a face scrub about twice a week in the morning. I got a small sample of the Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator by Vasanti Cosmetics from my Birchbox so I have just been using that. I like it so far. It dissolves the bonds that hold dead skin cells together and scrubs the dead, dull skin away. There are also natural healing ingredients to combat redness and irritation.

I bought the Caudalie Favorites Kit which included a small Caudalie Beauty Elixer. I love this product! It is so refreshing. You can use it as a toner or a refreshing mist throughout the day. It is also said to help reduce breakouts.

If I am going to be applying makeup then I will use my Embrolysse Lait-Creme Concentre. I buy mine from Birchbox just because it is the most convenient for me. You do not have to be a subscriber to Birchbox to purchase products from them. They have the small 30ml for $16 and the large 75ml for $28. This moisturizer works great, even during the cold winter months and also acts as a primer. Clearly there is a reason it is favored by makeup artists everywhere.

If I am just planning on staying home for the day or if I am feeling really tired and have an early morning, I will use my Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer that I got from my Origins Bestsellers Kit. 

Another moisturizer that I love is the Dermalogica Active Moist. This is light and oil free, and keeps my skin balanced and moisturized even during the harsh winter months. It is one of my holy grail products!

For eye cream I use the Orgins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. I absolutely love this product! I have gone through multiple samples of this and can honestly say that it works amazingly. I still have dark circles but the puffiness has been greatly reduced.

Then I will apply a lip balm. I love Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm but I also will use an EOS one or if you are looking for an even more budget friendly option, Carmex is great as well.

Nighttime Routine

If I am wearing makeup I will first remove it with a makeup remover wipe and some of Maybelline's Extra Eyes Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover if I wore something heavier. Then I will go in with my Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Water. I am in love with this makeup remover. It is not greasy or oily and it doesn't sting my eyes or make them all blurry and it works great!

Then I will go in with my Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash on a scrub brush. I only use the scrub brush once because I have sensitive skin. Then I will follow up by just using my finger tips for my second wash. If I had no makeup on I will usually skip the face brush and just wash my face twice with my fingertips.

You can find basic scrub brushes at Sally's Beauty Supply or Sephora. I don't have a fancy Clarisonic or anything like that. Any face brush will help give you a deeper clean. If you have sensitive skin, be extra gentle or find a brush specifically meant for sensitive skin.

I try to use some sort of mask every night. Depending on the condition of my skin I will either use the GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Hydrating Mask, my Michael Todd Organics Pumpkin Mask or my Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask or sometimes I will try a new mask as well. The pumpkin one really helps to clear away dead skin but I only use this on days where I have done nothing else that is abrasive in any way; usually that is on a weekend where I was not wearing any makeup so I didn't use my face brush and didn't use a scrub that morning. Technically this mask is not supposed to be used for sensitive skin but I have had no funny reactions to it as long as I am careful about when I use it and how often. Other nights I will use my charcoal mask which I am obsessed with! I have noticed that my pores are cleaner and smaller just after one use and it leaves my face extremely soft! Other masks that I like are the Lush Mask of Magnaminty and the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. There is also a Drink Up 10 Minute Mask version of this as well.

Usually when I go to rinse off my mask I will take the tiniest bit of face cleanser and use that to help get all of the mask off. Literally only a pea size is plenty. It is just to make sure that there is no left over mask lingering on your face.

Then I will use my Caudalie Beauty Elixer and apply my nighttime moisturizer. I have been using the Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream. For me, this feels a bit oily and I also wake up with my skin feeling a bit dryer than usual so I am not sure whether I like this one or not. However, it doesn't clog my pores or cause any funny reactions. I did find out that they make an oil free version but I am going to use up this one first.

For my nighttime eye cream I have been using Origins Eye Doctor Moisture Care eye cream.

After I brush my teeth, I use my ELF lip scrub to exfoliate my lips and get rid of the dry skin. Then I will use my Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm. This is one of the few lip balms that are thick and moisturizing and keep my dry, cracky lips from getting dry or cracky for at least most of the day.

Since the holidays are coming up, companies are coming out with all kinds of gift sets. I think that this is the perfect opportunity to try out new face products because you can pay less for small versions of a bunch of different things. This is especially great if you are trying out a new brand all together. The same applies for makeup! These are the two gift sets I have purchased so far.

The Origins Best Sellers Kit includes a 1 oz Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash, a 0.5 oz Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, a 1 oz High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream, a 1 oz GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer, a 0.5 oz Plantscription Youth Renewing Face Oil and a 0.5 oz GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. Retails for $38 from Sephora.

The Caudalie Favorites Kit includes a 0.15 oz Lip Conditioner, a 1 oz Hand and Nail Cream, a 0.33 oz Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet, a 1 oz Beauty Elixir Spray and a 1.69 oz bottle of the Make-up Remover Cleansing Water. Retails for $32 from Sephora.

I hope this helped some of you who are looking for new products to try. Overall, I have noticed a huge improvement in my skin's condition so far. I would love to read your comments and recommendations!

None of these links are affiliates. I am not making any money by you clicking on them. Everything was bought with my own money.

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Bath and Body Works Haul - Fall 2014

I love Bath and Body Works and couldn't wait to get there for some of their fall candles! I didn't go crazy because I am kind of late and there is only really another two months of fall left. I also had to try extremely hard to resist the Christmas candles that have begun to slowly take over. News flash Christmas; Halloween isn't even here yet, wait your turn!

So the first thing I got was one of their wallflower plug ins. I got Sweater Weather which smells amazing! To me it smells like a fresh, crisp autumn day, however this is what BBW has to say about it. 'Cuddle up with an aromatic blend of eucalyptus, juniper berry and fresh sage that celebrates the arrival of crisp autumn breezes.' Yep, sounds good to me. Because I got the wallflower in this scent, I reluctantly decided to skip out on a duplicate candle. May yet change my mind.

Another thing I made sure to grab before heading to the candles was my Vampire Blood Pocket Bac. The scent itself is called Wicked Plum and smells like berries. I love the scent, the name and the packaging! And like any proper vampire related thing, there is no GLITTER in this!

I ended up getting a large candle holder. I had previously purchased both a large and a mini Christmas one a few years ago and also a mini holder on a stand. I decided to splurge and buy another large one that worked for all year so that I was not as tempted by the cute seasonal candle holders. And they are getting better and better each year! I love this one, it goes with the tall mini holder I already own and it is on a slight pedestal which for me takes away some of the worry about putting my candles on cardboard or wooden surfaces. I have never had an accident with a BBW candle but you never know.

Moving on to the candles! I got a mini Leaves candle. Not entirely sure why as I also got the big 3 wick one. I do like to have a small stash of mini seasonal candles on hand just in case I can't get to BBW for whatever reason at the beginning of the season. I have a Sparkling Icicles mini candle left over from last year just for that purpose! The holder is one from last year so they may not have it anymore.

As I mentioned, I got a large Leaves candle, except this is the White Barn version, while the mini is the regular BBW version. I personally thought the White Barn one smelled stronger this year for some reason so I am going to try both. This is what BBW says about Leaves. 'Celebrate the brilliant colors of autumn with a rich blend of golden nectar, red apple and spiced berries.' I found it interesting that both the BBW and the White Barn brands had the same description. I don't particularly care for one brand over the other but I have noticed that there is sometimes a difference in strength between the two.

This one I wasn't so sure about. Usually when I smell this candle, it is so sweet and I want nothing to do with it. However, when I smelled it this time it reminded me of the pumpkin mask that I use and wasn't as offensive. BBW says, 'A fall harvest favorite inspired by delicious homemade treats - pumpkin pie, vanilla cream and spice.' I am not 100% sure that I will like this one but as I have never actually burned it before, I will give it a try. Hopefully it doesn't make me sick, which is what usually happens with sweet scents.

These next two were part of a system I planned before I got into the store. I knew that, being half way through October I would most likely still have fall candles left over by the time I was ready to get the Christmas ones. So while still carefully avoiding the Christmas candles, I picked up two 'transitional' candles that could work for either month. I will burn my fall ones first and then start on these two in November.

I love Cranberry Woods. It is similar to Frosted Cranberry, just spicier and less wintry. It is described by BBW as 'Tart cranberries, black currant and warm cinnamon bark captures the magic of the woods during harvest.' This is one of my favorites for fall that I have repurchased many times along with Leaves and Sweater Weather.

This one is probably the most wintry one that I got. It is usually the one that I get that smells like a Christmas tree but really it just smells like a pine forest during the colder months. 'Crisp eucalyptus, fir needles and cedarwood musk evoke the invigorating aroma of evergreen woods on a clear fall morning.' Something odd that I noticed was that the descriptions for Fresh Balsam varied depending on the packaging. They are all the same scent by White Barn but are described differently. I love the packaging for this one though, it makes it look more fall-ish than having pinecones or glittering Christmas trees on the front. I am saving this one for the end of fall/beginning of winter.

Once I got to the checkout I ended up grabbing this little thing. It is a mini of a new perfume that will be coming out for the winter. It is called A Thousand Wishes and says 'Warm your heart a thousand times over with a festive blend of sparkling champagne, crystal peonies and almond creme.' This smells really good and is a perfect spicy winter scent. Those of you who like Victoria's Secret Night or Dark Orchid will probably like this as well. The top notes are Sparkling Champagne, Twinkling Star Fruit and Golden Quince. The middle notes are Crystal Peonies, and Purple Freesia. The dry notes are Gilded Amber, Almond Creme, Sugared Sandlewood and Velvet Musk.

That is everything that I got from Bath and Body Works. What are your favorite scents for fall! I would love to know so leave a comment!