Stila

  • Sephora Mini-Haul

    Sephora Mini-Haul

  • Bobbi's Skincare Picks

    Bobbi's Skincare Picks

  • Bobbi Brown Mask

    Bobbi Brown Mask

  • Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

    Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

  • Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Balm

    Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Balm

  • Peter Thomas Ross Acne Invisible Dots

    Peter Thomas Ross Acne Invisible Dots

  • Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Swatches

    Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Swatches

Here is a glimpse of my Sephora Mini-Haul for the month of October. This month my focus was on the necessities vs. splurges. Alright, the Stila was definitely not a necessity. 🙂 Below is a breakdown and review.

  1. Sephora Collection Universal Lip Liner ($10) : I’ve was on the lookout for a universal lip liner because I’ve been sick and tired of trying to match every single lipstick or gloss with a similar lipliner.  I don’t know about you all, but its way too much work and too much money especially if your lip collection is extensive. There were quite a few options on Sephora’s website, but I decided on the Sephora Collection Universal Lip Liner because of its reviews and great price. I’ve used it for a week now and must say that its a great value product that gets the job done.  There was no feathering, no bleeding and no smudging no matter what lip product I used.  The only negative I found was with its waxy consistency, but I expected this given the purpose of the product.
  2. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation ($39): I have combination skin (normal to oily) and sometimes its difficult to find a foundation that will last hours without having to powder every hour. I use this foundation for daily wear because its one of the few that lasts a full work day and with minimal touchup. It also lives up to its name as being a full coverage foundation, which can make its application a bit difficult.  I either use a damp Beauty Blender ($20) or the Tarte Airbrush Bamboo Foundation Brush (what a gem!) with a few pumps of  MAC Fix+ ($22).
  3. Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots ($12 for 24 dots): I always thought that the minute I past puberty I could kiss pimples goodbye forever. Adios. Hasta nunca baby!  Yeah…I was sorely mistaken.  Millions of adults continue to suffer with acne well past their teens and I’m no exception.  The difference is what I use to combat these nasty little suckers — Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots.  Simple apply the dot over the blemish overnight and let the salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid do its thing.  After two treatments, my blemishes are gone leaving behind no scarring.
  4. Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head Twin Pack ($44/radiance): I’m a month away from having to replace my Clarisonic Mia 3 brush head and decided to stock up. However, this time I decided to deviate on the brush head type going from sensitive to radiance.  Apparently, the radiance brush heads are much softer and better for sensitive skin.  Once I try this bad boy, I’ll be sure to post a review.
  5. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in shade Firenze ($24): This line of liquid lipsticks are my absolute favorite, hands down!  So when the shade Firenze popped up as a Sephora VIB Exclusive, in a shade I normally gravitate to, I quickly put it in my basket. Its such a lovely, dusty mauve shade that I highly recommend!
  6. Samples:  Smashbox Insta-Matte, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer , Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Creme
  7. Bobbi Brown Bobbi’s Skincare Picks: I’m so excited I received this box as part of a promotion code (check RetailMeNot.com for Sephora codes 🙂 ).  As we all know, Bobbi Brown products are expensive, but so, so good.  This box contains a coral grass & green algae moisture mask, a cleansing, and an extra repair moisture balm. I look forward to trying all of these out.
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  • Lip & Cheek Products

    Lip & Cheek Products

  • Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush

    Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush

  • MAC Casual Colour in Young at Heart

    MAC Casual Colour in Young at Heart

I’m a sucker for a good beauty deal, so when I come across a product that has a dual function, I don’t think twice about trying it out. One type I gravitate to time and time again has been the lip & cheek combos. There are many advantages to purchasing this particular type of makeup such as:

  • Lip & cheek color are the same, so there is no second guessing what combination of colors you should use together. This feature is most important when trying to do makeup on the fly.
  • Ease of use: I normally use my fingertips to apply since brushes may be too large for these compact items, unless it comes with an applicator like the Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks ($40). I particularly like applying with my fingers because it gives such a natural look and feel to the makeup. However, it is buildable in case you’re looking for more than just a flush of color.
  • Cost benefit: These products tend to cost less compared to being purchased on their own.
  • Easier to travel with one product, which serves multiple purposes, then traveling with many products that only have an individual purpose.

The only negative some may find to a lip & cheek product is the staying power and texture. Now, all this will depend on the type of skin you have. For instance, if you have oily skin, a cream formula may not be for you. Also, depending on the brand, some stay on longer as a lipstick versus a blush. I have listed my personal favorite lip & cheek duos below, but it’s really important to try different brands to see which one is a better fit for you.

Lip & Cheek Duo Recommendations

  1. MAC Casual Colour ($22): This particular product is my favorite, so much so that I own five of the nine shades (found and purchased at my local CCO). Of the group, MAC Casual Color in Weekend Getaway is universally flattering and a great everyday cool pink color. The MAC Casual Colour collection also includes (as per MAC Cosmetic website):
  1. Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain ($30): Benefit does not have a wide variety of colors to choose from in comparison with the MAC Casual Colour line (four shades vs. nine), but the color payout is just as nice. What makes this product unique is the packaging and consistency. First, it looks like a bottle of nail polish. Secondly, the tint is in liquid form and is supposed to be applied with the included brush. It’s a bit peculiar applying makeup with a brush, but that feeling will subside once you get the hang of it. Included shades, as per described by Benefit Cosmetics:
  1. Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks ($40): I know what you’re thinking: why buy this product for $40 when you can practically buy two MAC Casual Colours for almost the same price? And you are absolutely correct! I would not usually purchase an item this expensive when there are clearly other options. However, my local CCO had several YSL products at a 30% discount and I simply couldn’t resist. I purchased the color #8 Pink Hedoniste because I figured I couldn’t go wrong with such a neutral color (FYI Most CCO’s have a no return policy). After using it, my only regret was not purchasing more because I love it that much! From the beautiful packaging (looks like a square nail lacquer bottle with a golden cap) down to the nicely shaped applicator. This design is definitely aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. The formula feels like a whipped cream as compared to the MAC Casual Colour, which has a much thicker/drier consistency. Another plus is that there are twelve shades to choose from; almost guaranteeing that there is something for everyone. So if you happen to have extra money in your beauty budget, this may be one of those products to indulge in.
  2. Travel Palettes: For those who travel, a lip and cheek palette with multiple colors is essential.  These ready-to-go palettes allow for maximum shade versatility while simultanously saving precise cargo space.  So Instead of packing multiple blushes and lipsticks on your next vacation getaway, try Stila’s Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette $39 (either in cool or warm palette).
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Winter Red Lips Nothing brings the heat like fiery red lips!  Pair that with a wintery backdrop and the juxstaposition will give you a picture perfect moment.  Red lipstick is timeless and synonymous with beauty.  So no matter the weather, pick up your favorite red shade of lipstick and melt hearts everywhere.  

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

  1. MAC Ruby Woo ($17) or MAC RiRi Woo (as shown above) 
  2. Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes Lipstick in Siren in Scarlet ($7.49)
  3. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery ($24) 
  4. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella ($26)
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