My Favorite Summer Fragrances

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1. Bobbi Brown Beach (at Nordstrom or Bobbi Brown): It's not perfume really, it's like someone took the scent of summers at the beach from your teen years and put it in a bottle. It's a bit sand, a bit sea air, and there's even a bit of a sunscreen scent somehow. Putting this on immediately makes me think of summer. I take a rollerball of this with me on every beach vacation to help me get in the mood!

2 & 3. Trish McEvoy No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Eau de Parfum (at Nordstrom) and Sexy No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk (at Nordstrom): I'm a sucker for fruity scents and the Blackberry in this Trish McEvoy is aaaahhhhmazing! There's also a "sexy" version that is deeper and muskier, I prefer that at night and the No. 9 classic for during the day.

4. Tory Burch Eau de Parfum Spray (at Tory Burch or Nordstrom): A bit of a stronger floral with a touch of citrus, this scent is just fun! I use it a lot when I'm just home with my 2 little girls.

5. Gucci Flora by Gucci - Gracious Tuberose Eau de Toilette (at Nordstrom): This is a lighter floral that I love when it's really hot out but I want to feel a bit more "refined" and pretty.

6. Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau de Toilette (at Nordstrom): Are you tired of me mentioning this fragrance yet? Yes, it's currently my signature fragrance. I wear it about 50-75% of the time. It's a light floral and it just works no matter what is going on that day. I love it!

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7

The Best Frizz Fighting Hair Products for Summer

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Today for Makeup Wars, we're tackling one of summer's biggest hair woes, frizz! No one wants to have super frizzy hair. It's something that some of us are more prone to than others, and I'm in the frizzy hair camp.

When my hair is frizzy, there are a few things that I do to de-frizz. The most important for me is hydrating my hair. My hair is always dry when it starts to frizz, regardless of how much humidity is out there. So, if you're fighting the frizz, be sure to use an intensive hydrating treatment!

Hydrate

When my hair is dry and damaged, I definitely see an increase in frizz! I swap out my regular conditioner for a more intensive treatment, or if I really need to I'll even grab an overnight treatment. When I'm having issues with frizz, a hydrating issue is the first product I reach for!

A few of my favorite super intensive treatments:

1. Darshana (from Darshana): You can read my Darshana Hair Oil Review, but this hair oil is amazing! It is very versatile. You can use it in your hair about 30 minutes before a shower or even apply it all over at night. It really hydrates your hair without weighing it down.

2. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle (from Drugstore.com): This is a quick and easy swap out for regular conditioner. Plus, you can't beat the price!

3. Kerastase Nutrive Masque Oléo-Relax (from Kerastase): While I usually use the Chroma line from Kerastase (and I love both of those masques), I keep an "emergency" hair mask from the Nutrive line as well for when my hair is super dry and frizzy. To ensure that you get the most out of the mask, I towel dry my freshly shampooed hair first, apply the mask and put on a shower cap. I rinse it out after about 5-10 minutes. It can make anyone's hair silky soft!

Dry It Right

A few little tweaks in how you dry your hair can actually make a big difference in your level of frizz! When drying your hair, if you think your hair is dry, keep drying it for a few more minutes. Usually it isn't quite fully dry, and taking a few minutes to get rid of the last bit of moisture can really make a big difference when it comes to frizz.

4. DevaCurl DevaTowel (from Sephora): Instead of drying your hair with a regular towel, reach for microfiber (like this DevaTowel) or even just an old t-shirt. Don't rub, instead just squeeze and blot your hair. You'll rough up the cuticle of your hair less, so you'll have shinier hair with less frizz!

5. Sam Villa Professional Ionic Blow Dryer (from ULTA): This is just the dryer that I'm currently using, but the key is the ionic feature. It really does cut down on frizz! You'll find it at many price points, including the Conair Infiniti Pro Dryer (see my review, get it at ULTA) from $30, the Sephora Blast: Ceramic Ionic Blow Dryer ($80 at Sephora), all the way up to the $250 T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Dryer (from Nordstrom).

Styling Products to Prevent Frizz

Finally, we get to the part that you really want to know. What products should you add in to your styling routine to fight frizz? There are a lot of great products out there, I'm including some of my faves here. I'm purposefully trying to hit every price point, but in reality, if there is Living Proof in the house, I will use that first. If I'm out, I reach for L'Oreal. Living Proof has ingredients you won't find elsewhere, and it just works a bit better for frizz fighting. L'Oreal works really, really well and I do like it (and its price tag) a lot. But, I'm a bigger Living Proof Fan.

While Hair Is Wet:
6. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment (my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment Review, But it at Sephora): This product has anti-frizz and volumizing ingredients from Living Proof

7. L'Oreal Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream (at ULTA): Similar to the Living Proof, this cream is great for smoothing and preventing frizz.

While Styling Dry Hair:
8. Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield (at Sephora): You can spray it on over your styled hair and it keeps any and all possible humidity away. And you can't feel it in your hair. Amazing!

9. Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray (at Sephora): This is the hairspray I use all summer long. It won't budge even in mid-July Michigan humidity, spray it over styled hair and smooth everything briefly with your brush or a comb and it will keep frizz away.

10. L'Oreal Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Weather Control Hairspray (at ULTA): The L'Oreal version of the Living Proof hairspray. Yes, it does work, it just isn't quite as touchable.

Great for Wet or Dry Hair:
11. L'Oreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Multi-Restorative Dry Oil (at Target): I like this on wet hair to smooth and prevent frizz, or on freshly styled hair to further finish the style.

12. Redken Diamond Oil (from ULTA): This is the most concentrated hair oil I've ever used. You only need a few drops (which means that bottle is enough for 2 lifetimes), and you need to use about half the amount on dry hair that you use on wet hair.


For more Frizzy Hair tips, you can check out Avoiding “The Monica”: How to Tame Frizzy Summer Hair and my fight the frizz series.

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2

My Current Beauty Obsession: Bendy, Wavy, Crazy Hair!

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Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our current favorite product, but I have to admit that I don't have a current favorite that I'm reaching for over and over that really stood out. Instead, I'm obsessing with my hair. I want my hair to be curled or bent every day. Every day. On days that my hair is left straight because I just don't have time, I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed with myself!

I've recently published two different tutorials on how I get the look, my Perfect Hair Bend tutorial and Perfect Loose Curls tutorial. I've been going back and forth between the two looks, and I have noticed that the curls are a little faster, last a bit better for 2nd day hair (I need to touch up the bends a bit more on day 2), and are more polished looking. But, sometimes a girl wants some bend instead of curls!



Here are a few of my favorites for getting these looks:

T3 Twirl360 Curling Iron: Yes, it is expensive. It's 1 1/4", and when you hit the button and twist your wrist, the iron will automatically turn the direction you want it to turn. I think it is perfect for this look, but you could get it with any similarly sized curling iron (like the Hot Tools 1 1/4" iron). You can get it from Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy's or ULTA.

Kardashian Beauty 3 in 1 Ceramic Hairstyling Iron: It's a flat iron, an oval curling rod or both at the same time. The shape of the iron really is the key to getting just the right bend. It makes the look 100% fool proof, which is just what I need! You can find it at ULTA, Target or Sally Beauty Supply.


Salt Spray/Texturizer
For me, the real key to getting my hair to stay all day is a good salt spray. I've mentioned quite a few over the last few months, including in those tutorials, but really these are the two that I've been using with the best and most consistent results. Unfortunately, they're also the most expensive.

Kérastase Spray à Porter: This is perfect for my hair when it is damp. I spray throughout, then comb through. It's a bit too texturizing for my hair when it is dry. Get it at Birchbox or Kérastase.

Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray: Super lightweight, it also adds some great shine. I use this on day #2, spray a bit through dry hair and then touch up with the curling iron or Kardashian wand, then use one of the hair sprays to set. Get it at Birchbox, Neiman Marcus or Barney's.


Touchable Hold
I need to spray my hair after it has been curled/bent to keep the look all day. I've found that very few hair sprays actually work "right" with these looks. I want my hair to move and be very touchable. Everything else is too frozen of a look and won't work. Again, I haven't found a lower priced option that works really well for this look.

Kérastase Laque Dentelle: This is my favorite option for both looks. It just works. From Kérastase.

Redken Wind Blown 05: I'm still experimenting a bit with this spray. It isn't quite as touchable, but it is close and is at a lower price point than the Kérastase. It comes with a very strong spray, it is like a light wind in a can! You can buy it from ULTA.


What's your current beauty obsession?

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8

The Best of Kerastase: Yes, It Is Worth It

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I'm not sure how this happened, but over the last few years or so... I've become obsessed with one of the most expensive hair care brands out there. It started when I bought some shampoo and conditioner on Rue La La a few years ago. I noticed that with the shampoo and conditioner, my hair was easier to style. I actually got comments on Facebook pictures about my hair being shiny (completely ignoring the new baby in those pics), must have been some good hair! I had a tub of hair masque that I'd break out when really necessary. That little tub was babied for years, and it always gave me a week of good hair days. When I ran out, I was sad. I bought other salon brand products and they were good, and I enjoyed them. But there was always a bit of regret. They weren't Kerastase.

Suddenly, Kerastase started showing up on my doorstep (gasp!) I have no idea how that happened, but I had styling products! Mousse! Hair Spray! And best of all... a sea salt spray. The only one that has ever really worked well for my hair. When Kerastase started showing up semi-regularly on Rue La La, I started buying big bottles of shampoo and more masque. I repurchased products. I started stocking up in case I ran out. And I found myself saying no to testing other products.

So, my name is Christine... and I am a Kerastase addict. And these are my favorites!

1. Réflection Bain Chroma Riche (at Birchbox): This shampoo is the real secret to the good hair days. I've found that as long as I use this shampoo (a shine enhancing shampoo for color treated hair like mine), my hair is healthier, dries faster and styling is easier. When possible, I buy the very large, salon exclusive size from Rue La La.

2. Fondant Chroma Captive (at Birchbox): This lightweight conditioner is the "everyday" conditioner that I usually pair with the shampoo. It is hydrating without weighing down my hair.

3. Réflection Masque Chroma Riche (at Birchbox): The intensive mask that I was previously hoarding, I now use it about once a week. While I often just swap it out for my daily conditioner, it really does work better when I take a few extra minutes to towel dry my hair a bit after shampooing, then apply and rinse out after 10 minutes or so.

4. Spray Volumifique (at Kerastase): This spray adds shine, softens hair and can really help add a lot of volume! I don't use it often, but I like to reach for it when I know I'm styling my hair and want volume.

5. Nectar Thermique (at Birchbox): A light lotion that I'll use on damp hair when my hair is feeling dry. It add hydration, helps fight damage and protects from heat damage.

6. Ciment Thermique (at Birchbox): Let's face it, sometimes we all over do it with heat styling, and our hair suffers. When my hair is looking damaged and I need to head to the salon for a trim, I break out this lotion. It helps with the damaged areas, and helps to protect from further damage.

7. Spray À Porter (at Birchbox): The first sea salt spray to work for me, this is really the key product for when I curl my hair. I use about 8-10 sprays throughout my hair when it is wet. It gives my hair just the right amount of texture and holds the curls in place much longer.

8. Mousse Bouffante (Kerastase): If I want really big, Texas worthy hair with some hold, then this is the mousse I reach for. Don't overdo it, about the size of an egg is all that my hair can handle.

9. Laque Dentelle (at Kerastase): This is my current favorite hair spray! It has flexible hold but really does a great job of working all day long despite any humidity. I'm on my second can already.

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11

Makeup Wars: My Favorite Fragrances

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I used to do a lot of fragrance reviews here on 15 Minute Beauty. I really do love fragrances and perfume! But, I find them very hard to write, and since my sense of smell does seem to be a bit out of whack while I'm pregnant, and often for decent parts of the spring and fall, despite lots of allergy meds. So, the result is fewer fragrance reviews. But, you can bet that I'm still using a lot of perfumes on my own!

Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorite fragrances. I had a pretty hard time deciding which to pick, I stood there at my vanity smelling bottles and vials, and finally settled on these 11 perfumes as the ones I use the most often.

1. Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau de Toilette: This is definitely the perfume that I reach for on most days. It is a light floral, just a little bit sweet, and I wear it for pretty much any occasion. Home with the family, at work, out to dinner... you name it!
Notes: Orange blossom, Jasmine, Patchouli, White flower, Cedarwood, Rose Honey

2. Prada Amber Eau de Parfum Spray: This one is definitely a bit more on the deep and musky side.
Notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin, Mimosa Absolute, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Absolute, Labdanum, Tonka Beans, Vanilla, Sandalwood And Benzoin

3. Trish McEvoy Sexy No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Eau de Parfum (my Trish McEvoy Sexy No. 9 review): I'm a big sucker for both versions of the Trish McEvoy Blackberry Perfumes. This one is definitely sexier, a bit more musky but you still get that amazing Blackberry note.
Notes: Blackberry, Vanilla, Velvet Musk, Patchouli And Sandalwood

4. Trish McEvoy No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Eau de Parfum (my Trish McEvoy Blackberry & Vanilla Musk review): A lighter, everyday version of the Blackberry scent, there's a bit more of the Blackberry here.
Notes: Blackberry, Vanilla, Velvet Musk, White Rose and Cashmere Woods

5. Bond No. 9 New York Chinatown Fragrance (my Bond No. 9 Chinatown review): This perfume comes across as a bit spicy and exotic on me, I tend to wear it if I'm going out somewhere.
Notes: Peach Blossom, Peony, Gardenia, Tuberose, Patchouli, Cardamon, Dark Woods

6. Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue Eau de Parfum (my Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue Perfume review): This is a perfume that I've worn since high school, which means over 20 years. Yes. It's a light floral that works for almost everything, but I love that the Lilac definitely comes out on me as does the Amber base note, so it isn't a generic white floral.
Notes: Lilac, Linden Blossom, Dewy Magnolia, Muguet, Exotic Mandarin and Bergamot, Rare Rose Bulgarian, Violet, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Indian Tuberose, Peach, Clove, and Nutmeg, Amber, Tibetan Musk, Sandalwood, Iris, and Vanilla

7. Michael Kors Eau de Parfum Spray: It's a bit floral, a bit musky and spicy all at once.
Notes: Freesia, Tamarind, Chinese Osmanthus, Incense, Tuberose, White Wings Peony, Blue Orris, Arum Lilies, Cashmere Woods, Musk, Vetiver Haiti

8. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Spray: Floral without being overwhelmingly floral. I like that it seems bit sweet as well, I think because of the Orange Blossom note.
Notes: Bergamot, Tea, Freesia, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Orchid, Rose, Patchouli

9. Bond No. 9 Nuits de NoHo Fragrance (my Bond No. 9 Nuits de NoHo Review): This one is a bit sexy, patchouli and musky. The jasmine keeps it from being too heavy.
Notes: Jasmine, Creamy Vanilla, Sheer Patchouli, Musk, Bergamot, Rosewood

10. Jennifer Aniston by Jennifer Aniston (my Jennifer Aniston Fragrance review): I like this one so much I declared it one of my favorite all time products during my 5 year blogging anniversary celebration! I don't currently have a bottle (a little someone liked to smell it all the time and she may have dropped it all over my bathroom floor), but I'll be picking up another one sometime soon. It's beachy and floral without being overwhelming. Definitely not what you'd expect from a celebrity fragrance!
Notes: Citrus Grove Accord, Rose Water, Blooming Jasmine, Wild Violet, Amazon Lily, Sensual Musk, Golden Amber, Sandalwood

11. Trish McEvoy Black Rose Oud Eau de Parfum (my Trish McEvoy Black Rose Oud review): I'm not usually an Oud fan, but this is wearable even for me!
Notes: Fresh Raspberry Leaves, Lychee, Osmanthus Flower, Japanese Saffron, Black Peppercorn, Black Baccarat Rose Petals, Papyrus, Midnight Orchid, Imperial Incense, Agarwood Oil, Rare Sandalwood, Sensual Musk, Patchouli, Madagascan Vanilla

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9

Makeup Wars: Must Have Makeup Palettes

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1. Stila Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palettes in Soul: I own 2 of these palettes, and I swear that I've taken pics and will eventually post them, but I really do love them. I bought them just before my birthday in August, and I use them 3 or 4 days a week! I know they got mixed reviews by other bloggers, but for me they're perfect. I'm a big fan of Stila's formula, I like having so many shimmery neutrals together, and the mirror is huge, which is really great for travel!

2. Too Faced Country Palette: I somehow haven't yet posted my pictures of the Country and Rock n Roll Palettes. I use both palettes together, the Country Palette seems to be difficult for me to use without New Romantic in the Rock n Roll palette.

3. Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection (my Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Review): This is one of my default every day palettes. Birthday Suit is an amazing neutral for me, If I'm pressed for time I immediately reach for it and just do a simple wash of color over my entire lid.

4. Too Faced Rock n Roll Palette: I reach for this all the time! You can check out my review of the Too Faced Rock n Roll Palette here.

5. Urban Decay Naked2 Palette: This is my favorite of the 3 Naked Palettes. I think it is the most wearable by people of all skin tones.

6. Urban Decay Naked2 Basics: This is the newest Naked Basics, and it was created to really pair up with Naked2. I don't think you need both Basics palettes, so if you have Basics 1, then I'd skip it.

7. Too Faced Everything Nice Set: I'm always a sucker for the Too Faced Holiday sets and this is my favorite so far this year! Watch for a review soon!

8. Tarte Bon Voyage Collector's Set: This is the Tarte Sephora exclusive and it's pretty amazing! A lot of neutral shadows and fun extras that come in easy to travel with sizes.

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11

Makeup Wars: The Best Face Masks

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Today for Makeup Wars we're showcasing our favorite face masks, a topic that is right up my alley! I'm a big fan of skin care, and actually, quite a few of these products were featured in my favorite skin care savers post (and the follow up, the best drugstore skin care products).

1. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (my Midnight Recovery Review): Ok, yes, this is not a face mask. But I've yet to find a hydrating face mask that works anywhere near as well as this one, so I had to include it in the post! I only need a few drops on my face at night and I'll wake up glowy!

2. L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Glow Renewal Facial Oil: This is the L'Oreal dupe of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. The oils are different, but they work the same way, except this one feels a little bit heavier on my skin. Super glowy results!

3. Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque (my original Rare Earth Mask Review): Yes, there are cheaper clay face masks out there (and I'll be recommending one in a moment), but now that I have rosacea and I'm pregnant, I've been reaching for this one over any other. It pulls everything out of my pores, doesn't get that "so tight it hurts" feeling as it dries, and it doesn't irritate my skin. Definitely worth the extra money if your skin is at all sensitive!

4. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque: Depending on where you get it, this mask is usually in the $3-5 range, which is pretty tough to beat! It does a great job of pulling everything out of your pores, and I used it multiple times a week during my first (rosacea-free) pregnancy to help keep the hormonal blemishes at bay. However, my skin seems extra sensitive during this pregnancy, so this mask can be a bit irritating (hence, I'm using the Kiehl's), but I'm hoping that I'll be able to use this one again after I deliver.

5. Bliss Multi-‘Face’-Eted All-In-One Anti-Aging Clay Mask: This mask was just released by Bliss, and because it isn't pregnancy friendly I'm staring at it longingly on my countertop! It's yet another clay mask (I love cleaning out my pores, can you tell?), but this one has a few anti-aging extras. In particular, it has 10% Glycolic Acid, which really will help to exfoliate your skin and clean out your pores even more. There's also Jojoba Oil to help add moisture and plump up your skin and Kojic Acid to help with discoloration.

6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask (my Instant Oatmeal Mask review): This mask is hydrating and it can be a bit exfoliating (there's oatmeal in it, you can use it like a scrub as you remove it), but mostly it is just really soothing. If my skin is red and irritated at all, this is the mask I reach for. In no time my skin feels more comfortable, it adds some nice hydration and my redness is gone. And did I mention it smells like cookies? It does.

7. Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask: Yes, I know this mask says hydration, and it is hydrating (though not quite as hydrating as a few drops of that Kiehl's Midnight Recovery). But, really this creamy mask is similar in effect to the First Aid Beauty Oatmeal Mask. It adds some moisture and calms down irritation. But, it doesn't smell like cookies.


What are your favorite masks? Do any of them smell like cookies too?

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14

Makeup Wars: Anastasia's Maya Mia Palette Review, Swatches and Look

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Today I have a very special Makeup Wars for you! Anastasia has just released their Maya Mia palette, created with YouTube Beauty Guru, Maya Mia. It was just released a few days ago, and they've shared the palette with a few of the girls in Makeup Wars to create looks of our own!


The palette comes with 10 shades, a combination of neutrals and a few fun colors thrown in. Most of the neutrals are on the warmer side, and the colors are mostly matte. Glisten is a shimmer, there's a little shimmer in Aqua and Fresh Peach, though I would call them more of a satin finish.


When using these shadows, I did think that they were pretty powdery. This is something that I've noticed with Anastasia shadows in the past, though it is a little more prominent with their mattes, and that's most of this palette. I recommend using a "stickier" primer under these shadows. I had good results with my Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which has a bit more grab than my usual NYX Shadow Base. (Note, I swatched the shadows above on my arm without any primer.)

I found that using the "grabby" primer helped quite a bit with the intensity of the shadows. I haven't tried using them wet, though that is also an option, you could also use a NYX Milk Shadow Pencil under the shadow in make it more vibrant.



I decided to go for a pretty subtle look with the palette. Many of the neutrals are a bit warm on me (hence, I skipped over those peaches, but they're very pretty!), and the Aqua has been calling my name since I first saw pics of the palette!

I wore this look yesterday, which was a pretty quiet day for me. I did some stuff at home, had a doctor's appointment and ran to my favorite grocery store (Whole Foods) for pizza dough. So, I didn't want to be crazy colorful, but a little hint of fun color was fine with me! In person the Aqua was a little more apparent, I got compliments on the little accent color everywhere I went.



This look only took a few minutes. I started by prepping my eye lid with Too Faced's Shadow Insurance. I then used a large fluff brush to spread Warm Taupe all over my lid, up to my crease. I wanted the color to be a little lighter than in the pan, a light application was all I needed for the look I wanted. Then I grabbed a little of the Vanilla shade and spread it on my browbone and crease area as a bit of an accent. I do usually put a darker color in my crease, but I'd had a rough night of sleep the night before (see those bags? I blame being 7 months pregnant!) and I thought a lighter look would be better.

To add the Aqua accent, I used a stiff angled liner brush to apply the color along the lash line, it is thicker at the outer corner than the inner corner. Finally, I lined my eyes with a black liner directly in the lash line, and used the Deep Brown over the liner to "set" it for longer wear. I avoided anything on my lower lash line due to those circles and bags I mentioned, I wanted to lighten up my eye area overall and look more awake!

How would you use this palette?

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12

Lilac Every Day Eye Tutorial With Too Faced's Cat Eyes Palette

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Today for Makeup Wars we're trying something different. We'll all be tackling the new Too Faced Cat Eyes palette, creating looks and tutorials!

I decided to create a pretty quick and easy look using the palette. Just because it has the darker colors and is named Cat Eyes, doesn't mean you need to create such a dramatic look. I did this quickly one morning before spending the day with my family.



I started with a pre-prepped eye area. I prepped with concealer and then Shadow Insurance, which makes everything stay put all day long!

I used a medium fluff brush to spread Meow all over my lid and up to my brow bone.



Next I used a slightly smaller fluff to apply a light wash of Pussy Cat on to my lid up to (but not into or over) my crease. Because it was over Meow you only get a hint of lilac, alone it is more vibrant.



Next I grabbed my black Perfect Eyes Eyeliner and lined my eyes in the lashes. I know it doesn't look remotely perfect (that's why I'm giving you 2 pics of it, look! It's messy!) The point really was to get the liner down into the base of my lashes, something that is hard to do with wet shadow. The line is a bit thicker at the outer corner than the inner corner.



Next, using a wet brush (a stiff and angled eye liner brush for my upper lash line, a small detail brush for the lower 1/2 lash line), I grabbed a little of Jungle Love and a bit of Panther. Along the top line I traced over the eyeliner, making things more even. The lower lash line, I just placed a bit of the color at the lash line, though I used a bit too much water (see how it kind of smudges down?) and I had to clean it up a little with a q-tip. After the shadow was on the lower lash line I applied more of the black eye liner into the water line.



Finally, I finished up the rest of the look! I filled in my brows with Bulletproof Brows, highlighted above and below my brows with Instant Attitude Brow Lift and applied Better than Sex Mascara.


Everything used:
Shadow Insurance
Cat Eyes Palette
Perfect Eyes Eyeliner
Bulletproof Brows
Instant Attitude Brow Lift
Better than Sex Mascara
Sweethearts Blush in Something About Berry
La Creme Lip Balm in Pink Slip

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15

Makeup Wars: My Favorite Skin Savers

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Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorite skin savers, products that we reach for when we need to solve a skin issue. I ran into a bit of a problem when writing today's post. I had too many skin care products to recommend! So while I've divided products into the problems they solve, I've also decided to split everything into 2 posts. Today, the "high end" products (I don't really use truly luxury brands, so the highest I get is Kiehl's and products from Sephora/ULTA). Tomorrow, I'll repeat this post with my favorite drugstore problems solvers, some of which are near dupes for products on this list!

Dry Skin

1. Kiehl's 'Midnight Recovery Concentrate' Elixir: To say that I'm obsessed with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate is probably an understatement. Since my original Midnight Recovery review I've declared it one of the best products in my first 5 years of blogging (which was, wow, 2 1/2 years ago already?) and a travel beauty essential product. I won't get on a plane without it! If my face is feeling at all dry, I just apply a few drops of this product to my skin before bed, and in the morning I'm glowy and dewy again. It's a miracle!

2. Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve: This hand cream was reviewed on my blog all the way back on February 2, 2007. Which was my first week of blogging. It's one of my go-to products to save my hands in the middle of winter. Working in a Peds ICU means I wash (or anti-bacterial foam) my hands before and after each patient, and in the winter I do that again pretty much any available moment. Add on lower humidity, heated air, cold air outside... I need a heavy duty hand cream! So, this one lives in the pocket of my white coat. I even featured it in my best winter hand creams post.

3. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (my review of Ultra Repair Cream): In the winter I definitely go all out trying to keep my skin hydrated. We keep a tub of this cream right next to our kitchen sink for easy use, and I have a second tub up in the bathroom to use on any trouble dry spots. A few applications of Ultra Repair Cream on any dry areas (usually on my legs) can really keep my eczema flares away.

Chapped Lips

When my lips get chapped or a bit painful, I pull out these two products. 5. Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair is a balm that was actually developed to help heal cheilitis, that horrible irritation you get in the corner of your mouth. 6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy is more of a liquidy ointment, and I think it is easier to wear under things. So, I use the Ultra Repair Lip Therapy throughout the day, and at night I layer the Osmia Lip Repair over it.

Clogged Pores

4. Ellen Lange Retexturizing Peel Kit (see my Retexturizing Peel Kit review): This is a great, gentle peel that even my Rosacea sensitive skin can handle. It evens out texture and pigmentation and helps clogged pores.

7. Kiehl's 'Rare Earth' Deep Pore Cleansing Masque: This is my favorite "higher end" mud mask. It does a great job of pulling everything out but it doesn't feel tight or hurt when it dries. This is another one of my first reviews on 15 Minute Beauty, this one about 2 weeks after I started the blog.

8. Clarisonic Mia2: There are a lot of deep cleansing brushes, and I use a Clarisonic Plus. The Mia2 is the one I most often recommend to buy, it is very sturdy and a bit smaller (and easier for travel) than my plus.

9. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment: This green goo takes under a minute in the shower, but leaves your skin smooth and glowy. Check out my ExfoliKate review.

Dark Spots

10. Kiehl's 'Clearly Corrective' Dark Spot Solution: I like this stuff so much I actually have an entire Clearly Corrective Review Series. What I like about it is that it doesn't really lighten/bleach dark spots (which is a problem because you always get a bit of the surrounding area, which turns ultra light and makes the dark spot seem even more obvious). Instead, you can use it all over your face and it helps speed up cell turnover, prevents melanin from going crazy and creating dark spots and has a great side effect of fighting aging.

Pimples

11. Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix: This spot treatment has Benzoyl Peroxide in a gel delivery, and I swear it gets into my blemishes faster.

12. Tanda Zap Power: This is a slightly smaller (and rechargeable) version of my Tanda Zap, which I really do think helps my blemishes. I've been using it since my review, I don't even know how many times I've replaced the battery.

Wrinkles

13. Tria Age-Defying Laser: If you read my Age-Defying Laser post you know that I was happy with the results I was getting, with minimal irritation. I had to stop using it due to my pregnancy, but I plan to restart after I deliver this baby girl.

Irritated Skin

14. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask (my Instant Oatmeal Mask review): This is perfect whether your problem is a sunburn or windburn. And it smells like a cookie.

Stay tuned for a drugstore version of this list tomorrow!

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9

Makeup Wars: The Best Black Eyeliners

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I looooooove eyeliners. Remember my eyeliner drawer? (Yes, I have a whole drawer.) So when we decided to showcase our favorite black liners for Makeup Wars, I knew I'd have a huge list. I think I've tried most of the formulas that major brands (aka, brands you can buy at places like Walgreen's, Meijer, Sephora and ULTA) have to offer. I haven't tried as many department store brands, in large because I don't really shop at those stores. (Something about the women in their tunics intimidates me.)

So, here are the brands and formulas that I have in my drawer and have repurchased multiple times!

Gel Liners
I like to use a stiff angled brush to apply these liners, and they're usually pretty long lasting. I featured 3 products here, but there's also a great version from Bobbi Brown (I haven't bought it in a few years, so it was left out of the collage), and L'Oreal makes a good one that I just couldn't find on-line.

1. Maybelline Lasting Drama by EyeStudio Gel Eyeliner: This is a great drugstore version of the gel liner. It isn't quite as pigmented as the Urban Decay and MAC versions, but it is close and a fraction of the cost!

2. Urban Decay Super-Saturated Ultra Intense Waterproof Cream Eyeliner: This is a new product from UD, it's sitting on my vanity waiting to be reviewed. I think it is more pigmented than the MAC, and for me it is longer wearing.

3. MAC Fluidline: What would a post about black liners be without mentioning MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack? It's the gold standard of gel liners, the one that most makeup artists and many of my friends swear by. I do think it's pretty great, though I have smudging after about 10-12 hours. So, for me this is a night out liner, not great for a full day at work.


Liquid Felt Tip Pens
Putting liquid liner in a felt tip pen makes it much easier for me to deal with than a pot and brush! I've tried 30 or 40 different kinds of pens, but these are the 3 (!) that make the cut. I want the felt tip to be longer and very pointed, and a little bit flexible. I need the tip to have very pigmented liquid that applies easily from the pen, none of those mostly dry pen tips for me! I should note that I've heard great things about NYX's The Curve liner as well, but I just bought it and haven't tried it out yet.

4. Urban Decay Ink for Eyes Waterproof Precision Eye Pen: Again, another new product from Urban Decay! This is the darkest of the 3.

5. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner: This has long been my "go-to" liquid liner pen.

6. CoverGirl Bombshell Intensity Liner: Very similar to the Stila, this pen is a fraction of the price and I love the smaller size! It fits right into the palm of my hand very easily.


Pencil Liners
As much as I love the other types of liners, these are the ones that I tend to reach for the most often.

7. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil: If you want black, Perversion is the darkest black from UD. There are some amazing colors in this formula as well.

8. Too Faced Perfect Eyes Eyeliner: This is my favorite for lining my waterline, it seems to apply the easiest and stays put all day.

9. CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil: A great drugstore find! It's just soft enough to blend easily from the lash line.

10. Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Smoky Eyes Pencil: If the Too Faced is too soft for your waterline, the Elizabeth Arden is the way to go. It also stays put all day for me, and the formula is just a tad harder (which can mean fewer smudges).


Automatic Pencils
11. Smashbox 'Always Sharp' Waterproof Kôhl Liner: I discovered this pencil when a makeup artist at Nordie's used it on me in Chicago, and I think I've repurchased it about 4 times in the last year. My favorite part is that if you twist the cap, it sharpens the pencil! That's super easy, and it saves space when you're traveling. I have it in black, brown and my favorite is actually Penny Lane.

12. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner: I stock up on this pencil in Black and Damsel. It is great for in the lash line and it smudges just enough with a brush for a pretty smoky look.

13. CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Self Sharpening Eye Pencil: My go-to drugstore pencil, it's very similar to the Stila but smudges a little less.


What's your go-to black liner? I'm always looking for a new one!

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18

Makeup Wars: My Favorite Nude Lippies

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I've previously shared great nude lippies, but today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorites! I went through my pockets, purses and the top of my vanity to find the products, and shades, that I'm reaching for most often. Because my skin is so fair, I've found that I need to be really careful with light nude shades. Too light or too nude and I look ill. I usually need to add in a little bit of pink to give me a bit of color.

I'm often a drugstore makeup girl, but lately I've splurged a bit at Sephora. What nude lippies are you reaching for lately?

1. YSL Glossy Stain in 106 Beige Anarchist: The YSL Glossy Stains are a great formula and sometime in the last year or so they came out with beige-nude tones. I recommend picking out one that looks darker than your lip shade, they're pretty translucent.

2. NARS Lip Gloss in Belize: Super pretty mauve-pink-nude color, it should work for a lot of skin tones.

3. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain, Lilac Ever After 185 : I know this is often described as a purple, but it really isn't. I've repurchased this shade 3 times now I think? It is a bit mauve, a bit nude, and just deep enough to look like I have some color but not take over.

4. Maybelline Color Sensation Lipcolor Buffs, Nude Lust: These Maybelline lippies are really hard to find in stock, so I ordered this one on-line. I really like it, and I'm trying to ignore my urge to buy a few more shades.

5. L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Balm, Caramel Comfort: Perfect for keeping in your pocket all the time!

6. YSL Rougé Volupte Shine in 10 Chocolate Instyle: It looks darker, but this is pretty translucent and comes across as just the perfect slightly darker than nude shade on my lips.

7. Maybelline ColorSensational Color Elixir Lip Color, Nude Illusion: The Maybelline liquid lips are a bit more pigmented than their L'Oreal cousins, I also like Caramel Infused.








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14

Makeup Wars: My Favorite Blushes

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Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our favorite blushes! I admit that I'm usually a pink blush girl, but recently Vincent Longo sent me a peach blush (post coming soon!) and have gotten so many compliments when I wear it! I think I need to break out of my pink blush rut and add in some peach. Here are the blushes that I reach for the most when getting ready in the morning.

1. Vincent Longo Dew Drop Blush in Sandalwood: I have pics and a post coming up, but this blush is really inspiring me to go a bit more peach lately! Super pretty.

2. CoverGirl Clean Glow Blush in Roses or Peaches: This is pretty subtle and glowy, I love that you can use just one of the 3 shades or swirl together.

3. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink: This is one of those formulas that you either love or hate, and I happen to love it. Check out my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush review.

4. Cargo Blush in Almafi: This is a very pretty, fresh pink that works for pretty much everything.

5. Stila Convertible Color: My favorite shade is Lillium, though I no longer see that shade on the Stila website. I also like Rose and Gerbera. I even included this blush in my list of the 9 Best Products from Stila.

6. Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Something About Berry: These blushes combine 3 flattering shades that you can use on their own or swirl together, have just a touch of shimmer and I swear they just are glowy! Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush review.

7. Maskcara IIID Cream Blush: I love that Cara put her blush in a lipgloss wand! It is so easy to just dot on your face and blend with a finger. The result is very pretty and glowy. Maskcara IIID Cream Blush review.

8. Tarina Tarantino Doll Face Blush Palette: I just got this palette last week, I ordered it from Gilt after Phyrra raved about it for months. The blushes are nicely pigmented and last all day, I like that there's a nice range of blushes in 1 spot.

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8

Makeup Wars: Our Holiday Wishlists

Nothing to Disclose



Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our Holiday Wish Lists. I have to confess, I was putting things on a wish list yesterday for my family to see, and I realize there isn't really anything that I need. I have a lot of stuff. I'd love to have more time with my family (the family vacation I'm planning for this spring will be great for that). I'd love to ensure that my entire family is healthy this year (long story I'm not sharing, but that isn't really in the cards for my extended family this year), so I'm praying for a good outcome instead. I have a lot of clothes and accessories on the list for my family, but really it was just stuff that I liked. I currently have a gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so here's a peek at what I'm looking at using it on!

1. Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case: I'm a big fan of Urban Decay and I already have the Shattered Face Case. I love the colors in the Anarchy kit as well, I think I need this one!

2. Too Faced Joy to the Girls: I'm also a sucker for anything put out by Too Faced (they're pretty amazing!), and while I've reviewed the Too Faced Holiday Collection, this is one of the few kits I don't have! There are quite a few more neutral shades in that eye palette that I would love to have.

3. Bobbi Brown Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette: Although I love Bobbi Brown, I don't cover a lot of her stuff on the blog simply because I don't really have a contact in her company and I'm so overwhelmed with other brands. I forget to head to the counter to check out what's new, and that's something I need to fix! The products are always, always so amazing from her! I really love this palette, the colors are just so flattering for almost everyone.

4. Stila Artist Essential Set: I love that the shadow palettes lift out for ease of use, and a few of my other favorites are in this kit (like a Convertible Color, Peony is a great shade for me).


5. Urban Decay Vice 2: I forgot to order this when I ordered my Naked3 palette last week (it's coming tomorrow!!), and I'm still kicking myself. I should have remembered!

6. Kate Somerville Hollywood's 2 Minute Facial Kit: I'm a big fan of ExfoliKate, which is yes, pretty expensive. I've been out for about 10 months, and I need to get more! This kit is the same price as a 2 ounce tube of it (that tube can last me over a year, not shabby), except it includes a small travel size version too.


7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Head-to-Toe Hydration Kit: All of my First Aid Beauty essentials in 1 place! I need this to survive winter!

8. Too Faced The Return Of Sexy Eye Shadow Palette: Somehow, I haven't bought this yet.


What are you wishing for this Holiday Season?

17

Makeup Wars: 5 Minute Face

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We all have those days, when you're in a huge rush and at the most you have 10 minutes to get ready. Including clothes, hair, brushing your teeth... you get the picture. Which means at best, about half of that is for putting on some makeup. Absolutely, this is something I need to do in order to feel my best (though I will skip everything other than throwing on some clothes if it is in the middle of the night and I'm running in to my ICU. In which case everyone can just deal with the circles under my eyes and my fuzzy teeth.)

Anyways, these are my go-to products when I'm running around trying to get ready ASAP. Often there's a certain 2 year old girl "helping with makeups", which means I'm mostly smearing on with my fingers.

1. Pond's BB Cream: Somehow I haven't written my review yet, though this stuff is amazing and I've already repurchased it a few times. It is just hydrating enough, offers light to medium coverage that can be built and I don't need to do any special blending. Just smear!

2. Currently, my favorite concealer is Amazing Cosmetics. I put a small amount on the back of my hand, add a small smear of the Smashbox Photo OP Under Eye Brightener and mix with my finger. This goes under my eyes in a triangle (the three points are my inner eye, outer eye and the corner of my nose), around my nose and a little on my chin. I smear and pat with my fingers, but once it is just about where I want it I'll grab my Beauty Blender sponge (if I'm in a big hurry I just use it dry, the sink is waaaay across the room) and bounce it around my face a little to help blend.

3. Once I've blended with the Beauty Blender, I use it to pick up a little bit of my Cargo HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder (Cargo HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder Review), pressing it under my eyes and in my t-zone. The powder is very fine and with the Beauty Blender it just sinks into my skin and you can't see it there at all!

4. I love the NYX Shadow Base! I use the nude color, and I just use my fingers to pat it onto my lids. It makes all of my vessels disappear (a much cleaner look!) and will let my shadow last all day.

5. Stila Not So Nude Palette: For shadow, I'll grab something pretty neutral. Lately I've been obsessing over a few colors in this Stila Palette, and I keep meaning to go back to ULTA and buy the other 2 palettes (I was soooo close to just buying all 3), I need to do it! Mostly I use Sugar, a light pinky-nude with shimmer that isn't overwhelming.

Once my plain shadow is on (this is a 1 shadow look!) I'll use my fingers to get a little bit of the cream Convertible Color and apply a little to my cheeks. I like that it is in the palette so I don't need to dig around for anything else.

6. Too Faced Perfect Eyes Eyeliner: I really love these liners, they're just soft enough to really smudge nicely but they stick around all day! If I'm running behind on time I only smudge the liner right in between my lashes. If I have a little bit more time (about 30 seconds) I'll grab a smudge brush and run it over the liner as well.

7. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: While I'm usually a big one for layering my mascara, when pressed for time I just quickly curl my lashes and reach for this mascara. It offers nice length but really great volume, which is what makes the biggest difference for me.

8. L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain (in Lilac Ever After): This is my default lippie. I think I'm on my 2nd or 3rd stain of this shade. I really need to buy stock in L'Oreal.

And I didn't include it in my collage (because I know I'd be completely out of time at this point), if there's any way to sneak in 1 more product I'd go for the Benefit Gimme Brow, which is an amazing new find for me! I have a review coming up soon, but really you just swipe the little brush over your brows, which is about 10 seconds, and it looks like you spent a lot more time filling them in perfectly. Totally worth going over in time a bit!



What are your favorite time saving products? How do you prioritize your routine when speed is so important?









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14

Makeup Wars: The Best of ELF

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UPDATE 9/13/2015
I've made a new, updated companion list! New products that are must haves, since this list came out in 2013. Check out my new ELF Must Have Products!


Today for Makeup Wars we're each picking a brand and sharing our favorite, must have products from that line. This is something I've done before, my Must Have Products posts have featured Urban Decay, Too Faced, Stila and a lot of my other favorite brands. Today I wanted to highlight a much lower priced brand, I'm sharing my favorite products from ELF.

I have a new obsession with ELF. I fully admit that I recently placed an order for over $100 (yeah for money I earn blogging!) and have picked up a few other items over time as well. If you haven't seen the ELF 2013 Holiday Sets you need to run and find them at your local store. Like, now.

ELF is amazing for their prices. Almost everything is under $3, and the few items over that amount are usually well worth it. The line is huge and includes a lot of dupes for more expensive makeup items. When I was researching the line for my order, it was actually a bit hard to find lists of products that are worth picking up. So, I bought a lot of different products and you can expect a lot of much more in depth reviews soon.

In the meantime, I've made it through about 1/3 of my order (there was a lot of stuff!) and I want to share with you which products are my favorite so far! So, here's my list of the best, my favorite and definitely worth buying products from ELF! Some of these products are available at your local store (I can get ELF at Target and Walmart), but a few are online only (like the Glitter Primer. You need to place an order only to get that primer!)


1. Glitter Primer: Everyone needs a good eye shadow primer. Really, everyone. I've heard that a lot of people like ELF's regular shadow primer, but I've never really had good luck with it. But, I was really interested in trying out their Glitter Primer, and though shopping cart quirks (and buying a large set of items that contained the primer when I didn't realize that it was there), I actually ordered 3 of these primers. At first I was a bit annoyed at myself, I spent $6 on primer basically when $2 was ok just to get 1 to try it out. But, now I'm so glad I have 3 tubes of it! This stuff really is pretty amazing. It really grabs on to any loose powder and keeps it on your lid all day, whether you're wearing regular shadow or something that is a bit more, well, glittery. And it is super easy to wash off at the end of the day. You'll want to stock up once you try it!

2. Lip Exfoliator: I know it looks funny, but rather than using a more traditional brown sugar lip scrub, you can just rub this over your lips and rinse it off. It works great and I love how quick it is! I don't get scrub all over the place for once.

3. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick: This is very similar to lip gloss sticks from brands like Clinique, Revlon and CoverGirl. Just for a lot less money.

4. Makeup Mist and Set: I've mostly been using this to spray my eye shadow brush and then help foil on a shadow, and it works really well. I need to remember to spritz it all over my face as well! My friend Phyrra wrote an amazing post about The Best Ways to Use e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist & Set. It's a great $3 dupe for MAC's Fix+ spray.

5. Shimmering Facial Whip: This highlighter is a total steal at $1, but don't use too much! It's easy to turn yourself into a shimmer ball. Just a small amount is all you really need.

6. Daily Brush Cleaner: This is basically a (good smelling) alcohol spray to put on your eye shadow brushes after you use them so you can brush off that day's color. This is something I'm horrible about remembering to do and I'm actually remembering to clean my brushes more often because of this cheap spray. It really works too.

7. High Definition Powder: This super fine powder is a great dupe for the much more expensive Make Up For Ever HD Powder. It's one of their more expensive items at $6, but it is amazing! Definitely pick some up.

8. Baked Eye Shadows: There are a few colors and they're near perfect dupes for similar shadows from Sephora. The colors are really very pretty and I'm using my set a lot already, I'll need to make a few easy look tutorials using this palette! I have it in California (here's my ELF Baked Eye Shadow in California review and swatch pictures post).

9. Eye Shadow Brush, 10. Smudge Brush and 11. Studio Contour Brush: These are all among my favorite eye shadow brushes. I have a lot of brushes, many of them are from much more expensive brands, and I seem to be reaching for the ELF brushes the most often. At $1-3 each you can easily stock up!

12. HD Blush: This cream blush is a great dupe for Make Up For Ever's HD blush, and it is so pretty and easy to use! I put a small pump on the back of my hand and apply with either my finger or a blush brush from there. It's well pigmented and blends easily to last all day.

13. Eyebrow Kit: One side is a pigmented wax, and I can apply just a little bit to get a natural look. The other side is a lighter powder that you can use over the wax, though I admit that I skip this step.

14. Matte Lip Color: Just what it sounds like, I think it is basically Stila's Convertible Color in a pencil form. I'm really loving Natural.

What are your favorite ELF products?

UPDATE 9/13/2015
I've made a new, updated companion list! New products that are must haves, since this list came out in 2013. Check out my new ELF Must Have Products!










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39

Makeup Wars: My Fall 2013 Go-To Manicure

Product Sent for Review I Bought It

Today for Makeup Wars we're sharing our current favorite fall manicures. I have a confession, I'm a girl with hundreds thousands of nail polishes, and I haven't been wearing much. I've been busy running around like a crazy person and really haven't even had time more than than a few manicures!

But, the ones that I've done have all been the same 2 polishes, which you can see here. I've mostly been wearing them separately, but they do work together!

I'm a big purple girl, and my favorite polishes right now are Nails Inc Bond Street and CoverGirl Violet Flicker.

The Bond Street is Gel Effect Polish. This polish is meant to be a little longer lasting with more shine than a usual manicure. I have noticed that I get a day or two of longer wear, though I'm not sure it is any shinier (my normal Seche Vite top coat is already really shiny). There's also a plumping effect, which is apparently the extra layer effect that you'll get on your nails with gel manicures.

The polish is very pigmented and I only need 2 thin coats, so I haven't noticed much plumping. And I have to admit that I find the plumping to be a strange thing to be wanting. I really don't like having such thick nails. It must just be me!


The CoverGirl Violet Flicker is from their new Hunger Games collection. I was lucky enough to see a mini-display at Meijer a few weeks ago right after it was put out, though already only these 2 colors were left. I've only seen empty displays since that time! This is a really pretty color in person, the picture doesn't do it justice. It's a very pretty purple with multi-color shimmer and glitter. I need 3 thin coats to get it opaque and due to the glitter it is hard to get off. I have to use the foil method for nail polish removal to get the glitter off of my nail.

What colors have you been wearing this fall?








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11

Makeup Wars: Beauty Storage Solutions

I Bought It Myself

This week on Makeup Wars we're sharing how we store our massive makeup collections. I'm the first to admit that beauty bloggers are not the typical consumer. We are hoarders, we collect makeup and will ignore any warning to throw away powder makeup after 3 months (seriously, I don't know where some of the guidelines come from. Nothing really can live in powder. Sharpen your pencils, they'll be fine below. Mascara you should probably toss for real every 3 months though.)

Yes, I have more blushes, eye liners and lip glosses in my bathroom right now than a "normal" person would use in their entire lifetime. And my husband will laugh at me for sharing how I organize it all. Why?

That's why. That's a small part of my office floor. Things that are waiting to be tested end up all over the place after I take pictures, and I just don't have a system for organizing it all.

My bathroom isn't much better, I have a pretty messy vanity area when you take into account the items I use every day, things that I'm currently testing, and stuff that hasn't yet found a home.

But, when you look behind closed doors, I actually am pretty organized!

The most organized spot is probably this closet, which is found in my office. This is about 2/3 of my nail polish collection, I probably have well over 2000 polishes. For real.

To store my polishes, I've taken the original single shelf out of the closet and put in an Ikea Ivar System. I love that this is super adjustable, I move the shelves around as needed. I have this same set up, but taller. Cheap and perfect for my needs!

On the shelves I have 2 drawer sizes from The Container Store. I've found that while these drawers are stackable and stable for shirts and other lightweight items, for something heavy like polish you only want 2 or 3 units at a time. Putting them on shelves like this makes everything steadier. I use the shirt and accessory drawer for polishes. These are tall enough for even my OPI polishes (my bottom 2 drawers are both filled with OPI), but don't leave a lot of extra space unused on top. The sweater drawer is what I use to hold items like extra remover, lotion, etc.

I organize these drawers by brand, really because that's how my mind works. I don't think "I want to wear a purple polish", and then go to a purple drawer. Instead, I tend to think "I want to wear OPI Lincoln Park After Midnight" and go to the OPI drawer.

Underneath that messy bathroom vanity, I have 7 drawers. There are 3 on each side and 1 shallow drawer in the middle, I thought I'd show you what I have in 6 of those drawers (number 7 is on the bottom left and is where I store things like extra Venus razor blades. Kind of boring.) These drawers are pretty well organized, though sometimes things will get moved around a bit because my 2 year old likes to play with my "makeups". I took these pics today without cleaning up. It's hard to tell from the size of these pics, but everything is well contained within their own little organizers.

1. This is the middle drawer on the top, I put things that I use pretty much every day here. It has my favorite concealers, my lash curler, my daily translucent powder and a few blushes.

2. This is a drawer that I need to purge. It's mostly eye liners and mascaras. I use shallow drawer organizers from Target to keep the 2 separated.

And yes! Most of the mascaras need to be thrown away, after I've tested a mascara for 4-5 days it gets put here and I honestly haven't thrown things away for about 7 or 8 months (I'm not actually using them, which is probably good, they're just taking up space). Why does this happen? Because I test the mascara and put it in the drawer, in case I want to go back to it in the next few months. Why would I throw it away immediately? That's silly. But they tend to build up and I haven't had time to purge them in a while. #keepingitreal (And there are multiples because of different colors and waterproof vs regular.)

3. This is my single eye shadow drawer, it's on the upper left. I use those same drawer organizers from Target here. I have the products sorted by brand.

4. This drawer has extra face products. BB Creams, primers, blushes, concealers, you name it! They're all there.

5. Eye shadow palettes and my loose powder shadows. Again everything is in an organizer and I can easily find what I'm looking for.

6. My lippie drawer. I have Glossybox boxes to organize here, but I need a new system. I haven't figured that out. Currently there are 4 clear drawer organizers on the bottom and a 5th sitting on top, they all are sorted by brand and gloss/lipstick (except for a few thrown on top by my toddler). It is actually fairly easy to find what I'm looking for. Those curlers to the left are there to distract my 2 year old, she ALWAYS goes for them!



How do you organize your stash?

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