13 for '13

It's the end of the year!  I hope you had a wonderful 2013, and I hope your 2014 will be even better!  I've picked out my 13 favorite products that I purchased in 2013.  These have been staples in my makeup, and I have adored them this past year. So, in no particular order:  13 of my 2013 favorites!

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Bronzer: This stuff is amazing!  It actually works with my skin tone and blends really well.

Maybelline The Falsies Flared/The Falsies: At this point, you're probably sick of hearing me (and everyone else on the face of this planet) rave about this mascara.

Essie Mint Candy Apple:  This is my absolute most favorite nail polish ever ever ever.  It's also my favorite color.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder:  Keeps me shine free.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in 005 Nude: Also in my December favorites.

Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base:  This primer is amazing at keeping my eyeshadow where I want it to be.  It doesn't smudge or wiggle around at all!

MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque: One of my good friends told me about this.  I use it mostly as a base for my eyeshadows, and it keeps them where I put them and adds a coppery/goldy undertone.  It is also amazing when you build it up and use it by itself.

EOS Raspberry Pomegranate: Raspberry and Pomegranate are two of my favorite fruits and scents.  So naturally, I love this EOS!

Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner in Brown: This stuff works a trick.  I don't think I've gone a week without wearing it since I got it!

MAC Lipstick in Amplify:  You might notice that my two favorite lipsticks look similar.  I loved this one for fall/winter as it is a darker bright pink.  It's super creamy, and I always get complements on it.

Topshop Lipstick in Ooh La La:  This was my spring/summer lipstick staple.  (review)

MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked: One of MAC's most loved eyeshadows made it's way into my heart this year.

MAC Eyeshadow in Amber Lights: Another MAC crowd favorite.  I love these two coppery colors.  Because I have blue eyes, they suit me really well.

There it is!  Hopefully 2014 will bring me many new products to love!

December Favorites

Well, it's that time of the month again.  I have been RUBBISH at doing monthly favorites (don't worry-it's on my New Year's resolution list!), but I am actually sitting down, doing it now!

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Flat Iron Perfecter Straightening Mist: I have thick, course, curly, crazy hair.  When I straighten it, it does not like to be sleek and smooth.  This spray actually makes it look like a shampoo commercial, which, of course, I love!  Also, it's a heat protectant, so it keeps my locks healthy and happy.

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter: I got this as my birthday gift from Sephora, and it has quickly made itself my favorite highlighter.  I love the crayon-ish way it applies.  It is super easy to use, and delivers a beautiful, natural highlight.

Lancome Scarlet Blaze Lipstick: Everyone needs a bright red lipstick to wear to Christmas parties!  I've adored this because it is creamy and feels really nice on the lips.  It also stays on for a long time.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in 005 Nude: An eyeliner that stays on my waterline?  I thought such a product didn't exist!  I've tried eyeliner after eyeliner, and they all either slide off onto my skin or evaporate into my eyeball.  Gross!  This stuff works a treat, though.  It stays on all day and brightens up my eyes.

Loreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black: This is such an amazing product.  It is so easy to apply (and it's a liquid liner!), you can do a super-thin line or build it up, and it's great for drawing on your face (see what I mean about that here).  Unfortunately, it has a tendency to flake a bit.  If you pop it in your handbag, you can easily reapply it and fix the little baby flake-offs.  The flaking really isn't a big problem, but it's the only thing that keeps me from singing the miracles of this eyeliner from the mountaintops.

Let me know what your favorite products have been this December!

Christmas Haul

Santa was VERY good to me this year! I hope he brought y'all everything you wanted and more.  Here's all of the makeup I got both from friends and family (and Santa, too!).

My lovely friend got me a China Glaze nail polish in Mingle with Kringle.  I instantly fell in love because, well, it's gold and sparkly-what's not to love?!

I was quite surprised to find this gem in my stocking!  Nars' Disco Inferno is so gorgeous!  I have it on my nails now, and I am absolutely in love.

Oops-sorry for the sideways pic!

I got an EOS lip balm in Blueberry Acai.

This is an absolute GEM!  YSL Glossy Stain in Beige Aquarelle.  I have been adoring this because it is so neutral.  Recently, I've been buying and wearing bright lip shades, so it's nice to add to my collection of more neutral, softer lips.

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush soap is so nice. It smells heavenly (and I'm very picky about smells!).

Oh yes, this is it.  I have wanted this palate for a while now, and I'm in love with it.  Marc Jacobs Lolita palate is so beautiful.  I'm literally in awe.

Not Pictured:
another EOS
soap from Anthropologie

Also, the candle in the back ground is Leaves by Bath and Body Works, and it was a gift from a dear friend.

Let me know if you want reviews on any of these products or if you want me to do a jewelry/accessories Christmas haul.

FOTD/OOTD | Christmas Eve

Hello, lovelies!  I'm a few days late, but I wanted to share what I wore (both on my body and my face) on Christmas Eve with you.  My family attends the candle-light service at my church each year, and it's one of my favorite traditions we have.

 OOTD:

Please excuse the mirror selfie.  It was the only picture I had where you could see my shoes! 

Dress: Just Taylor

Shoes: Vince Camuto

FOTD:

Face:
Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation

Alison Raffaele True Concealer in 1

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

Nars Orgasm Blush
Bronzer from Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Transparent

Eyes:

Urban Decay Naked palatte (Half-Baked, Smog, Sidecar)

Sephora Aspen Summit eyeshadow (highlights)

Clinique Pecan (brows)
Covergirl Clear Mascara (brows)

Loreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense
Benefit They're Real!

Lips:

Lancome Scarlet Blaze

Empties

Hello, lovelies! It's been a long, hard semester, and I haven't blogged near as much as I wish I had.  But, now I've got a new candle burning and Christmas music playing, so I thought I would finally post again!  A while ago, I started collecting the products that I had used up.  I have a bunch, so I decided to share them, and give you a mini-review of each one.

Dove Go Fresh Revive Body Wash in the Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena scent.  ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SOAP EVER.  This stuff is amazing.  It is super moisturizing (so much so, that I notice that my skin gets drier if I use a different soap).  It also has the best smell.  I wish everything in life came smelling like this soap-it would make a lot of things more pleasant.  Also, this soap is cheap and available at places like Target, so it's easy to get your hands on.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara.  This stuff works a trick.  It doesn't smudge or go everywhere.  It stays all day.  It makes it super easy to put mascara on those baby lashes that seem to get clumpy and gross whenever I use an actual big mascara.  I need to get my hands on another bottle of this pronto!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara.  Yup.  Everyone's favorite.  I really don't think I need to say too much about this.

Brown Eyeliner.  It's so old that the brand/name/color name has rubbed off.  There is NOTHING on this to distinguish it.  It has a sponge on the bottom to blend the eyeliner, and if anyone knows what this eyeliner is, please tell me.  I'd love to re-purchase it.

Sephora Doe Eyed Eyeliner in Black.  I loved this for a while, but I've found better felt tipped eyeliners.  This stuff dries out super quickly.  I re-purchased it a few times, but I won't be spending more money on it when I've found a cheaper, better alternative.

2-in-1 Acne Wipes by AcneFree.  I use these every morning to wash my face. (I know I should use a wash cloth and soap and all that jazz, but I have my reasons.)  These wipes have Salicylic Acid in them, so they are pretty good for face wipes.

Garnier Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes. I used these before I found the AcneFree ones with Salicylic Acid.

Crest 3D White Toothpaste.  I love this stuff.  It works really well for me.

Biotera Dry Shampoo.  I wrote a review of this miracle product here.

AcneFree Oil-Free Acne Cleanser.  I used this in the shower on my face for a long time.  I have switched over to a gentle cleanser and a scrub that I alternate.  I like this because it had Benzoyl-Peroxide in, but it wasn't ever my favorite product.

Degree Expert Protection Motion Sense Deodorant in Fresh Energy scent.  Everyone's got to have a good deodorant.  This stuff stays on all day, and really keeps you smelling and looking fresh.

Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas!