November Favorites 2014 & Blogmas Minus One

Hello, readers! I have been away for a few weeks, but for good reason...my wedding was a little less than a week ago and we are still in crazy newlywed mode! Yesterday was the first day we REALLY returned to work (although I did go to a rehearsal the night after the wedding, so I didn't really take time off from work). So, I'll be doing a full series of posts on my wedding because we got married in an urban area for a really low cost. Considering the average wedding costs $25,000 (in the USA at the time of this post), we spent half as much money and had a GREAT time. Preview...my bridal bouquet was only $10. Here is a sneak preview and of course my first November favorite was...

My Wedding Gown: Zinnia Gown - BHLDN ($1800 retail, no longer available)

Our first dance!

Okay, so seriously: I am OBSESSED with Anthropologie. We all know that as this used to be an Anthropologie focused blog so OF COURSE, I would be a BHLDN bride. For those of you who don't know, BHLDN (pronounced "beholden") is Urban Outfitter's bridal brand which launched in 2011...otherwise known as Anthropologie Wedding Style. I was of course...obsessed with it when it launched. This dress is from the original collection that launched so it's not available anymore, but I was able to snag one on eBay of all places. It was in perfect condition and had only been worn for 2 hours. I am OBSESSED with this dress. It was so fun to wear and non-traditional as it had the fun pops of coral and smoke. The buttons in the back are pretty intense and it took 4 hands to button them, but I was in LOVE with this dress. It's not for a very shy bride, that's for sure. BHLDN still sells beautiful dresses, but I have not been as impressed with subsequent collections after the launch. It seems as though the whimsy has dissipated a bit from the line. However, it's still a really great place to shop for your wedding as most of the things are really lovely. But this dress though...

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow & Argan Illuminizer: (From the Winter Dreams Argan Color Collection Giftset $34, Exclusively at Sephora, Limited Edition)

Coconut Water Eyeshadow in Rio De Rose Gold, Argan Illuminzer

I honestly only got this set for the Coconut Water Eyeshadow in Rio de Rose Gold because it's so lovely. That product is GREAT. I have a review of my thoughts on the Josie Maran collection forthcoming which concentrates on this set, but the Illuminizer is to die for. For those of you who may be a little scared of glittery powders for your face, this illuminizer is the perfect little bit of glow. You can apply it with your fingers or a small stippling brush and it just gives you a little bit of subtle glow without looking glittery or too shimmery. It's just beautiful and I have been LOVING this.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes ($10-$42, Sephora, Ulta, Tarte Website)

 

Let me make this perfectly clear: I have NEVER purchased a full-sized Tarte Amazonian Clay blush on its own. It's $26 and you freaking get ONE. HOWEVER, I'm totally obsessed with this. I have 8 limited edition colors (you can see 6 here, I have another really cool palette with two more in there) and I can let you know with full confidence, these blushes are worth the hype. They are the bomb.com: Super pigmented, go on smooth, and last FOREVER. When Sephora had its Black Friday $10 little Tarte Set which came with one of these little blushes (in "Magic"), I jumped on it. I thought for 2 seconds about giving it away as a gift, but decided to keep it. The palette on the left is the Pin Up Girl Palette which was exclusive to Sephora, but is sadly sold out forever I think. I was so happy to get my hands on one of these and I am very happy with 4 out of the 5 shades in here and it was a STEAL at $42 considering you get so much product in here. I'm not sure what's going on with that super light beige shade on the left there (Breathless), but it's useless for anything but layering since it doesn't show up on my complexion. I have unexpectedly been just ridiculously obsessed with that cool-toned pink color in the center there (Whimsy). I love the look of the flush of baby pink on my cheeks and I have been basically assaulting this pan with my brush. I'm afraid I will use this color up (not a bad thing). However, all the colors are lovely. This formula is amazing. I can't bring myself to buy a full-sized one yet, but if you can get them in a set, you'll find that Tarte will give you a great deal on a blush in a set as opposed to a single, stand-alone product. If you are a blush lover and you don't have a few of these in your collection, you need a few.

Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Eyeliner: ($20 at Sephora, Ulta, Stila Website)

This is the bomb. I like to use liquid eyeliners and for a while, I had been a purest and didn't want to use anything but a bush applicator. But I got one of these in a Sephora Giftset and I figured I would try it. It was awesome. It applies like a dream, is super black and is pretty much waterproof. It's the eyeliner I have been reaching for the most and I grabbed a gift set with a full-sized black and mini green, blue and brown liners too at Nordstrom Rack this weekend (the husband and I were Black Friday binging). Not much to say except that these are a great product. 

Bite Lip Products: ($12-$28, Exclusively Sephora) 

My complimentary VIB Rouge Lipstick Mini, Palomino Mini, High Pigment Lip Pencil Mini in 

Maybe I'm the last one to discover how wonderful these lip products are, but I love this line of lipsticks and lip pencils, etc. I had to be given a lipstick (when I became VIB Rouge at Sephora) to try one of these. It. Is. Amazing. No lipstick out there is as creamy, as pigmented and feels as good on my lips than these products. Don't kiss your man (or lady) though...(s)he'll be wearing it too. I don't care though, this lipstick FEELS AWESOME on your face.

GLAMGLOW Supermud™ Clearing Treatment: ($69...omg, Sephora, GLAMGLOW Website) 

Yes, this is a $69 face mask. SIXTY-NINE DOLLARS. I kind of hate myself a little for even recommending it here on this blog but let's be real...whatever is in this is a freaking miracle worker. I got a sample of this from Sephora (as well as the Youthmud one which I was not impressed with) and I was HOOKED. I don't know if there's magic or voodoo or whatever in this, but it's pretty much worth the stupidly absurd price. It pretty much destroys blackheads and has a bizarre pore shrinking effect, which seems to last for a couple of days after using it. My blackheads pretty much wave a white flag after a few times using this. I can't get over the effectiveness of this. That being said...$69 daaaayyyuuummmm...I couldn't bring myself to pay the full price, even during the Sephora VIB sale. I ordered this directly from GLAMGLOW and I used a 30% off discount code (which is no longer valid)  so I only paid $48 dollars for it and I got some free samples (I say ONLY $48, but that's still insane).  The customer service experience with GLAMGLOW was also stellar. A great company. A great product. The price point is pretty crazy, but the product performs and so they pretty much have you by the lashes there. Plus, the packaging says, "Hello Sexy".

So those are all my November obsessions! Do you see any of your favorites here? Let me know! I also have decided to do Blogmas...which means I blog every day in December starting today! I missed yesterday, so I guess one of these days, I'll have to do two posts! *gasp* Are you excited?!

(Late) October Favorites

Okay...I know it's almost halfway through November, but I just moved house and my wedding is in less than two weeks! But I wanted to post these anyway, because I have been obsessed with a few really awesome things last month (and I'm still obsessed).

Fresh Soy Cleanser: $15-$38 from Sephora or Fresh Wesbite/Stores. 

Fresh is one of my favorite brands that I have a love/hate relationship with. The first Fresh Store is on Newbury Street here in Boston which is basically the "Rodeo Drive" of Boston.

Photo credit: newbury-st.com

I used to love to browse there when I was in college and couldn't afford to actually shop there. They had all of these beautiful smelling body products in beautiful bottles. Everything in the store was just so gorgeous. They had this AMAZING line of products called Milk, which they sadly discontinued. They also had an amazing line of niche fragrances called Index, which they also discontinued (I believe a few original ones remain, but not my favorite which was Ylang Ylang Hibiscus). They also ventured into a cosmetic line, which is now also gone, save from all the Sugar Lip Products. I still have ONE unopened Supernova Mascara. It frustrates me that they have discontinued all of the product lines I loved, but I guess there's nothing I can do. The Sugar Line seems to do really well and their skincare tends seems to be where they have put their main focus. I digress...

I LOVE the Soy Face Cleanser. It doesn't lather much and it will NOT take off your eye makeup very well, but it's great for cleansing your face gently. It leaves my skin feeling clean...not tight, not stripped, just clean. It smells amazing and I love it. It's incredibly expensive, but oh well.

Palmetto Derma Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum: $48 at Palmetto Derma's Website

I got this in my Boxycharm in October and I love this. If I had not received this, I would have never tried this and this has made a HUGE difference for my skin. I have been using it pretty faithfully morning and evening before my moisturizer (just one pump). I feel like my skin is brighter, smoother and I haven't gotten a super bad breakout in a while. It could be that I'm being ore sanitary in my makeup application or this, but I can't stop, won't stop. This product is pretty expensive, but there is a discount code that you can use until the end of 2014 to get 20% off: BCPD2. I say, give it a try! It doesn't have a scent and it just feels like a water on your face and dries pretty quickly. I think this bottle will last me a long time considering I only use one pump per application. 

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara $6-$10 at Drugstores

I've been using L'Oreal brand mascaras for a while, probably since high school. Their mascara formulas...they have that DOWN. Lash Out Mascara was my favorite forever (I think it's discontinued?) but I recently re-discovered this one. This is a GREAT mascara. It's super black, super volumizing and I also got an unexpected lengthening from this as well. It competes with the Better Than Sex Mascara that I love. It's just awesome and it's inexpensive. I actually love some other L'Oreal mascaras too, but right now, I'm reaching for this one every day. 

Too Faced Everything Nice Palette: $56 Sephora Exclusive

*sigh*, I think this is sold out again. I'm not sure if Sephora will re-stock this (I'm guessing so, since it's still on the website), but it's AWESOME! The main reason I love this is that the eyeshadow colors are AMAZING. I love my Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and I also LOVE this palette. I swatches "Girly" in the store and I knew this color alone had to be mine. All of the shadows are soft and buttery and well pigmented. The colors I didn't expect to love so much (especially Totally Fetch, the pink), I ADORE. The blushes and the highlighter (and the brushes)...meh. Oh...and it also comes with a cute pink glittery makeup bag and a travel-sized Better Than Sex Mascara. Win all over the place. If you can find this at your local Sephora store...GET IT...but mainly for the eyeshadows. The face products are nothing special and the brushes...meh.

Milani Bella Eyes Eyeshadow: $3-4 at Drugstores

These are awesome and they are only about $4. They have an interesting shape and look like they should yield when you touch them, but they don't. They just feel like a normal powder eyeshadow. They are so pretty and so good! You should use your finger to apply them, but I have been wearing a combination of Bella Gold and Bella Bronze and it's been working for me.

*My New Firmoo.com glasses $35-$40 from Firmoo Website (Promotional Sample)

I'm pretty obsessed with these frames. I have 9 pairs of glasses but I pretty much always wear these now. I get compliments every time I wear them and they are mother-fricking cool. I'm not being paid to say this, or anything...I just genuinely love these even though they were sent to me by Firmoo. If you want your own pair, I still have a coupon code that goes until 11/25! It's good for $15 off regular frames. STYLISHSOPRANOBLOGS4 

So that's it for my October favorites! 

*All items were purchased with my own money with the exception of items marked with an (*)asterisk and marked "promotional sample". All opinions are my own. 

September Favorites!

Is the title of this post right? Is it the end of September? I can't believe it!Autumn is officially here! My wedding is a mere two months away! (insert scream here) Anyway...here are the things I have been loving during the month of September.

Benefit Benetint: Liquid Cheek and Lip Tint $30 specialty cosmetic retailers
Maybe I'm late to the party on this, but I know a lot of people love Benetint. I got this in a gift set, so it's not a full size. I was kind of ignoring it for a while and the intention was actually to use it as a lip stain. The color didn't take that well on my lips, so I put it away for a while. Then I picked it up one day and used it on my cheeks. What a great little cheek stain this is! I didn't know if this would show up on my deep complexion, but it does and you can really build up the color. It gives you a subtle "glowing from within" look and as a bonus, it smells like roses. I think it's a little expensive, but you can often grab it in a lot of Benefit gift sets.

Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette (Urban Decay): $54 Specialty Cosmetic Retailers
Maybe this post should be titled, September favorites that everyone else discovered 2 years ago. I bought a Naked 3 palette in April and I have been loving it. I didn't think I would get much use out of the Naked 2, but I have been LOVING this palette. I am finding it a bit more versatile than my Naked 3 for every day looks. This palette makes me feel like I know what I'm doing.

Atelier Cologne, Orange Sanguine: Travel Spray $25 at Sephora
This is now the SECOND time this has happened! I got sent this as a sample with my Sephora order in a "Niche Perfumes" sample set. I passed by it at first in favor of the Nest Amazon Lily. However, I went back to sniff it a few times. I do mess around in my perfume sample collection because it's out. Here is how I store my samples. They are next to my full size perfumes and because they are in this little acrylic drawer unit, I often go through them and play around with them.

This scent caught my attention because it smelled pretty heavily of blood orange. I didn't know I could like it so much, but the more I smelled it, the more I loved it. It also smelled really good with my body chemistry and I used almost the entire sample. So, one day after I did a voiceover gig, I stopped by the mall and picked up a travel size. It's kind of a summery scent, but I plan to wear this well into fall. If you are in a Sephora or live near an Atelier Cologne shop, definitely check them out! This scent is so special and totally unisex.

Ole Hendricksen Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths: $15 for 30 cloths at Sephora
I did NOT want to fall in love with these, but alas...they are amazing. My face is an oily mess and these cloths have a textured side and a smooth side. It won't remove your eye makeup, but it will clean up everything else (or at least, on my face since I don't wear foundation) and it makes your skin feel amazing. It's exfoliating, refreshing and smells like eucalyptus. I hate that I love these because they are so damn expensive. And that's an empty package you see there. SADNESS.

Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask: $7 Lush Store Locations
If you don't live near a Lush, then I'm sorry. They won't ship fresh face masks because they have to be refrigerated and have a short shelf life. This mask is for oily skin and its made with cocoa and mint. CHOCOLATE MINT ON YOUR FACE. Do I have to say anything more? this stuff makes my face feel amazing and it's only $7. Looks like brownie batter, smells like brownie batter with a mint overtone. This makes my skin feel amazing after I've used it and takes care of blemishes. Winning.

Coffee Mate Extra Sweet and Creamy: About $4 grocery stores
Okay, I feel like I'm a terrible person for having this as one of my favorites, but it's a guilty pleasure. If you live in New England or have ever been to New England...you know about the wonder of Dunkin' Donuts. I like to grab my coffee from there and have it taste like dessert, extra sweet and light with cream. Well, this stuff makes my coffee taste like I went to Dunkin' but at home. It's super sweet and super creamy just like it says. It's probably terrible for you and I probably shouldn't be ingesting so much sugar early in the morning, but I drink about one cup a day. Cut me some slack.

Lastly, I have been LOVING a dress *that was sent to be to try by the lovely folks at eShatki.com...my review is forthcoming!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsore. All products in this post were purchased with my own money, except where indicated with an asterisk(*)

August 2014 Favorites!

So! August is over!?! How did that happen? It was unseasonably cool in Boston this month, so it didn't really feel like August, but I saved some money on cooling bills so, I'll take it! Anyway, here are the things I've been absolutely loving all month long.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: $23 Cosmetics Specialty Retail. The name of this mascara is just...*sigh*. It's not better than sex, but it's my new favorite, FAVORITE mascara. If they are going to say this is better than sex, it should come with a winning powerball ticket. I digress...

It is the blackest, most dramatic formula I've ever used. I have already ordered a replacement from Sephora. My new holy grail mascara for my nothing lashes (sorry lashes, but you are wispy).

Tip: Looks like if you buy this directly from Too Faced, they will include a travel size for free right now. Bonus Jonas.

Gel Eyeliner (in general): Price Varies, Drugstore and Cosmetic Specialty. I discovered my love for this backwards, I guess. I am a fan of some eyeliner, let me tell you. I love eyeliner! It makes your eyes look bigger, more dramatic and it comes in fun colors, although I only ever use black. I got a navy one in a beauty box, but I've only used it twice maybe (although it's beautiful and soft). When I first started wearing makeup, I only knew of pencil liner. Then I discovered the joys of liquid liner. Loved it. Earlier this year (yes, I'm behind the curve), I discovered gel eyeliner. I honestly had never even heard of this until a few months ago. A pot and a brush?! NO. WAY. NOT GONNA TRY THAT.

Then I got an email from Sephora saying that Benefit was coming out with a new gel eyeliner in a pen form. I purchased it before its release as a VIB benefit (Benefit as a benefit!??!) and I loved the formula, even though I found the application a bit challenging (full review forthcoming). I used it for about a month and liked it, but I found that it was difficult to use it and I had to get in to a mood to use it, like I had to get psyched up to apply it. Not good. Then, one day, I purchased a pot and brush "old school" type gel eyeliner from the drugstore. HOLY MOLY! Where has this been all my life!?!? It doesn't sound like a brush and a pot is an easy application regarding eyeliner, but I found this delivery system very simple. I got the most control from the brush and ultimately, I found it much easier than the pen form. Sorry, Benefit. I love you, but...

Nest Amazon Lily Perfume: $25 Roller Ball Specialty Cosmetics Retail. OMG. I got a sample of this with a Sephora order. I tried all the other perfume samples and when I sprayed this one, I thought: "Hm...weird. Smells kinda weird." However, I liked it. I tried it again and again and the more I tried it, the more I liked it. Then, I became obsessed and I had to order a larger size. It has a floral, yet citrusy and spicy fragrance. It's totally weird, but it hooked me like caffeine.

Well played, Sephora. Well played.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer: $6-7 Drugstore Retail. I have issues with Rimmel products. Every YouTuber talks so much hype about this brand's Stay Matte Powder, but, they don't really make darker shades. Are they translucent?

I did come across this product at the drugstore and I gave it a try. I had been trying the Benefit Porefessional which was okay. It didn't keep me matte no matter how much I prayed on it. This stuff is a white cream, which looks like a moisturizer. You can put it on under makeup or wear it alone. It is supposed to blur your pores and keep your face from getting shiny. I wear this in the T zones and I hate to admit that it works really well. This stuff is the bomb dot com if you have oily T-zones. It kept me matte and looking nice most of the day. If you have darker skin, you DO have to be careful not to get this stuff in the drier areas of your face or you will look like a mime. Bottom line, for $7, this is a steal. Anyway, Rimmel...you get one.

Merrel Evera Shift Sandals: I seriously lucked out with these. I have a black and a tan pair. I happened to come by them at Marshall's and I paid so little for them that I feel like I stole them. They are so cute...so comfortable. I love the little heel. These are the sandals of the summer. Period. So much shoe love for these.

Garnier Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment: $5.99 Drugstore Retail. A late entry, but I'm totally obsessed! Being a curly girl, I love me some hair oil. I had been using Kendi Oil but I mistakenly left it at home when I went on vacation. Kendi Oil smells amazing and works wonderfully, but my hair soaks up and eats product like The Greedy from the Raggedy Ann & Andy Movie (I am dating myself). Kendi Oil is $25 a pop. I went out to get some hair oil while I was in Hilton Head because I was going to be shampooing from the chlorine in the pool and salt in the ocean. This stuff is amazing! I applied it to my damp hair after I conditioned and shampooed and it made my curls soft and shiny and lessened the frizz (you can't be 100% frizz free if you're a curly girl. Let's just be honest). I like Kendi Oil, but I can be more generous with the Garnier since the price point is much lower and it works a little better too! Once again, a win for Garnier. I have used (and liked) their products in the past, so I'm anxious to try more products from their Sleek & Shine line. Recommendations anyone?

Special Meal Salad: Inspired by a salad I saw in Real Simple. It's farro underneath salad greens, snap peas, sauteed mushrooms (instead of chicken), fat-free feta, avocado and a lemon vinaigrette dressing. Grind a crap ton of fresh pepper on it. BAM. Lunch or dinner. Guilt-free, tasty as heck, easy, addictive. This was winning for me all month. Fiance is obsessed too.

That's what I've been loving as we slide into September. It's going to be autumn soon and that means I get to pick up and move in with my handsome fiance! Moving sucks but I can't wait to move in with the love of my life!