Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol II, Coastal Scents Smokey Palette

I love my warmed toned palettes, but at times I want to switch it up. I do enjoy a cool toned eye look. These are three palettes that I've been choosing for these types of looks. My favorite of the three would be the Chocolate Bon Bons palette by Too Faced. The metallic shades are so shimmery, and the mattes blend very well. The palette has a nice variety of neutrals and some nice pops of color. I'm not a huge Too Faced fan, but this palette is great. The second palette that I've been enjoying is my Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Vol II palette. It doesn't have a lot of matte shades, but it's one of those palettes that you pull out and know what kind of look you're going to get. Reflective packaging is so hard to photograph, I'm sorry that it's a bit hard to see. I do have a full review of the palette here.


*Post Contains Affiliate Links

Goodreads Description:

Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…

Penny Meadows loves her home – a cosy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen. 

When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome. But while Daisy is friendly, Henry seems guarded. 

As Penny gets to know Henry, she realises there is more to him than meets the eye. And the connection between them is too strong to ignore… 

My December Boxycharm has arrived, and I received 5 items in my box this month. Boxycharm is a monthly subscription services, as a Canadian subscriber I pay around 33$ Canadian each month. I've had no issues with broken products or boxes not arriving. *I'm really hoping I haven't jinxed myself* This month I received a blush palette, color correcting palette, mascara, liquid lipstick and a brush. Each month has a theme and this month is Glitz and Glam.

Here's what I received:

Realher Blush Kit 32$

This blush palette contains 3 blushes. The packaging is bulky but it does seem like the blushes are baked. I do like the colors and will be testing this out. I have blush, and I love palettes. I was excited to get this in the box.

Bellapierre Color Correcting Palette 29$

This color correcting palette has 3 shades. I do color correct under my eyes but I don't normally use concealer palettes. I will have to give this one a try. I wasn't too excited for this but I will give it a chance. I do think 29$ is a steep price, because I see this brand at Winner's all the time for a discounted price.

Tarte Tarteist Mascara* 23$

I was very excited to get this in my box. I had a sample size and the stopper was broken. I never got a chance to try it. I was also very surprised to get a full size mascara in the box. Tarte is a brand that I do enjoy, and I don't buy alot of high end mascara's on my own.

Makeup Revolution Hot Spice Palette and BH Cosmetics Nude Blush Palette

The cold weather has arrived, and my makeup has changed to fit the weather. I'm not sure why but in the cold months, I enjoy nude blushes and in the summer I like brighter pinks, coral and peachy tones. While I have been using my Tarte Blush Bazaar quite a bit, these two palette have been in my frequent rotation. The Makeup Revolution Hot Spice palette has 6 blushes and two highlighter/blush toppers. I don't really go for the baked highlighters but these blushes are beautiful. This palette can do no wrong in my opinion, because it's not highly pigmented. I don't have to worry about putting too much on and I can build the color nicely. The B H Cosmetics Nude Blush Palette is another nude palette that I love. This palette is more pigmented and I do have to be careful but it blends very easily. If I feel like it's too much, I grab my powder blush and it blends out quickly. B H Cosmetics has a Classic blush palette that I want to get my hands on too.

Huda Beauty Mauve Obsession Palette

The Huda Beauty Mauve Obsessions Palette is the first Huda Beauty Product that I have tried. When these smaller palettes launched around the Sephora VIB sale, I decided to pick it one up. 4 of these obsession palettes were launched, and I decided to go with the Mauve Obsessions. I love the color scheme and though it was unique.

At first glace, this palette has all the shades that I look for in a palette when I want to create a look. It has 6 mattes and 3 shimmer shades. The palette is small, but the pan sizes are nice to dip a brush in. They don't feel too small to work with. I've enjoyed this palette so much that I'm now tempted to get the Warm Brown and Smokey palette, as well as the Dessert Dusk palette. The matte shades blend very well, they're soft but don't have too much kick up. The shimmers are very nice, and I had heard some mixed reviews and expected not to like them. They perform very well on their own, and I don't feel the need to spray them. The packaging is also very nice, it comes in a sturdy cardboard with a very nice mirror.

Hello Friday! It's been a long busy week, and I'm really ready for the weekend. The products above are what I've mostly been using this week. I've purchased quite a few new palettes recently. I thought I would try a weekly roundup of products I've mostly been using throughout the week, it's not necessarily favorites, just what I've been using and testing out.


Base:

I'm still going strong with my Dior Nude Skin Glowing Makeup foundation. I love that I don't have to set this foundation, and it is buildable with a radiant finish. I opt for a light-medium coverage throughout the week. I've also been using my Benefit Brightening Concealer and my It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer. I have actually started using much less concealer and using a brush instead of a sponge to apply my concealer. I've also been using a damp sponge to pick up some translucent powder (Bare Minerals Invisible Light Translucent Powder Duo) and set my under eye. I really like the smooth finish that I get. When I use brushes and powders, I feel like it looks more heavy under my eye area. I decided to try the damp sponge this week, and I really like the technique. Baking does not work for me, it looks really crepey under my eye.

Eyes:

This week I used the Morphe 15 Night Slayer palette and I've really been liking it. I'm a huge Morphe shadow fan, and this palette didn't disappoint. I went back to using the Urban Decay Anti Aging Eyeshadow Primer, and it doesn't accentuate any lines which I do enjoy. I do find that the Yellow Eden primer makes my eyeshadows pop more, but the Anti Aging works well too. I've gone back to putting down the ELF Glitter Primer before packing on my shimmer shadows and they don't budge all day. For mascara, I've been trying the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes and it does an okay job on my lashes. As usual, I use the Annabelle Skinny Mascara for my bottom lashes. I've also been using the Annabelle Brush Tip Liquid Liner- it is very black and easy to use.

I purchased a Jessup brush set when I first started out in makeup and I still love many of the brushes in that set and use them every day.  This summer I ordered this 15 piece set but didn't start using them until recently. The bristles are labelled synthetic-natural and I wasn't impressed with them until I started using them. They remind me of a natural bristle brush. They're not very dense but work very well when you want to build your colour. It doesn't grab too much pigmentation and it blends very well. My favourite is the blending brushes, pencil brush, and a small detail brush.

I own Sigma, Morphe and other affordable brushes and these have become some of my favourite brushes. The shape of the blending brushes really works well for me. They are not scratchy at all, which is great. While these are labelled synthetic-natural, I feel like they are more synthetic than natural. I've washed them and they do fray but maintain their overall shape. Similar to how my Morphe natural hair brushes wash.

If you do purchase these brushes, and you're not sure how they will perform. Try them out, give them a chance. I was so surprised by how much I love using them. The white-rose gold look is really pretty too. I purchased a second set because they are so affordable. If you're looking for extra brushes, I would check these out. I've been really into brushes lately, but I'm also picky with scratchy brushes and these have made the cut.

Have you ever tried any Jessup brushes?



*Affiliate links used, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Karity Just Peachy Palette)

The Karity Just Peachy palette is the second Karity Cosmetics eyeshadow palette in my collection. This summer I purchased the 15 Nudes and Rudes Palette and really liked the quality of their shadows. When I saw this palette was coming out, I knew I really wanted it. These peachy tones are right up my alley, and the palette didn't disappoint.

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer

I picked up the Real Techniques Color Correcting Brush set which has 4 dome brushes and 4 mini sponges. They are color coded according to the 4 groups of color correcting colors mostly used. I don't do alot of color correcting but the dome brush is a very versatile brush that doesn't seem to be sold individually. I thought it would be a great time to stock up on the dome brush. I use the dome brush for blending eyeshadow, but also for cream products like my color corrector and/or concealer. It's also great for cream eyeshadows or bases. These brushes are synthetic and can be used for both powder or cream products. They wash very easily, and maintain their shape. I haven't had any issues with Real Techniques brushes shedding.

The mini sponges are also really nice. They expand to a nice size and can be used for concealer, cream products like blush or cream highlighter. I like to use them for blending out my cream highlighters. I have used them for concealer, but I've been enjoying brushes for my concealer. If you're familiar with their orange complexion sponge, it's very similar just smaller in size. I think this set is a great value and I would recommend this set for anyone wanting more brushes or looking to have brushes for color correcting.




At select Rexall PharmaPlus, London Drugs, Pharmasave, Uniprix, Jean Coutu, Pharma Choice, IDA Guardian and Familiprix stores. Farleyco

*Product was purchased by me.

If you've been following my blog, you might have noticed that I don't review alot of lip products. I'm starting to explore lip products more but I don't usually wear lipstick day to day. I do love lip gloss and these have been my "go to" glosses in the last few months.

Cheekbone Beauty: Sundance (discount code JENNR66 for 10% off) Website

Sweetgrass is a hydrating gloss enriched with Vitamin E. It doesn't feel too sticky and lasts pretty long. It looks very nice on my lips and great for every day. I wholeheartedly love this brand, and need to try out more of their products. If you want to learn more about this brand, check out my post here.

Bareminerals: Birthday Cake

This one has been in my collection for awhile, and I really do like the color and formula. This gloss is the color of fruit punch and has a vanilla scent. It has a nice shine and doesn't feel too thick.

Annabelle Big Show Lacquer: Adore Simply

This lip gloss has a more lustrous shimmery finish and is another great nude. It is pigmented and easy to apply. I would like to try some of the darker shades because they claim to leave a stain which I don't really see with the Adore Simply shade.

Rimmel London Oh My Gloss: Snog

This gloss is a high shine, nicely pigmented long lasting gloss. This gloss feels very hydrating on the lips and has argan oil and vitamin E. It is very comfortable to wear and creamy.

NYX Butter Gloss: Creme Brulee

I heard so much about NYX glosses but I only recently tried them out. This gloss is sheer in color but not sticky. It doesn't have a great lasting power but it wears away nicely. I would like to try more of these.

Buxom Lip Creme: Rose Julep

Sneaky Sephora gave me a sample of this and I've been loving it! I really need to get a full size. This gloss does not have any shimmer but feels very creamy. It leaves a tingling cold sensation on your lips which is actually nice. Again, it feels hydrating and has a nice lasting power.

NYX Perfect Filter Shadow Palette (Olive You)

In a sea of oranges and reds, I was ready for a change and this NYX Perfect Filter Shadow Palette in Olive You did not disappoint. I saw it in store and decided to pick it up since I had heard positive things about the "Perfect Filter" palettes. I don't buy alot of drugstore eyeshadow, but I do purchase affordable shadows. I wanted to see how these NYX palettes compared.

This palette has both matte and metallic shades and the pan sizes are really large. At first glance, I saw a transition matte brown and a cream shadow which is something that I look for in a palette. The olive shades really stuck out to me and I couldn't wait to try them out. The mattes are very easy to blend and build, and the shimmers are very nice. I like to build my shades rather than having a very pigmented shade that I'm scared to use. One shade does seem to be more of a topper shade rather than a lid shade. In the swatches you will see the light green shimmer shade, swatched after the brown matte isn't very pigmented on its own. The green shades are what really drew me in and they are great.

I use setting sprays daily, but I had never tried an illuminating spray until recently. The Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray was in a recent Boxycharm subscription box and I was curious to try it. I don't really need setting sprays to lock in my makeup, since I have normal to dry skin and my makeup lasts all day anyway. I really wanted to use this one for the illuminating aspects of it. The Cover FX illuminating Spray does leave you with a soft sheen to your face without looking greasy or glittery. It is buildable. very lightweight, and quick to dry without leaving a tacky feel to the face which I really appreciate.

When I first tried this product, it didn't feel like I was even spraying my face. I realized that the mist is ultra fine and I would have to spray my face pretty close up. I'm very careful not to spray too much and I don't spray until my face feels wet like other setting sprays. When using the spray, shake it very well otherwise you will have a burst of fine micro glitter come through. However, when shaken very well, it does a great job. Don't let the term "micro glitter" scare you. It really doesn't look like you sprayed your face with glitter.  It is so fine, that you are left with a radiant glow. When inspecting my face in a close mirror, I can see tiny shimmer specks on my face but I don't feel like it looks bad at all.

I'm not sure how this would work for someone with oily skin. I think it is more suitable for normal to dry skin. I don't feel like it makes me makeup last any longer than normal. Again, that's not usually an issue for me. I actually see it as a "finishing spray." If I want to melt all the powders down on my face to avoid cakiness, I will use another setting spray to do this. I feel like I would have to use too much of the illuminating spray and I would look too dewy if I used the Cover FX spray. Once my face is dry, I will lightly spray my face with the Cover FX illuminating Spray.

Purchase here

*This post contains affiliate links

First, I'm using a stock photo because this bottle is so reflective I COULD NOT get a good picture. I tried and tried, but I wasn't happy with any pictures. So, here we are.... a stock photo. I picked up this foundation during the Sephora VIB sale and fully expected to return it. I thought it wouldn't be worth the money but I wanted to try it out. Spoiler, I really like it.

This foundation gives me a light to medium coverage, and a very natural luminous finish. I wouldn't say a dewy look, just a nice natural healthy glow. I apply this foundation with a brush, otherwise the coverage is too sheer with a sponge. I would also recommend using an oval foundation brush to have a medium coverage. I've been wearing alot of dewy foundations lately, and I always have to set my face. I don't like the tacky feeling of foundation on my face. This foundation doesn't have to be set, and I love it! It dries down very quickly, and it feels very lightweight on the skin. It also doesn't settle into the fine lines on my forehead.

Would I buy this again? I would but I think Sephora is discontinuing it because I don't see it on their website anymore. I purchased this in store. I hope they are not discontinuing it though. If I were to repurchase I would wait for a sale because it is expensive. It has also encouraged me to try the Dior Forever Perfect Foundation.One more thing... this foundation doesn't have a smell to it. I know alot of higher end brands have a fragrance in their product but this one doesn't.

Overall, I think this is a great every day foundation and I'm very happy to have it. I find myself reaching for this most days during the week. I want to make sure I actually use it because it was pricey. I does have an SPF of 15 and it does have a pump.

Have you tried any Dior products? What do you recommend?

I recently started dabbling into hair care products, and hair masks. I have long, thick, color treated hair and it does get dry. Hair masks have become a favorite weekly routine for me. It's amazing how nice your hair feels when you're done. It really does make a difference. My hair always feels so smooth, and healthy when I'm done. I was recently sent these products, and I couldn't wait to try them out. Marc Anthony is a Toronto based celebrity hair stylist and these products are sold worldwide. The first product I tried was the  Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco, it is a dry styling oil that adds shine and tames frizz. This product felt very lightweight on my hair and tamed my hair. You really don't need a lot of product. I like to use this when I braid my hair and take it out in the morning. It helps smooth out my hair and my waves look really nice.

I also received two hair masks, and these are nice sized packages. I'm able to get two uses out of them and I have alot of hair. I think if you have less hair than me, you can probably get even more uses out of them. When I initially put the Macadamia Oil Deep Rescue Conditioning Treatment on my hair, it felt like a very thick conditioner. After shampooing, I applied the treatment and waited about 5-10 mins before rinsing it out. This product claims that "bamboo extracts corrects, strengthens, and boosts shine while restoring dry, dull, frizzy hair." I haven't tried the Coconut Oil Shea Butter Conditioning Treatment yet, but I will this weekend. I expect to love it as well, if I don't I will update this post to advise readers.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think hair treatments and hair masks are the same. I would love to try out more Marc Anthony hair care products. I've seen them at my local Shoppers/Pharmaprix. The affordable price is an added benefit.

Have you tried any Marc Anthony Products?

Christmas is right around the corner and one of my favorite parts of Christmas is the stockings. If you're looking to treat the beauty lover in your life, here are some ideas.

Body Mists

So...? has perfumes and body mists available and I've been loving the Vanilla Milkshake mist. I'm very sensitive to scents and these really don't bother me throughout the day. They are not too strong, and will appeal to a variety of women. I have also seen gift sets available.

Bath Fizzer

Bath Fizzer are all the rage, and I think it's a great stocking stuffer idea. I know my son will be getting some bath bombs in his stocking. This I Love...fizzer was great because it was split in two and we were able to get two baths out of it.

Makeup Brushes

I think single brushes or small sets would be great to give as a stocking stuffer. This EcoTools Micro Blending Brush has been perfect for concealer and color corrector. Real Techniques and EcoTools have some great single brushes or duo sets that would be great as well.

Lip Balms

The winter weather will wreck havoc on your lips and the Flexitol Lip Balm has been saving my lips. I apply before bed and in the morning and my lips have been doing great. My lips are softer and smoother and I would love to get another one in my stocking. Hand lotion would also be great.

Real Techniques Mini Miracle Complexion Sponges

 I use a beauty sponge most days when applying my makeup, but I haven't used any mini sponges. These Real Technique sponges expand very nicely and I am able to blend out my concealer, apply liquid highlighter and use it to add powder under my eyes.

Face Masks

I've been wanting to get into face masks and I think they would be great to get as a gift. I have this charcoal peel off mask that I will be trying. Putting a few masks in a stocking would be a fun way to try new masks.


*Products were provided in consideration for review. All opinions are my own.

NYX Perfect Filter Olive You Palette- I was excited to pick this palette up at Shoppers because I've been needing a break from all the warm orange/red palettes. I've heard good things about the NYX Perfect Filter palettes and decided to give this one a try.  I really love the green/olive tones in the palette and it has a nice mixture of mattes and shimmers.

Real Techniques Color Correcting Brush Set- This set comes with 4 dome shadow brushes and 4 mini sponges. This set is suppose to be used for color correcting, but I don't really color correct that much. I really like the dome shadow brush to apply my transition shade, and I also love these brushes for concealer. I thought this set of 4 would be great to have the extra brushes. I have tried the Real Technique mini sponges, and I really do like them.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Long Lasting Setting Spray- It's been awhile since I used a Hard Candy setting spray and I decided to give this one a try. So far the nozzle seems to spray evenly and it smells nice.

Rimmel Instaflawless Primer (Radiant)- This primer gives me skin an nice radiant glow. I'm still testing it out, and I will have a full review to come. I have dry skin and I look for radiant, hydrating primers to wear. I haven't seen this is many drugstores but I was able to pick it up at Walmart.

Annabelle Cosmetics Highlighter- I've been trying out liquid/cream highlighters and decided to give this one a try too. I wear these on their own for a more natural highlight. I also like layering my highlight with a cream underneath. Layering my powder highlight on top of a cream allows my highlight to last all day. This champagne shade seems to work well on my fair skin.

ELF Eye Refresh- The eye refresh claims to "brighten and refresh the under eye to help alleviate puffiness and dark circles." I  recently discovered that hydrating my under eye before concealer works wonders. I wanted to give this one a try since it is very affordable. Elf also has a eye refresh cream that I would like to try out.

Delectable Hand Cream 4 Pack- Cake Beauty has released a hand cream four pack and I picked it up. I love the smell of these hand creams and they don't feel greasy. This cooler weather demands that I stock up on hand cream and all things hydrating.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

One of the palettes I've been playing around with lately is the new, BH Cosmetics Shaaanxo Remix palette. This is a double sided eyeshadow palette with 9 shades on each side. The neutral shadows can also be found in the original palette that she released with BH Cosmetics. (I did post a review, that you can find here) I was very excited for the warmer side, knowing that I already loved the neutral shadows. The warmer side has some very trendy shades and I couldn't wait to try them out. I was very happy with the pigmentation and blendability. I'm no stranger to BH Cosmetics shadows and I was not disappointed. These shadows build very well, and last all day. I also swatched the original shades with my original palette to see if there was a difference. I was happy to see the new shades were more pigmented. The only let down was the terracotta shade which I felt was drier than the original palette. It still looks very nice, and pigmented but doesn't feel as creamy.

The other addition that I was very happy to see was the names. Alot of palettes are released without names and I prefer to see shade names on the actual palette. *Please stop with the plastic overlay that always gets lost* This is especially useful if a Youtuber is releasing a palette. When they do tutorials, it's much easier to follow along. Why is a sticker so hard to put on a palette? I'm also hoping that Shannon will do more tutorials with her palette.

Boxycharm Unboxing November 2017

My Boxycharm has arrived for this month, and each month I'm excited to open the box and see what's in there. Truthfully, I look out for spoilers all month long and then wait impatiently for my box to get to me...Boxycharm costs me 33$ Canadian including shipping. You receive 5 full size products, and the brands are very good. As a Canadian, I also receive brands that are not easy for me to get.



The first product I unboxed was the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray. I do believe this is a full sized product. Cover FX is a brand that I've heard about but never tried any of their products and I was excited to get this. I always use a setting spray but never an illuminating one.

I also received a full size lipstick by the brand LAQ A & Co. The color I received is a very dark brown, and I don't think I will use it. The packaging is gorgeous though. I will probably pass this one along.

Next up was three KNC Beauty Collagen Lip Masks. I haven't tried any lip masks in the past, and I'm excited to give these a try. The product description claims to be an "Innovative jelly mask for your lips that hydrate moisturize and plump your pout with natural ingredients."



Luxie Beauty collaborated with Boxycharm to include a travel set of brushes. I love trying new brushes and will give these a try. I think they will be great for travel or putting in my work makeup bag. They are quite small, but still functional. I wouldn't keep them with my every day brushes.


The last product in the bottom of the box was an eyeshadow palette by Winky Lux. Previously I received their eyebrow pencil in a box and did like it. This eyeshadow palette looks so pretty, and I can't wait to try it. The Kitten palette is not exclusive to Boxycharm, you can order it from Winky Lux for 25$. I do see they have some other palettes available as well.

Vichy 3-1 Purete Thermale Cleanser (Cleansing Milk, Toner, Eye Makeup Remover)

ELF Mad for Matte and Mad for Matte Summer Breeze Palette

If you're like me, you love a good shimmer shade on the lid but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a nice matte palette. Matte palettes are great to have in your collection and a good drugstore option is always welcome. Both the Mad for Matte and Summer Breeze palettes are great affordable options. I'll be honest and say they don't swatch that well, but they really do perform well on the eyes. I have no issues with them blending or lasting, and reach for them quite a bit when I know I need a matte shade. I love the compact size and the sturdy packaging. I like to pack these when traveling and think of them as complimentary palettes in my collection.

The Mad for Matte palette was the initial palette launched, and it's a very neutral palette with some cooler tones as well. Again, a great palette on it's own and great to use as a complimentary palette. Of the two palettes, the Summer Breeze palette is my favorites. I love the warmer shades and they perform better than the original. The second palette is more pigmented, and the shades are really on trend right now. Both palettes have a nice range of colors; they have your cream shade, transition shades, and darker shades giving you a well rounded palette.

NYX Duochromatic Illuminating Powder, Slip Tease Lip Oil, Away We Glow Highlighter, and Set and Don't Fret It Powder.

The NYX Duochromatic Illuminating Power released with 5 shades. I tried out the Lavender Steel and wondered if I could really wear it for an every day look. I did and I was really astonished by how much I liked it. While the purple does shine through, it shifts pink - the highlighter really accentuated my cheekbones. It wasn't too over the top purple, or pink. I really did find it gorgeous on the skin. This highlighter didn't sit on my skin, it blended in very nicely and lasted throughout my day. I have stayed away from these duo chromatic shades for fear that they would look too colorful on the cheeks but now I want to try them all.  It's really a fun way to wear highlighter.

NYX Slip Tease Full Color Lip Oil is a fully pigmented lip oil with a satin-matte finish. This is one of the most comfortable lip products I've tried in awhile. The applicator makes applying the product very easy and it feels very lightweight and hydrating. It doesn't feel oily at all, it actually feels very silky. As we move into the cooler weather, I'm all about hydrating products and this lip oil was a pleasant surprise. One coat was all I needed. It does transfer but not too bad. I have the shade Lowkey and it's perfect for fall. I will be looking for more of these. At this time there are 12 shades available.

Cultural Appropriate has been a large topic within the beauty community and I really felt the need to voice my opinion. We've seen many brands called out for cultural appropriation or insensitive meme's posted on their social media. Many people have voiced their disappointment while others have said "you can't say anything these days because someone is always offended." First, if you see something that is hurtful to you voice your opinion. Cultural appropriation happens and education is needed. As a Native American, I will be the first to tell you that it hurts. I normally chalk it up to education, and think we should respectfully educate others. I really do feel that alot of times, people really don't know the difference. I'm normally not outright offended by the cultural appropriation but I am when a brand laughs it off. Suva Beauty recently was called out, and they clapped back with smartass comments to those calling them out. To me, that's what offended me most and why I cannot support that brand.

The Copper Spice and Bronzed Mocha palettes by Morphe are two of my favorite palettes. At first glance, I love the packaging. The square palettes, square pans, and the clear lids are my favorite packaging that Morphe has done. I can clearly see each palette and grab the one that I want. I love the transition of the colors from light to dark with the shimmer shades close together. I don't get overwhelmed looking at all the shades. I really wish that Morphe would have kept this packaging.

It's no surprise that I'm a fan of Morphe shadows, and these palettes didn't disappoint me. The matte shades build very nice and the shimmer shades are absolutely stunning. The Copper Spice palette is not too orange but it is a warm palette. The Bronzed Mocha palette leans cooler and I absolutely love those chocolate brown shades and purples. Initially these palettes were marketing as "Limited Edition," but they have been added to the permanent product list. If you didn't want to pick up a 35 eyeshadow palette because they were too big, these would be great to try.

Shu Uemura: Urban Moisture, Shusu Sleek Smoothing Treatment and Color Lustre Dry Cleaner

I received these Shu Uemura hair products and was pretty intrigued. I have long, thick, dry, hair and I don't really experiment with my hair products very much. I've learned that I really should play around with my hair care because what I was using, wasn't cutting it. I was excited to try the Shusu Sleek Smoothing Treatment and after my first use- I'm hooked. If I'm being honest, I hate the feeling of wet hair. It really irritates me, and I hurry to dry my hair. This treatment made my hair so silky smooth, I was amazed! This treatment is enriched with black cumin and claims to "sensuously tame coarse or unruly hair." It controls frizz, and adds a beautiful shine. It absolutely tamed my frizz, reduced my volume and added shine to my hair. The day after I wash my hair, it really looks out of control, and this product tamed me hair. It is safe for use on color-treated hair and the directions were very easy. You apply on clean damp hair, leave on for 5-10 mins and rinse thoroughly. The smell isn't the most feminine, it smelled a little masculine to me but it wouldn't discourage me from using it again.

I also tried the Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Hydro-Nourishing Double Serum for dry hair. If you have dry hair like me, you should give this product a try. I first used it shortly after color treating my hair and it really did add moisture to my hair without weighing my hair down. Often, I'll try a product and it makes my hair feel so heavy and it's already heavy on it's own. I was surprised that this serum felt so nice in my hair. The description explains that this product "coats the hair to deliver deep hydration." It is a "creamy, hydrating treatment that combats urban pollutants, delivers antioxidants and creates a silky, lightweight finish."  When using the Shusu Sleek Treatment and then Urban Moisture together I was very happy with the results.

The third product I tried was the Color Lustre Dry Cleaner for color treated hair. I approached this product a little carefully because I have black hair and dry shampoo's often leave a white cast that's really difficult to brush out. This dry shampoo did not leave a white cast and wasn't too heavily scented. I was able to use it and leave my hair for another day before washing. I don't have oily hair, and typically wash my hair 1-2 a week. I really liked this product and was happy with the results.

Have you tried any Shu Uemura hair products?


*Products were sent in consideration for review purposes.

These were my "go to" products during the month of October. I spent two weeks away from home, and spent alot of time relaxing. If I wanted a fail-proof look this is what I used. I fell back in love with my BH Cosmetics Shaaanxo Eyeshadow Palette. It has every thing that I need in a palette; a matte pale shade to set my eye primer, a shimmer shade for my brow highlight, the buttercup shade for the transition, the terracotta shade I placed in the crease and the bronze shade on my lid. I wore this neutral look very often during my vacation and when I came home and didn't want to think too much about my makeup. For eyeshadow primer, I used the Urban Decay Anti Aging Primer -it's colorless and makes me eyeshadow last all day. The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation is one of my favorites. The shade 51 is a perfect color match for me and it doesn't dry down tacky. If I don't set it, it's fine. I forgot to add in my concealer but I've been using the BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Concealer. I previously reviewed it here. When it comes to setting my under eye, I used the NYC Smooth Skin Translucent Powder. For my brows, I've been grabbing my Mac Brow Pencil. I love the color and formula. The precise pencil makes filling in my brows easy. The Quo Craze Contour Palette is great for warming up my face. This palette isn't too pigmented and I don't have to worry about accidentally over doing it. The Makeup Revolution Hot Spice Blush Palette has great nude shades that can be built up nicely. I brought along a mini Tarte Highlighter in Exposed that I used very often. The mascara that I've been using is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof version. It separates my lashes nicely and adds volume and length. For my bottom lashes, I love the Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Mascara. The finishing touch for my looks is the Pearlessence Coconut Water facial mist. This facial mists smells lovely, and the nozzle gives a nice even spray.

The Tartelette Toasted palette is a warm-neutral lovers dream. If you thought the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette was too warm and you wanted something a little more subtle, alittle more neutral this is a great palette for you. This 12 shade palette has the matte cream shade, I'm always looking for. Great transition and medium shades as well as deeper shades. In my eyes, it's a complete palette. I don't have to pull another palette which is a great for every day. The range of this palette really draws me in.

I've used this palette a few times, and both the matte and shimmer shades are great. Immediately, when opening the palette I can smell a sweet vanilla scent that I really enjoy. It doesn't smell artificial or over done. The tortoiseshell-packaging is stunning, it really is. Of all my warm palettes, I see myself pulling this one out when I'm in a rush and I want a warmer eye look. I don't have much fall out when I use this palette, except for cashmere. This shade kicks up ALOT of product. When I tap off my brush, I can actually see the leftover product build up on my dresser as it falls. The shimmer shades are gorgeous and I'm happy to see additional shimmer shades than the previous Tartelette in Bloom. I love a shimmery lid and I like the variety.

Sephora's annual VIB sale has been announced and as a VIB member, I received an email with the dates for the sale that applies to me. This sale is really hyped because Sephora only does 2 sales a year. I may be wrong, but I do think it's twice a year... As the sale gets closer and the Rouge members goes first, I find it very hard not to cave and keep adding things to my wishlist. I see so many large lists and the temptation is real. Yes, 20% is great but I have to keep in mind the upcoming holiday season and my budget.

I spoke about blogging on a budget before, and not using my blog as an excuse to buy all the things. This will also have to apply to me during this sale. I set a budget, and I need to stick to it. I've bought quite a few makeup items lately, and I can't use this sale as an excuse. I want to encourage others to not feel bad because the sale is approaching and you're not buying a large list of items.

I'm still not set on what I'm planning to purchase. I was thinking about the Too Faced Boss Lady Set. I haven't tried many Too Faced Products, the palette looks nice and I do use a planner. Also, the Tarteist Pro Palette; I've bought so many warm palettes lately. This one has more variety. I was also thinking about the Bare Minerals Bare Pro Foundation. I've heard alot of good things about the foundation and I haven't tried many higher end foundations. Looking at the value packs, the Smashbox Decked In Decked Out set looks really good. It has the two eyeshadow palettes (Blaze and Sultry) with the mini Pearl Palette. I love the Pearl Palette and wouldn't mind a smaller one for travel.

My mom has been asking me what I want for Christmas and I may pick out a palette. My mom would never go into a Sephora, so I'll have to pick it up for her. I'll probably purchase in store since it's easy for me to go and look at the items before choosing.

Are you excited for the sale? Are you like me- trying to reel it in and not give into temptation? I'll post about what I picked up once I finally decide and see what's left when I purchase. I'm really scared about items selling out.

A few years ago, I heard about the Foreo Silicon facial cleansing brushes and I thought it would be something that I would like to use. I had tried a bristle brush cleaner but felt that it was too rough on my skin and not something I wanted to continue to use. My face would actually burn when I was done, and I knew I needed to find something else. I was interested in the silicon brushes because they seemed more gentle and non abrasive on the skin and I liked that I wouldn't have to replace any brush heads. I decided to try a more affordable option, and I found this one on Amazon. I fell in love, and it became a regular tool that I used when I washed my face.

I have very normal, some times dry skin. At times I do have texture on my skin, but I noticed that this tool really helped diminish my texture. If I go through my nightly routine and cleanse my skin well, my texture goes away completely. If I'm in a rush and don't use the silicon brush my texture will without a doubt return.This tool really helps to deep clean my skin. I've been using the Marcelle Gentle Foaming wash and the consistency allows this silicon brush to just glide over my skin and really deep clean. I've tried some other cleansers that were too thin and didn't work well because it felt too dry on the face. I usually look for a foaming wash to use after I've removed all my makeup.

The Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour palette has been on my wishlist for a long time. I held off on the palette because I don't normally contour and didn't think I would use this palette enough. I also worried that it would be too pigmented and not for me. The Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye palette is very pigmented and I do have to be careful when using those shadows.  I was worried that I would use this palette and it would look like a muddy mess on my face. I found this palette on sale, and I thought it would be great to try. I'm so happy that I picked it up because I love it!

The top row has setting powders that I use for my under eyes. I use the first shade and/or the first two shades mixed together to set my under eyes. These powders are so pigmented that I feel like it helps cover my dark under eye area. It brightens the natural shadow that I do have. I also grab for this palette when I'm looking to set my eye shadow primer. The bottom row has the three bronzer/contour shades, and while I don't contour day to day I do like to add some warmth back into my face once I've put on my foundation. The middle shade works great. The first shade is a little too cool toned for me, but I could use it to contour when I need. The last shade is dark for me but I've used it as eye shadow and put it in my crease.

We all have those wishlist items and I wanted to share my newest drugstore wishlist items with you. My makeup collection is a mix of high end, and drugstore items.  While I love shopping at Sephora, I also love browsing the drugstores to see what is available. The first item that I recently added to my list is the Rimmel London Oh My Gloss Lip gloss. I don't tend to wear a long lasting lipstick day to day but I do like wearing a gloss that leaves my lips feeling hydrated and I like the addition of a little bit of color. This gloss claims to last up to 6 hours, and I'm curious if that's true. I also added the Bourjois Health Mix Foundation. I do own this foundation but I've heard that they've changed the formula. I'm curious about the new formula and seeing if I still love it as much as the old one. The Bourjois Health Mix foundation is a great every day foundation for me. I hope I like the new one, just as much as the older version. The l'Oreal Brow Stylist is on my list to try. I'm curious about how it will compare to the Maybelline Precise Brow. I will keep any eye on a sale for this one, because I don't really need another brow pencil right now, but if I see it on sale... I will pick it up. I've been wanting to try a blue colored liner, but I don't want to really buy a high end liner because I don't know if I would like the look on me. I saw Annabelle Cosmetics has a Blue Waterproof Liquid Liner and I thought that would be a great starting point. I hope it's as pigmented as it looks, because it looks like it would be fun to try. Often when I want to try a trend, I'll try drugstore first. The last item on my wishlist is the Pixi Color Corrector. I've heard good things about this one and I would like to try it. I need a color corrector for my under eyes and if this works that would be great.

Do you tend to purchase both high end or drugstore? I love finding good deals and exploring the drugstore. At the same time, some times I want to hold of on the drugstore items and save for those higher end items. As we move into November and December, I will probably not be purchasing as much makeup, Christmas is coming up and I need to prioritize. I will also add some makeup items on my Christmas list, which means I can't buy it for myself.

Morphe 350 2 Second Nature Palette

Morphe, Morphe, Morphe... I can't help but love Morphe palettes. As soon as I saw this new palette was launching, I had to get my hands on it. The 3502 Second Nature palette is the sequel palette of their most popular palette the 350. The 35O was continuously sold out when it launched, and the warm shades really drew makeup enthusiasts in. I also own the 350, and the sequel palette peaked my interests because it had the warm shades, the fiery reds and more shimmer shades. The one downside to the original palette for me was not having enough shimmer shades amongst all the matte shades. This palette has a better balance.The Second Nature Palette is much more vibrant and rich, leaving the 350 to seem more subtle. The 3502 screams fall, and I love it.

Morphe seems to be listening to their fan base because this palette did come with a plastic overlay with the shade names listed. I would much rather the names be printed on the palette itself, even a sticker on the back but atleast they do have names this time. It makes it much easier to give tutorials and follow tutorials. They have also redesigned their logo to have a more sleek logo. The packaging itself is the same.

I've been doing some shopping, and these are the new items added to my collection. At my local Winner's I found the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette. It was on my wishlist for awhile, but I never picked it up because it was 60$ and I didn't know if I would like it. I don't do alot of contouring but I was intrigued by the powders. Kat Von D changed the packaging on these palettes and these cardboard palettes are popping up at outlet stores. I was really happy to find it! A full review will be coming. I also picked up a Seche Vite Top Coat at Winner's. I've heard good things about this fast drying top coat. I've been trying to keep my nails polished and didn't like the top coat that I was using. I'm not a patient person when I'm doing my nails, I hope this helps. At Shopper's I picked up a  Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Flawless Airbrushing Powder. I like setting my face and I was looking for a powder that didn't look too matte or be too drying. I decided to pick this up and give it a try.

For this weeks Weekly Get To Know Me, I decided to just write a post instead of doing a Q&A. The last two weeks we were on vacation and came home Sunday. We actually left our hometown on Saturday drove 5 hours, slept overnight at a motel and finished the drive the next day which was another 5-6 hours. The drive itself was good, and we arrived back home to really warm weather. It was back to work on Monday, and I've been struggling all week. I feel like I'm on the verge of being sick, and I'm just overtired and need to rest. I'm hoping to rest up this weekend and have a better week next week.

My vacation was really nice but I didn't get to do as much blogging or reading as I had intended. I was a little disappointed but I enjoyed time away. I decided to just spend the time with my son and husband. When Caleb napped, I napped too. Did I mention he still wakes up every single night and he's about to be 4 in December? Yes, he's always been a restless sleep.