August Favorites!

August Favorites

What, summer is already over?? I can not believe we have reached the end of August and that it is finally time for my favorite time of year…FALL! I’ve hauled some things, rediscovered some things and been a crazy person this month, but I am so excited to share my favorite products from this month!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blushing Bride – I actually almost returned this blush after I ordered it. The Sephora website describes it as a “plumy rose,” and I was really excited about a plum blush for fall. However, this is much lighter in person than on the site. When I put it on my cheeks, I didn’t know what to expect, but I cannot stop wearing it! It’s a beautiful, healthy rose color that is very pretty, healthy and feminine. I am so glad this did not go back to Sephora.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Nude Creme – I’ve been really anxious to try one of these lipsticks after seeing this post from Makeup by Chelsey. The formula is very moisturizing and longlasting, especially for a drugstore lipstick. I love this color, too. I have plenty of pinky nude lip colors, but this one pulls more peachy-nude, which I love. This is a new staple to my makeup bag.

Lush Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner – I’ve actually had this for a while, but I used it really regularly this month and was introduced to how wonderful it is. I am generally pretty lazy when it comes to putting on lotion after I get out of the shower – I’m ready to put all the products in my hair, dry off and get going! So this product is perfect. It’s essentially a hair conditioner for your skin. Just rub it in after your body wash, rinse off and have gorgeous, soft skin. It has a rose smell, which is just beautiful and leaves your skin very soft. I really love this product and see it as a new staple!

Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss – I’ve also had this for a while, but this month, I was reminded of how awesome it really is. I’ve been bad about drinking enough water, so my lips have been pretty dry. I use this before I go to bed, and this thick, luxurious balm kept my lips moisturized through the morning. I use this every night, and I love it. This is my favorite scent, but all the other ones are really nice as well.

Bare Minerals Blush in Cheerful – I usually don’t love loose powder blushes, but this one is such a gorgeous color that I can move past it. I love this healthy, pink color. It’s bright without being obnoxious and really buildable, depending on your preference.

Bare Minerals Matte Foundation – This has been a rediscovery of this whole summer. I love the coverage that this foundation gives and how natural and beautiful it makes my skin. This month, especially, I loved using it with the MAC Pro Longwear concealer when my skin needed to breathe, and it lasted all day. I’m so happy to have pulled this back out.

Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in Amethyst and Cocoa – I’ve hauled several of these recently (which you will see in an upcoming post), and I am OBSESSED. These are the two I’ve used the most this week, and I just love them. They go on so easily and are so pigmented. They go with so many palettes and single shadows for simple looks or more complicated ones. They blend out easily with my finger or an eyeshadow brush, too. They also work really well in the waterline. A standout product for sure!

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Happy Days – I love the formula of these pencils, and this color is probably my favorite. It’s a beautiful corally pink with a subtle gold shimmer. It has a subtle satin finish and feels wonderfully moisturizing without being too heavy. This color gives life to any makeup look without being too obnoxious or too subtle. I really love this as a transition-to-fall color!

Naked Basics Palette – Another rediscovered. Especially with the introduction of the Laura Mercier sticks, this is the perfect addition to any single shadow, and a great palette to use on its own. I love how versatile it is and how it enhances any makeup look. I keep going back and forth on buying the second palette…and it may end up in my collection sooner rather than later.

Overall, a great month of products! This next month will be busy as well, but I am very hopeful that I’ll be able to get new posts to you all more often! What did you love this month? I’d love to hear!

August Birchbox Unboxing

As I told you all last month, I was really disappointed with my Ipsy bags, so I switched to Birchbox for my monthly subscription. So now, it’s time for my first Birchbox Unboxing!

Here’s what came in my box:

August Birchbox

Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub: I’m really excited to use this! I’m always looking for brightening face products, and this one smells like something you would use in the spa – always a plus.

Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Minish Primer: I’m always looking for a good pore minimizing product, and I’ve always been impressed with things from Dr. Jart. Could it replace the somewhat disappointing Porefessional? We shall see.

Not Soap, Radio Happiness Inducing Body Wash: What a fun concept! This is an aromatherapeutic body wash that’s supposed to make you happier. It has a lemony, happy smell, and I’m really excited to sue it.

TheBalm Stainiac: I love TheBalm products, and I love rose lip stains, so I’m super excited for this. It reminds me of Benetint, only with a spongetip applicator. It does smell a little fake, but this is a perfect fall transition product.

Hello Breathspray in Pink Grapefruit Mint: This is one of those “really Birchbox?” lifestyle products. It’s a breath spray that smells like grapefruit and mint, but it really does freshen breath. It’s supposed to be 99% natural. Not something I use in my everyday life all the time, but this looks surprisingly useful, so this could be useful.

Overall, not a bad box! What did you get in your monthly BirchBox?

August Julep Maven Unboxing

It has been a minute! I am so sorry for the time between posts! I usually take an evening or two to write my posts, photograph and schedule them to go out but between a crazy workload and being sick, that just hasn’t happened in a good while. I’m here now though, with my August Julep Maven Box (finally). If you’re a Maven, you know that these boxes took forever to ship for a variety of reasons, but mine finally did arrive. And I got several Jules on top of it.

It looks like after you customize your box once, it happens all the time, so I did have another customized box this month for their Wanderlust collection! (At least, I couldn’t figure out how to go back to non-customization and that price…) Here’s what it looks like:

The Wanderlust Collection

August Maven Box

I got 2 polishes –  Joyce (It Girl) and Neha (Bombshell). Here’s what they look like:

Joyce is a “lava red shimmer.” It looks like this will be a great polish for late fall/winter, but nothing super exciting. The reddish orange shimmer in the polish is really nice, though.

I’m really excited about Neha, a “sari magenta shimmer. It looked similar to a lot of polishes I already have initially, but after wearing it a while (I’m wearing it right now :), it looks different in different lights, sometimes pulling red or pink or purple. It’s really pretty and saturated, and a perfect nail color to transition into fall.

This month’s box also included eye gliders, and I got the plum glider in my box.

Upon further reflection, this was maybe not the best choice because I already have a few purple liners, but it is really nice. It’s pigmented, creamy and lasts a long time. I’m really interested in trying the taupe one, so I foresee a Julep order in my future….

Overall, I’m really happy with Neha, but wished I had made some other choices with nail/eye glider colors after seeing other boxes. As always, though, it’s so fun to get new nail polishes in the mail…and now the next window opens next week! Did you get a Maven box this month? What did you get?

Sephora Haul!

Oops, I’ve been hauling… In my defense, Sephora has had some amazing VIB perks/deluxe samples with purchase, so of course I had to take advantage. Between running out of some great products and wanting to try some new things, I’ve come up with a great collection of products. Here’s what I’ve picked up:

Sephora Haul

Living Proof Prime Style Extender – I thought I could live without this product…and then I went without it. Not only is this the first time I’ve purchased this product since October, but it makes my clean hair last a really long time – I’ve pushed it four days. For someone with high maintenance hair who is also lazy in the mornings, this is a lifesaver, especially paired with a satin pillowcase. Lazy hair girls, pick up this product!

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide deluxe sample in Vanillé – This was a free sample for VIBs with a code, and I’ve always wanted to try a Laura Mercier foundation. I’m excited to see how this holds up!

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – This was a 100 point perk, and I’ve always wanted to try it. The full size of this primer is pretty expensive, so I’m glad to have a chance to try it first. I’ve heard that this is especially gorgeous with Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation.

Bite Beauty Lip Primer – This was included in my July Favorites, and it’s another repurchase. I love how this nourishes my lips and makes them feel really healthy. It also makes lip color last forever. One of my favorite combinations is to wear this underneath a lip liner. It makes the color last forever and gives it this creamy, natural consistency. Definitely a staple for me.

Ole Hendrickson Invigorating Night Gel – I bought this on sale, and it looks like it’s being discontinued, but I really love this! I am always on a hunt for products that will minimize my pores or help them disappear. This looked like the key from the reviews, and after using it for a week, I have to say I’m impressed. It doesn’t smell great, but whatever product replaces this in their line will definitely be worth checking out.

TooFaced Melted Liquefied Lipstick in Peony – I’ve wanted to try these since they came out, and a free deluxe sample was the thing for me. This color (swatched below) is gorgeous, and the wear is really nice. It’s a liquid lipstick that dries to a satiny matte finish. This color is probably the most suited for me in the line, but I’d be excited to try another one!

TooFaced Melted Lipstick in Peony

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Cocoa – I’ve also wanted to this for a long time. This caviar stick is amazing as an eyeliner and as an eyeshadow smudged out. The color is gorgeous! I’m really pleasantly surprised by how pretty this is. It also wears a super long time. (After I swatched this, I washed my hands and the color did. not. budge). It’s beautiful in the waterline and the outer corner. It’s expensive, but I definitely can’t wait to pick up another one of these!

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Cocoa

These products are a little out of my comfort zone, but I am so excited about them! These are great additions to my collection and another reason I love Sephora’s VIB program. I feel like the perks go in waves, but these lately have been excellent.

What have you hauled lately?