I hate returning beauty products, mostly since I love having a large range of products to try and experiment with so I hate when something just totally doesn't work for me and I have to take it back. Luckily, Sephora has an amazing return policy and will allow you to return used products if they're just not working for you, so key. 

In the past week I returned not one, not two, but three beauty products that just didn't make the cut and sadly had to be sent back (although I basically bought the dollar amount in new products when I returned these, so you win again Sephora). Even though I don't like being negative on the blog, I thought it might be interesting to share with my readers these items, I love hearing other people's hits and misses, and while some things that work for me don't work for everyone, I still think it's very interesting to read.

First up is the Origins Checks and Balances foaming face wash which costs $22. I purchased this to replace my favorite face wash, Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm which runs at $29 (seriously so good, I bought another one when I returned the Origins). The wash does froth up into a nice foam, but I found the formula to be very drying to my skin and I wasn't a big fan of the scent. I prefer skincare products with no added fragrances as generally they do much more harm to your skin than they're worth! In my opinion, although this wash foamed up well, it left my skin feeling dry and didn't feel gentle and milky like the Clinique option. Additionally, the Clinique product literally melts off your make-up (including waterproof eye makeup) while the Origins did not. If you're looking for a frothy cleanser, definitely go with the Clinique option. 

Next up is another Origins product, the Original Skin ReNew Serum for $39. Now that I've crossed the line from 25 to 26 I've started becoming paranoid about using skincare products that will fight the signs of aging and keep my skin looking youthful and radiant for as long as possible. I've been reading up on serums and how they are a key part of any quality skincare routine. For awhile this winter I was using the Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Serum which runs for $48 a bottle a lasts about three months with daily use morning and night. I noted the Origins bottle was significantly smaller but it promises to restore the skins youthfulness and natural glow after a night out, dealing with stress, fatigue, etc. Being in my twenties I balance taking care of my skin and going out and having a good time. This sounded perfect, a serum I apply after a night out (with a couple of cocktails consumed) and I'll wake up with my skin looking fresh. 

Unfortunately, the product just did not seem to work for me. I did not notice a difference when using the serum and I also didn't like the added fragrances (see above).  For the price of the tiny bottle and minimal results I knew this had to go. I have since switched to using Drunk Elephant serums for morning and night. These are on the pricey side but are AMAZING. I'll be doing a whole post on them soon, but trust me these are so so so good. 

Lastly, I brought back the St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Face Lotion, which sells for $30. I picked up the St. Tropez Classic Self-Tan starter pack (for $27 it's a really good value if you want to try out self-tanning for yourself) this winter and didn't get around to using it until May (oops). I love the classic tanning foam and picked up this lotion on a whim to use on my face. I tried the lotion once, but I didn't like that you need to keep it on your face for 4-8 hours and felt it wasn't worth the price when I can just use the regular tanning foam I use on my body on my face as well, plus a little bronzer. I will say that the tanning foam from St. Tropez is amazing, and I highly recommend for anyone who is pale like me and wants some color without getting burned in the sun, besides a fake tan is the safest tan! Overall take, skip getting the separate face lotion and just carefully apply the regular foam to your face while you're tanning the rest of your body. Your face will gradually fade quicker than the rest of your tan, but a little bronzer will take care of that between applications!

One last thing, I highly recommend checking out Beautypedia for reviews from experts before making a skincare purchase. They really break down the pros and cons of each product and discuss what types of skin it works for (or doesn't work for). If I had checked Beautypedia I would've avoided ever purchasing the ReNEW Skin Serum, it only has one star!

Have you tried any of these products, if so did you like them? Did you have any beauty misses lately?

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What's in my Sephora (Sale) Bag

Top Row: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara // Urban Decay Beached Bronzer // 

Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Serum

Middle Row: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation // Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil // 

Supergoop CC Cream

Bottom Row: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder // Smashbox Photo Finish Primer // 

Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint

Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday! If you're a beauty junkie like me then you are probably already well aware of the Spring Sephora VIB & VIB Rouge sale happening right now! The sale ends tomorrow, so if you haven't already now is the time to stock up and splurge on everything you've been lusting after from Sephora since the last sale in November.

Since these sales are so infrequent I try to stock up on items I use time and time again, but I also try to throw in one or two new things to try every year. I thought it'd be fun to share with you today what I've bought from the sale! Most of these items I've tried before and LOVE and so I just want to stock up while I can get them at a discount. I added a couple new things to my cart, so hopefully we'll have some winners! I'm working on an updated beauty post which I hope to have done in a few weeks, so I'll let you know then how I'm feeling about them.

ONE // First up, I got a new tube of the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir mascara. I got this mascara in January on a whim and I am in love. I've never found a mascara which makes my eyelashes look as full and long as this one, without clumping. It's like magic! Obsessed.

TWO // I also decided to try one of the new Urban Decay Beached bronzers. I've heard good things about these bronzers and decided to go with the lighter shade. As I'm extremely pale (read: the color of a sheet of paper) I need a little color on my cheeks. I've read this powder is super blend-able and looks like a natural tan. I hope it's a winner so I can stash in my bag for my California trip in two weeks.

THREE // I also decided to stock up on the Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Serum. I got a bottle of this back in January as well and have been using about a pump's worth every morning and night. I've noticed my skin is looking a little brighter and it's feeling more nourished. I really like this serum and decided this was a good time to replace my bottle as I'm almost out.

FOUR // I got a back-up Too Faced Born This Way Foundation. I talked about liking this foundation in this post, and I'm still really enjoying it! It's full coverage but it doesn't look face or cake-y. I also like that it doesn't rub off (don't you hate when you're on the phone and you look at the screen after and see your make-up all over it? Gross). This is what I wear to work or when I need a full face of make-up. The bottle I've had is still going strong but since I like it so much I decided to get another during the sale.

FIVE // Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil - I'm currently using the Hourglass Brow Arch Sculpting pencil and I really like it. That said, the Anastasia Brow Wiz is a cult favorite and I decided I wanted to try it out. I've heard so many raving praises of it that I have pretty high hopes. I'll let you know what I think!

SIX // I talked about my love for the Supergoop CC Cream in this post. I love the formula of this and it's my go-to face coverage for Summer. I know I'll be switching over from my Too Faced Born This Way Foundation once the weather turns hot and humid, so I'll be happy I stocked up.

SEVEN // Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Dim Light'. This is a holy grail product for me. It makes my skin looks SO much better than any other powder I've used. I cannot say enough good things about this product and I decided to get an extra to have whenever I run out of the current one I'm using.

EIGHT // I've heard such good things about Smashbox primers that I decided to try one out despite the steep price. I got the Photo Finish formula with SPF 20, since the Too Faced foundation I'm using doesn't have SPF in it, I wanted to make sure I had something on to protect my skin on a day to day basis. So face I have to say the formula feels really nice on my skin and it has made my foundation go on very smoothly. I wore it all day yesterday, traveling to NYC from Philly and working a 12-hour day and my make-up looked pretty good when I got home. So far I think it's worth the price.

NINE // Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint. So confession, I am a total sucker for Clinique's chubby stick products. They're just so great for throwing in a make-up bag to bring to work, traveling, etc. I decided to try out their newest addition to the line and I really like it so far! This "baby tint" goes on almost clear and then "blooms" to add color that compliment's your lips' natural shade. I got the 'Coming Up Rosy' shade and I have to say, the color is perfect when you don't want to wear too much make-up but want a little extra color in your lips. The formula is also nice and moisturizing, I'm already looking at what other colors I should add to my collection.

If you want to shop the sale remember these useful codes: Beauty Insiders (BI) get 10% through today (4/12) using code 'BINOTE', VIB gets 15% off through tomorrow with code 'VIBNOTE' and VIB Rouge gets 15% off through tomorrow (4/13) using code 'ROUGENOTE'.

If you want to see more of my picks and reviews for products from Sephora check out my November sale picks post, November Rouge Sale Haul, Everyday Make-up Routine/Favorites, and Recent Beauty Hits and Misses.

What will you be getting from the Sephora sale? Do you like any of the products I mentioned above? I'm always looking for new things to try!

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Recent Beauty Buys: Love or Leave it

I've said this in several posts before (like this one or this one) but I am a but of a beauty junkie. I love trying new products, adjusting my routine, and adding new items to my arsenal. I thought it'd be fun to share some of my recent buys with you today and let you know my thoughts on each of them so far! 

1. Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydrating Sleeping Mask - I bought this about a week ago from the Sephora in Union Square. I was looking for an overnight moisturizing mask as I've been finding that my skin has been drier than usual. I have tried other Boscia products in the past (love this cleanser) so I was intriqued by their new overnight mask. It is formulated with Tsubaki oil and smells great. I use a about a quarter sized amount each night after washing and toning my face. I apply it with my fingers by rubbing small circles around my face. It smells nice and I don't find it feeling too thick. When I wake up my skin is not feeling nearly as dry and I am noticing an improvement overall. Definite love. I now even want to try the oil cleanser from the same line. 

2. Too Face Better Than False Lashes Extreme - This was kind of an impulse buy for me. I was looking at the mascaras at Sephora because I am running low on the mascara I'm currently using (YSL Babydoll) and I wanted to find something new to try. I didn't even realize how expensive this was when I threw it in my shopping basket. After I purchased it I decided to give it a try and see if it was worth the $35 price tag. So first impression, this took forever to put on, you have to do a coat of mascara, a coat of the fibers, and then another coat of mascara. I usually put on a few coats of mascara, but this felt excessive. Additionally, I felt that my eye lashes didn't even look that much thicker or longer than just using a few coats of good mascara. Throughout the day while wearing this I found little black fibers on my cheeks and I was so ready to get this off at the end of the day. Overall, leave it. 

3. Color Pop Eyeshadow in 'So Quiche' - So I actually got this eyeshadow as a birthday present from my good friend and fellow beauty junkie Amy (she picked it mostly based on the name because we both love 'Ja'mie'). This stuff is awesome. I put it on with a brush for a more opaque look or with my finger tips for a more sheer effect. It's really interesting because its not powdery, more like a spongey feel on the compact. I also love the color, it's so cute for a night on the town. I love the glitter, and that there's zero fallout when applying this. Definite love. 

4. Gwen Stefani x Urban Decay Palette - I got this palette back in December and I've been using it a lot since. First off, the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. It includes 15 shades of UD eyeshadow plus a large mirror. This palette is sturdy and well made. I love the colors included and I am happy with the pigmentation, with the exception of the "Harajuku" shade which I find is a little lighter than I'd like when applied. I do find that some of the shades are very similar, but they very between mattes and satin finishes and I've used them to create a variety of everyday or going-out looks. If you're looking for a pretty, everyday palette with some fun accent colors then I recommend. 

5. Glam Glow Wet Lip and Fizzy Lip treatments - I purchased these over the holidays as part of a gift set which included both treatments, now they are only for sale separately. I was looking for an intensive treatment for my lips for the winter as I feel they are always so dry. I also was intrigued by the "fizzy lip" exfoliating treatment to keep my lips lipstick ready all winter. So first the good: I do like the wet lip treatment. I feel it does a nice job moisturizing my lips and it smells good. I don't think I'd pay $24 just for this treatment, so while I do think it works it's a little over priced. Now, the bad: I think the fizzy lip treatment is a leave it. It does not fizz and while it exfoliates my lips, I feel a sugar scrub works just as well. If I bought this separately I would return it. Overall: leave it. 

6. Living Proof Instant Protection - I also bought this about a week about and I've used it a few times. I was looking for a heat protection spray which wouldn't make my fair feel greasy and smelled nice. I have used this a couple of times and I like the smell and the product does not leave a lot of residue behind. I'm not sure if it's providing protection for my hair, I will let you know in a couple more weeks if I'm noticing less damage. But for now I am liking this!

7. Sigma Make Me Brush Set (on sale!) - I had been wanting to get some new brushes to replace a couple of old ones I had and I wanted to add a couple new brushes to my collection. I decided to get a little birthday present to myself when I saw this set by Sigma was on sale. I have heard really great things about Sigma brushes from some of my favorite YouTubers, and discussed with my aforementioned beauty junkie friend Amy. I received these last week and have used most of them by now. The brushes haven't shed much and I'm really loving the eye brushes. The face brushes are also nice, but I have a couple nice face brushes already that I also find myself reaching for, like this beauty my brother got my for Christmas. Overall: love it, great deal if you're in the market for a new set of brushes. Also Sigma sells individual brushes if you are looking for one or two specific ones to add to your collection. 

And there you have it, I will check back in periodically with more beauty reviews, if you have any product suggestions, please let me know! I'm always looking for a new favorite!

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My Everyday Make-Up Favorites + How I do my Everyday Make-Up

I've made it no secret on here that I'm a bit of a make-up junkie (see this post and this post for evidence). Some people are into shoes, others dresses, others accessories. My "vice" is definitely make-up. Sephora is my kryptonite. I'm constantly changing up my routine, trying new products, and developing new favorites. Recently I've fallen into a bit of an everyday routine using a couple of old favorites and a couple of new finds (half of which are thanks to my fellow make-up addict friend Amy, girl needs to start a blog). With that being said, I thought it would be fun to share the products I've been reaching for everyday, whether to help you find some new items to try or to inspire a gift idea for the beauty junkie on your list. Also, if you have any suggestions on products you love that you think I should try let me know! I'd like to eventually start doing some more beauty reviews and tutorials on here and I'm always looking for new things to try!

Foundation:

I start with about 3 drops of my Cover FX drops and mix them into my Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation on the back of my hand. Once they are combined I use my Beauty Blender to apply the foundation all over my face. I make sure I include my neck and forehead to ensure everything is even. I really like this foundation method because it evens out my skin tone and isn't too heavy or "made-up" looking. If I am going out I will add an extra drop of the Cover FX drops for additional coverage, and if I'm having a low-key day I will usually only add one or two drops to my facial moisturizer and skip the primer all together. I use the solid cleanser to clean the Beauty Blender after each use, this keeps it like new much longer. My blender is over a year old and still works just as good as the day I got it. 

Once I have the base applied I use the Bare Minerals 'Stroke of Light' product and blend a swipe under each eye to combat my natural dark circles (which appear no matter how much sleep I've gotten).  After this is done I move on to my face and cheeks. 

Face/Cheeks:

First I take my Ambient Lighting powder in 'Dim Light' and apply lightly all over my face using a large face brush. This sets my foundation and adds a slight 'blur' effect to my skin, giving it a perfected glowing look, I've actually gotten so many compliments on my skin since I started using this product rather than a traditional setting powder. 

After that I take my favorite bronzer, Hoola by Benefit (I love it because it builds easily if needed and it's matte so it doesn't look too shimmery or glittery). I use a big bronzer brush, take a little of the product and tap the brush to get any excess off, I don't want to over-bronze or look streaky! Then I brush bronzer over the bottom and apples of each of my cheeks, the sides of my nose, my chin line, and my temples. I add and tap off additional bronzer as necessary when applying. Once I have bronzer on each area I want I will blend the bronzer in by swiping the brush repeatedly over the areas I applied the bronzer, without adding any additional product to the brush. I think this part is key because otherwise the bronzer does not look natural. 

Next I take an angled blush brush and apply whichever blush I'm loving at the moment to the apples of my cheeks and swipe slightly upwards. Right now I'm loving 'Mood Exposure' by Hourglass, but I also love Becca's mineral blushes and NARS blushes. 

Lastly, I take a fan brush and apply a highlighter to the tops of my cheek bones, tops of my temples, the top of my nose, and my cupid's bow above my lips. I'm loving the Laura Mercier Baked Matte Radiance Highligher, it is subtle and makes your skin look glow-y without going overboard. I also really like Becca's Highligher in 'Moonstone' but this is a little stronger and I normally use this product for a more made-up look if I'm going out. 

Eyes:

I have a couple of palettes and favorite eye shadows, however lately all I've been reaching for is my Viseart palette in 'Sultry Muse'. It's a pricey palette, but so high-quality and the the amount you get of shadow is much more than most palettes, which makes the price a little easier to swallow. 

I start by first applying an eye shadow primer on each of my eyelids, I found that this helps keep everything in place all day, even when I was working until 11pm my eye shadow would be looking the same as it did at 7am when I applied it! 

After the primer I take a medium light color from the palette and apply it liberally all over my eyelid. Then I take my accent color and apply it to the crease. After initially applying the color I will blend it into the crease by using my favorite 'Smokey Crease' brush and rubbing it back and forth over the crease without applying any additional shadow. After I get that blended I take the darkest color of the look I'm using and use a thin angled brush (like this) and apply a little to the outer corner of my eye. I then use the brush to blend it into the other shadow and down into the lash line. Lastly, I apply a highlighting color to the top of my brow bone and inner corner of my eye. 

After applying the shadows I then take my eyeliner (either liquid or kohl depending on the day) and line my upper eyelid. If I'm doing a more dramatic look I will use the small angled brush and smudge the eyeliner to smoke-out my eyes a little. Then I line my waterline with a kohl eyeliner. 

Lastly, I apply about two coats per eye of mascara, my current favorite (it's the best I've ever tried) is Chanel Le Volume de Chanel. I know it's pricey, but I have thin, blonde eyelashes and this plumps them up and does not look clumpy, because who wants to look like they have 4 long eyelashes. 

Lips

For lips I do a couple of different things. First, I like to use this Sugar Lip Scrub a couple of times a week to keep my lips "lipstick ready", because there's nothing worse than applying lipstick over dry, flakey lips, ew. Then I either will apply the lipstick I'm going to wear that day or lipgloss. I've been either reaching for a red lip (I love Bobbi Brown's Red) or a classic lip gloss (I just bought Chelsea Girls by NARS, love it...fun fact, it's Kim Kardashian's lip color). Some days I just apply Rosebud Salve to my lips, it's my preferred chapstick, I love it in the winter and usually just wear this a few times a week in lieu of lip color. 

Finishing Touches

Once everything is done I will use a spot concealer if I need to, to cover-up a bad break out. Then I will spray Urban Decay Finishing Spray over my face to set everything and make it long-lasting. I was skeptical but it works, my make-up lasts all day, no matter what the weather is like outside.

Lastly I put a spritz or two of perfume on, my absolute favorite is Chanel's "Eau Fraiche", I've been wearing it for years and I just love the smell. I usually have a couple of perfumes on hand, but this is the one scent I have to keep around at all times. 

Ok, so I know that sounds like a lot, but honestly I have this routine down and can do everything in 5-7 minutes. I also love playing with make-up and products so doing this is fun for me. I like this routine because it makes my skin look even and glowing and defines my eyes, but doesn't look too heavy (as long as you remember the key is don't overuse products and BLEND). 

What're some of your go-to make-up items? Any of these items in your routine? 

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Sephora VIB Rouge Haul: First Impressions + Tips for VIB Sale

Living Proof Shampoo & Conditioner // Tocca Cleopatra Body Wash

Viseart Sultry Muse Palette // Hourglass Dim Light

Miss Dior Cherie - Blooming Bouquet // Cover FX Drops

Hourglass Mood Exposure

Hello everyone! Happy Thursday! I know I posted an extensive Sephora wishlist and recommendation post just last week, but I wanted to pop and in share some reviews on my haul from the Sephora VIB Rouge sale last weekend with you and for those of you that are VIB give you some extra recommendations for your sale which is this weekend. VIB's can save 20% at Sephora November 13-16 with code "VIB20", so if you are VIB now is a great time to stock up on beauty gifts, old favorites, and get some new products you've been wanting to try at a discount.

I got quite a few things in the sale, but in my defense I pretty much start making a list in the summer of what I want to purchase in the sale to get ready, so when the sale comes I go a little crazy. I got a couple things from my wishlist and a few items which had caught my eye online or in stores and I decided to give them a try.

First up is the Living Proof Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. I put my hair through a lot. I blow dry it most times I wash it, heat style almost daily, and I don't use treatment masks on it nearly as much as I should. These products caught my eye because they promised to restore the protective layer which is lost on damaged hair, bringing hair back to a healthy state. I got these in the mail on Tuesday and washed my hair with them that night. I have to say when I rinsed out the conditioner my hair did feel soft and smooth. I dried my hair as usual and when I woke up my hair was much less frizzy or damaged looking that normal. I will keep using these products and let you know if my thoughts change but so far, so good!

Next is the Tocca body wash in the scent Cleopatra. You guys, this stuff smells AMAZING! My friend Lauren turned me on to the scent by showing my the hand cream version, which I was tempted to also purchase. Its a grapefruit and cucumber scent and its just so good. I also want the perfume version now. It's clean, bright, and fresh smelling. Highly recommend. The body wash worked into a nice lather and left my skin feeling moisturized and smelling amazing. While I wish the smell lasted a little longer, it definitely makes for a very refreshing shower. A great gift idea or treat for yourself.

I also decided to splurge on a Viseart palette. I have been on the fence about this purchase for awhile as these palettes are on the pricier side ($80 each). However, the pans are larger than normal, and it comes out to about $7 per color in the palette. With 20%, I decided now was the time to try one out and see if it was worth the hype. Even though I wanted the Dark Mattes, Neutral Matte, Paris Nudes, and Sultry Nudes obviously getting all four palettes wasn't an option. I decided to get the Sultry Muse as these shades are different than anything else I currently have in my collection. Dark Mattes will probably be next up on my wishlist. The shadows are very buttery and blend-able. I wore them to work Wednesday morning and they stayed on all day (with the help of my Urban Decay Primer) and I loved how they looked. I'm really happy with the purchase and I love the orange color as a crease shade to make my blue eyes pop. These palettes would make an awesome gift for a beauty junky on your list, or a good splurge for yourself!

Next up is the Hourglass Dim Light ambient lighting powder. I talked about this powder in the post, but I just want to say I've been wearing it to work all week and I love it. It blurs your skin in that perfect, not too overdone way. Also a little bit works wonders so I think the full-size powder will last me awhile. I think its a great alternative to  traditional setting powder.

I also scooped up the Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet perfume. I will say it is on the expensive side, I bought the 1 ounce size and it was $60 before my discount. I do love the smell and I think it lasts for a decent amount of time. The size I bought will be perfect to pack for business trips as I can bring it in a carry-on and its below TSA limits of 3 ounces.

The next buy is the Cover FX drops. I had the makeup artist at Sephora color match me to find my exact shade. For reference I am P40, which is a medium skin with Pink undertones. They also have N shades which are "neutral", even pink and golden, or "G" shades which are for people with stronger yellow/golden undertones. I think my biggest problem with many foundations is they come off yellow on my skin, even if I'm using a "neutral" shade. This is because I have so many pink/red undertones in my skin I really shouldn't have any yellow in my foundation. I love these drops because they are perfect for my pinkish undertones. Also, I love that you can customize your coverage amounts. I talked about trying these in my Sephora Wishlist post, but guys...they're awesome. I have been using them for two weeks now and I'm obsessed. You can get really full coverage if you need it, or just a light tint if you want. Completely customizable. I use mine blended with my Laura Mercier Radiance primer and apply using my Beauty Blender (pick one up if you don't have one yet, it's the BEST way to apply liquid makeup). The coverage level is perfect, my makeup evens my skin tone and makes me look refreshed, but I don't look like I have it caked on my skin. Highly recommend.

The last item I bought that I've been using is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush in Mood Exposure. I love the plum shade of this blush. It's well pigmented, goes on well with just one or two swipes of my brush, and is a lovely shade. I was hesitant to try a plum blush, because I'm so used to pink blushes. However I love how pretty this looks on and think it looks very natrual and pretty. Has anyone used this? What are your thoughts? It is a pricey blush, so I think it's a good buy if you can get it for 20% off in the sale!

So that's it for items I got in my haul which I have already started using. I did get a couple of everyday products to try which I haven't opened yet because I have older versions I'm still working through. This is a great time to pick up an eyebrow pencil, new eyeliner, or a new mascara. I also recommend getting my favorite winter skin cleanser, a new Clarisonic brush (if you use Clarisonic), or some new brushes (this one is a favorite). Shockingly I didn't buy any new lipsticks in the sale but I am putting some on my Christmas list, so maybe I'll have some new lipstick recommendations coming up soon.

Are you going to be getting anything in the VIB sale this weekend? Or, what are some of your favorite beauty products you've been loving lately? I always love to hear about new things to try!

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P.S. Also check out my mascara recommendations from my Mascara Madness post for some more beauty recommendations!

Nordstrom Mascara Madness

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Popping in quickly on Saturday to let you all know that today, and today only, is Mascara Madness at Nordstrom! This sale only happens twice a year for 24 hours and it's not really advertised, so I wanted to put out a PSA and let you know it's going on NOW! Today if you buy 2 mascaras (including TONS of great designer mascara) from Nordstrom your third mascara is free. This is a great opportunity to stock up on some of the pricier tubes you might have been waiting to buy because of the hefty price tags. In the May sale I actually bought six mascaras (oops, but I gave one to my mom!) and I still have two unopened tubes from the sale. 

I put together a little collage of the six mascaras I'd pick if I were going to shop the sale (I might get three, but I'm hesitant since I still have two from the other sale and two opened tubes I'm working through). Three are ones I've tried and three are ones that I'd like to try!

1: YSL Babydoll Mascara - I bought this in the last mascara madness and it is a good one! It doesn't smudge under my eyes which is a common problem for me since I stare at a computer all day for work and wear contacts (this equals watery eyes). It does a good job of lengthening my eyelashes and it's not clumpy. 4/5 stars. 

2: MAC False Lashes Extreme - I haven't personally tried this tube, but it's on my short list! The ratings online are great and it boasts extreme length without being clumpy. I have naturally light brown eyelashes (blonde people problems) so I love the dramatic look of dark, long lashes for a night out. If any of you have a tried this let me know your thoughts!

3: Lancome Hypnôse Drama - Another one I have not tried but it's on my short list. My mom ordered this in the Sephora VIB Rouge sale and I'm excited to hear her thoughts. The ratings are strong with over 200 reviews and almost 5 stars on Nordstrom.com, let me know if you've tried this one! It says it gives dramatic length in a single coat, which leads to no clumpy spider lashes!

4: Kevyn Aucoin 'The Volume' - I bought this last winter after reading an article about beauty editor's favorite mascaras this one was on a lot of their lists! I love that is comes off so easily by rubbing warm water on your lashes, but still lasts all day! It's the perfect "everyday work" mascara. I think I need to get another tube! 4.5/5 stars.

5: Diorshow Lash Extension Effect - I've tried a couple different Dior mascaras over the years and they never disappoint, they have a cult following for a reason! I've been wanting to give this formula a go as it says that it lengthens lashes with microfibers infused in the formula. Additionally, the air-lock tube prevents air from getting into the tube and therefore lengthening the life of the product. Has anyone tried this tube? Let me know your thoughts!

6: Burberry 'Effortless Mascara' - I bought this one in the last Nordstrom mascara madness but I have not opened it yet. The product claims to have a natural and sophisticated look with protection from heat and and humidity. I'll let you know my thoughts once I break it open, but in the meantime I'm including it because I've heard such great things and the ratings are so positive that I think it's a good pick for something to pick up in the sale!

So, will you be shopping in mascara madness? What are your picks? Also be sure to check out my picks and favorites from the Sephora VIB Rouge sale which is also going on this weekend (the sale is next week for VIBs!). 

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Sephora Sale: My Wishlist & Favorites

My Wishlist:

Dior Perfume // Hourglass Palette

Shimmer Skin Perfecter // Cover FX Drops

Origins Face Mask // Dior Lipstick (Dior Kiss) // Hourglass Blush (Mood Exposure)

Eyeshadow (Glimmering Cayenne) // Peony Night Mask // Liquid Eyeliner

My Favorites:

Living Proof Shampoo // Bumble & Bumble Conditioner

Becca Blush (Flowerchild) // Chanel Perfume

Supergoop CC Cream // Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer // Becca Illuminator Powder (Moonstone)

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light // Angled Blush Brush

Anyone else a little bit of a makeup junkie? It's not that I have a problem or anything...ok maybe I do. I just love playing with all the products and trying out new things to see what works. That's probably why I'm VIB Rouge at Sephora. Anyways, the annual sale at Sephora is coming up on November 6-9 where all VIB Rouge members get 20% off ANYTHING at Sephora with code 'Rouge20'. The best part is you can use the coupon as many times as you'd like within the windows, so you can place a few orders if you're not quite sure what you want right away. Things do sell out fast, so it's important to make your wishlist ahead of time! VIB members will get 20% off from November 13-16 with code "VIB20".

Whether you're shopping the sale or not, it's always fun to get some new makeup! I put together a listing of my personal wishlist for the sale (can I have it all?) and my favorite products from Sephora that I highly recommend!

My Wishlist:

1. Dior Perfume in Blooming Bouquet. I tried this on in the store and it was super light, floral, and an all around pretty everyday scent. I think it'd be great to wear to work because its high quality but not overwhelming.

2. Hourglass Palette - This ambient lighting palette features three shades: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, and Radiant Light. The Dim Light powder is a perfect all-over face blur to set your foundation. Incandescent light is a nice highlighter for your cheekbones and t-zone, and the radiant light can work as a brozner to add a little color to your cheeks. I had the makeup artist at Sephora apply this to my face and my skin looked glowing and perfect for hours!

3. Shimmer Skin Perfecter - After reading Grace's review on the liquid version of my favorite highlighting powder I decided I want to try this for myself. I love the creamy look of liquid products and I think this would be nice to have in my arsenal when I want that dewey look (which I usually do). I tried it on at the store by applying a drop on my hand and it worked well with just a tiny drop, so I think I'll get the travel size since a little goes a long way. 

4. Cover FX Drops - I also tried these at the store this weekend and love them already! I got a sample and I plan on using them this week to confirm my decision to buy. These drops are highly pigmented color that you can add to a primer or moisturizer to create a foundation with custom coverage. I added two drops to my Laura Mercier Radiance Skin Primer and loved the light coverage and dewey look it gave me. You could add 3-4 drops for a higher level of coverage if needed. You can even apply them directly to your skin to use as a spot concealer for breakouts. I love how versatile the drops are and can't wait to own the full-size for myself. 

5. Origins Face Mask - My friend Catharine introduced me to this Origins Face Mask with Rose Clay when we were at national training for our work in Illinois last month. This mask left my skin feeling so clean and fresh, and it's a great price point for a mask, only $25 for a full size! Catharine recommends doing this mask weekly followed by this intensive overnight moisture mask for really clean, moisturized, refreshed skin. This sounds like the TLC my skin needs for the upcoming winter months. 

6. Dior Lipstick - This Dior lipstick its a beautiful, natural color which moisturizes my lips and lasts for a surprisingly long amount of time. I love the pretty, pink sheen and I think this would the perfect time to splurge since I can get it for 20% off. 

 7. Hourglass Blush - I've been wanting to try the Hourglass blushes for awhile, and I recently tried the Mood Exposure shade and love it. It's different than any of the shades I currently own, its kind of a plum shade but trust me it looks good one. I think that's as good a reason as any to add it to my collection.

8. Eyeshadow - I'd like to get a Buxom customizable palette, with this shade especially. Although this shade might look a little scary for everyday wear, my friend Amy turned me on to a little trick for people with blue eyes. If you take a little bit of an orangey eyeshadow and put it in your crease it makes blue eyes really pop (since they are complimentary colors). Nothing is better than having your eyes pop, so I think I need to add this shade to my collection. I've swatched the Buxom shadows a couple of times and they seem to be really high quality and well pigmented, so the custom palette of 6 shades for $40 is really a great deal (especially for 20% off). 

9. Peony Night Mask - I have a couple of small acne marks left on my face from my teenage years and I'd like to work on lightening them up. I tried a sample of this mask last summer and I did notice some progress after using it religiously for awhile. I didn't purchase yet because of the $65 price tag, but this could be the time. 

10. Liquid Eyeliner - Mostly I just need a new liquid eyeliner and I've heard really great things about this Kat Von D tattoo eyeliner. Anyone tried this? I usually use the Stila Liquid eyeliner, and while I like it, I'm always down to try new things. 

My Recommendations:

1. Living Proof Shampoo - I love this stuff. It's formulated without parabens and sulfate, which is so important whether you have color-treated hair or not. I wash my hair every other day usually, and I find this doesn't try it out and leaves it feeling clean and smooth. 

2. Bumble & Bumble Conditioner - The Hairdresser's Oil Bumble & Bumble conditioner is soooo good. I know it's a little pricey, but it leaves my hair feeling so moiturized and seems to erase all the years of heat damage I've inflicted upon it. If you use heat styling products and find you have dry hair with split ends, this stuff is for you. It works so well that I actually only use it every other time I wash my hair to avoid my hair being over-conditioned. I usually use this conditioner the other times. 

3. Becca Blush - I love Becca products. This blush is no exception. I used to swear by NARS Orgasm blush (I still like it, and use it occasionally). But then at the suggestion of my friend Amy I deciced to try Flowerchild by Becca about a year ago. I have not really looked back. It lasts so long and is the perfect peachy-pink color. I added the "Gypsy" shade to my collection in April and thought it was the perfect ballerina pink shade, which looks so good with a little tan (which I do not have anymore, le sigh). NARS fans looking to try something new, look no further!

4. Chanel Perfume - This is my go-to scent. It is expensive, but the perfume is so high-quality and lasts so long I think it's worth it. I love the Eau Fraiche scent the most of the collection, but Eau Tendre is also a great scent. If you want a classic, everyday scent I highly recommend. I am always buying new perfumes to try, but I always have to have this one in my collection or I feel like I'm missing something!

5. Supergoop CC Cream - This wonderful CC cream by Supergoop was my go-to this past summer. The shade self-adjusts when you first apply, so give it a couple of minutes before applying a setting powder or any other makeup. It has SPF 30 which is great for your skin and provides nice, lightweight coverage. 

6. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray - I love using this in my hair in the summer for that beachy-wave look. I spray a little in my damp hair and then braid my hair while it dries. When I unbraid my hair I have the perfect beachy waves. I sometimes will even spray some on my already dry wavy hair and tousle it to freshen the waves up. 

7. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer - This stuff is a life saver. Gone are the days of painstakingly applying my eyeshadow (lol ok, at least putting on my eyeshadow) and just having it wear off during the day. I apply this to my eyelids before putting on eyeshadow, and everything just stays put until I remove it at night. Definitely worth it so your look lasts longer than a few hours. 

8. Becca Illuminator Powder - I know the moonstone illuminator is on my wishlist in liquid form, but I also love this product in the powder form. I just dust a little on my upper cheekbones with a fan brush and it gives me a glowing effect that makes me look more awake than I actually am. 

9. Bare Minerals Stroke of Light - Do you have under eye circles? Then you probably need this. The trick is this uses light reflectors to bounce light off the bottom of your eyes and make you look bright-eyed and bushy tailed. I always apply a little in the morning before work so that I can look a little more alert than I really am (read: I am not a morning person) but this little wand makes me look like I am.

10. Angled Blush Brush - I love this brush for applying my blush every morning. The angle on the brush makes it perfect for accenting my cheekbones and making them look higher and sharper. It's also a great price point for a high quality brush. 

Some honorable mentions of other products I love? This lipgloss in 'Rouge Ciel', this brow pencil, this facial cleanser, this heat protecter, and this khol eyeliner. 

Are you going to be shopping the sale? Even if you aren't what are some of your favorite beauty buys? Have you tried any of these products, I'd love to hear feedback!

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