1. Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette: This was the first Naked Palette that I was really excited
about. (I was actually excited about the
Naked 3; but, I ended up not liking it very much – I think it’s more exciting
looking on much fairer skin). Yes, on
one hand, it’s another really warm palette in a pile of really warm
palettes. On the other hand, Urban Decay
has never come out with anything like it.
They’re a bit late to the party; but, the thing I like about this palette
is how travel friendly it is. Those of
us that like orangey/red palettes sometimes want a certain type of red or
orange one day and a different type of red or orange the next day. This is perfect for that.
2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Shapeshifter: I was so excited when
I heard this was coming out! I’m always
on the lookout for makeup products that can: A) Travel well and/or
B) Come in handy when I need to put my makeup on in a hurry. I haven’t taken it on a trip; but, I have
definitely used it when I need to be out of the house in a jiffy. For me the only thing that it is missing is a
blush. BUT if it’s paired with the
product below, you’ve got your cheeks and eyes in one more small container.
3. Kat Von D Lolita Eyeshadow/Blush: I did a blog post
about this item. You can view it here.
4. Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer (discontinued): I tried this when the
Kat Von D Beauty site had this for about $7.50.
I don’t have particularly oily eyelids, so I just thought, eye primer is
eye primer. I was oh so WRONG! To me, this was like a less solid version of MAC’s
paint pots. And the staying power was
incredible!!! I bought a few more and
even gave a couple of them as gifts to friends.
Sadly, it is no longer on the Kat Von D Beauty site.
5. BH Cosmetics Spotlight Highlight Palette: I had seen this on BH’s
website; but, it wasn’t until Messie Jess made a video about this palette and
the Blacklight palette on YouTube, that I realized I had to get them. They go on like a dream. My favorite color in the palette is
Vivid. It makes my makeup look
amazing! This can also be used on eyes.
6. BH Cosmetics Blacklight Highlight Palette: I have Anastasia’s
Moonchild and Aurora palettes and Kat Von D’s Alchemy palette; but, I still
needed to give this a try. It does not
disappoint! If you love trying different
makeup looks, don’t be afraid to give Laser (greenish) or Kween a go on the
cheeks. You’d be surprised at how amazing
a subtle green can look when paired with today’s popular orange and red
eyeshadow looks. The same with blue.
7. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Exorcism: I first fell in love with this color when I saw Mirrors and
Haze doing a tutorial with Exorcism. She used this as eyeliner as well as lipstick. It was gorgeous! I haven't used this as liner yet; but, I just love it as a dark vampy lipstick.
8. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
Lolita: I was, originally, all about Lolita II, which I received as a deluxe sample. Lolita II is a beautiful terracotta. I would wear Lolita, once in a while; but, when the Lolita Eyeshadow/Blush was being showcased on Instagram, I decided to give Lolita another go. It really goes beautifully with red and orange eyeshadows!
9. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Relish: I bought this because I disappointedly thought I missed out on Lolita Eyeshadow/Blush forever. Wah! Relish is brighter and redder than Lolita. Can be used on it's own like Lolita -- or in conjunction with Lolita -- or in conjunction with the Naked Heat Palette. :)
10. Lorac Pirates of The Caribbean Cheek
Palette: Truth be told, I really got this for the packaging. Not because I'm the biggest Pirates fan or anything like that. I got it because I loved the ancient spell book motif. (Or at least, that's what it looks like to me.) The product inside did not disappoint, as well. I was quite wowed by the blushes and highlights. The highlights are SO intense and buttery! I took this traveling with me. It is very compact and fit well with plenty of room to spare in a (9 x 6 x 5.5) makeup bag.
11. Cryptic Cosmetics Rust In Peace
Liquid Lipstick: This has become one of my favorite lipstick colors. It really goes well with my complexion and I love the formula of Cryptic Cosmetics' lipsticks. (I just wish they were more readily available. They are perpetually sold out of colors I still want to get.) Rust in peace is part of the Til Death Do Us Part collection, (inspired by roses and Joy Division), which I got in a bundle. I would describe Rust In Peace as a really rusty brownish red -- aptly named. I swatched it against other colors in my lipstick collection. I do not have any dupes of this. I'm going to have to scoop up a couple more tubes when it's available again.
12. Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover: I heard Mirrors and Haze give this rave
reviews. (She has sensitive breakout-prone skin, so I tend to trust her recommendations, as they usually work for me as well.) I decided to finally give this a try. I was worried it
would be greasy and difficult to wash off (as a lot of oil cleansers are), To my great surprise, it was
nothing of the kind. It was almost like rinsing a glycerin soap off. It removes makeup beautifully, smells good and
rinses off super easily. I usually use my face washing brush with Ole Henriksen's The Clean Truth foaming cleaner and a special glutiathone brightening soap I get off of Amazon afterwards; but, I have used Meltdown by itself when I was too tired to take another shower late at night, once & I had no problems with it.
13. Nyx Fan Brush: Love, love, love this brush! This is my favorite contouring brush. It places and blends contour beautifully; and, I love working with the longer handle. The brush is thicker than most larger fan brushes and the hairs are denser. I would say, it's akin to the e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Blending brush -- which I also love for contouring.
14. ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment: As we get older, our hair texture changes. Gone, for me, are the days when I could simply shampoo and condition, air dry, brush and be done with it. I had tried the 2 Minute Reconstructor before; but, my hair needed something more intense. (It is down to my waist and I was starting to have a very difficult time fighting frizz, dryness and tangles on the ends. Sally Beauty was having a sale and I decided to give it a go along with their moisturizing conditioner (you need one after doing this treatment), and another bottle of the 2 Minute Reconstructor. I read the directions. After washing hair, you put the Protein Treatment in, and then dry your hair with heat. I was very surprised that the treatment was a clear liquid (golden orange clear). I followed instructions, dried my hair and rinsed my hair WELL. Then I applied the moisturizing conditioner (which, truth be told, I don't know why I got, because I've got plenty of moisturizing conditioner in my arsenal. I also regret buying the moisturizing conditioner; because, although it works well, it smells heavily of cheap drugstore cologne from the 70's. It is so heavily perfumed, that I found myself getting a bit of a headache the first time I used it. I think I used it once or twice more and decided I couldn't take the smell any longer. Come on, ApHogee! Put a different fragrance in it, if you have to put a fragrance in it at all.). The results were surprisingly good! I was very impressed. I'm only supposed to use this once every 6 weeks, so I maintain with using the 2 Minute Reconstructor every other time I wash my hair. I have been really impressed. Between the ApHogee and changing my hair brushes to boar bristle, I can leave the house without styling my hair, or pulling it back, if I want to.
15. Atelier Cologne Figuier Ardent: I first got this in their Necessaire Azur gift set. The set contained four .14 oz spray vials of their collection Azur perfumes. This is the one I used up rather quickly and knew I had to get a big bottle of. I love Atelier Colognes's sophisticated unisex fragrances. They are never cloying or overly dominating. They are excellent for travelling to warmer climates. Notes: Calabrian Bergamot, Anise, Cardamom, Fig Leaf, Salty
Fig, Pepper, Virginian Cedarwood, Tuscan Iris, Tonka Bean.
16. Kat Von D Saint Eau de Parfum: I love the Saint and Sinner bottles!!! The glass bottles are decorated with scrolls and skulls -- White for Saint & Black for Sinner. I also have Saint in the Old Skool silver bottle that looks like a giant lighter. The new Saint seems more floral than the old Saint. The old Saint seems to have more of a gourmand smell to me. However, new Saint is not so floral that I feel "prissy" when I wear it. Notes: Jasmine and tiaré flower with notes of mandarin, caramel, and sparkling Mirabelle plum. Vanilla, sandalwood, and creamy musk.
17. Kat Von D Sinner Eau de Parfum: I have to say it again! I love the bottles!!! Sinner reminds me a little of the original Salvador Dali perfume; but, not as strong. I can wear this in the day as well as evening. Notes: Jasmine and orange blossom with notes of vanilla, mandarin, and Mirabelle plum. Spicy cinnamon envelops white florals at the heart of the fragrance, while base notes of vetiver, patchouli, and wood form the deeper, darker nuances.
18. Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme
Water Cream: This is similar to Belif's The True Cream Aqua Bomb, except it claims to brighten. What I love about Sunday Riley's version is that it's more viscous than Belief's version. For me it makes a wonderful primer after I've put my niacinamide and vitamin c serum on.
19. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum: I got this in the Three Little Wonders set with the Invigorating Night Transformation Gel and the Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer. The Vitamin C serum works wonderfully, for me, with The Ordinary's Niacinamide serum. (I can break out easily from clogged pores; but, both of these items seem to keep the eruptions from happening.)
20. Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night
Transformation Gel: I use this at night or sometimes instead of the Vitamin C serum when I feel I need a little extra exfoliation. I really works well!
21. ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute
Reconstructor: See #14
22. Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp and
Hatian Vetiver Body Wash: When I came back from a vacation in the Cayman Islands, my skin was ITCHY! I have a feeling it was the sulfer in the water, there. My normal body washes weren't helping, even though they were moisturizing. On a whim, I pulled the Indian Hemp and Hatian Vetiver out of the cupboard -- a brand new bottle. It seemed to soothe my itchy skin! It smells really nice, too. The only "negative" thing I have to say about the Hemp and Vetiver wash is it looks like runny greenish yellow snot. LOL But, I can put up with its less than appealing looks when it works so nicely!
23. Atelier Cologne Pomélo Paradis: I first got this in the travel spray, which I still carry around with me; but, I've since purchased the 1 oz./30 ml spray. I have a feeling I will have to get myself 6.7 oz/200 ml spray. I love this stuff and want to always have it around. It smells fresh and somewhat grapefruity and -- happy! Notes:Pink Pomelo, Calabrian Mandarin, Blackcurrant Bud, Moroccan Orange Blossom, Bulgarian Rose Essence, Mint, Haitian Vetiver, Tuscan Iris, Amber.
24. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%: This is a holy grail product for me. It really helps keep my acne at bay. Before that, I was using Paula's Choice 9% BHA serum which came in a tiny 1/3 oz/10 ml vial for (at the time) $40 -- yes, $40! The Ordinary's Niacinamide serum comes in a 1 oz/30 ml dropper bottle for $5.90; and, for me, works even better than the 9% BHA serum. I keep backup bottles of this on hand.
25. The Ordinary Glycolic 7% Toning
Solution: I use this before I apply my moisturizer etc, before I do my makeup. (I really should be using it before bed too.) I need all the exfoliation I can get due to my pores' susceptibility to get clogged. This comes packaged w/a metal twist top. You can put the squeeze top on it for easier use. (Comes in the box.) I don't know if all of them are that way; but, I had the hardest time getting the darned screw top off of the bottle!
26. Mason Pearson The Popular Brush: The Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Nylon and Boar Bristle Brush. Benefits: perfect circulation of oils, stimulates hair follicles, help keep hair cleaner, longer. I love this brush! Between the Aphogee and the this brush, I am liking my tresses a lot better! I don't even have to put as much serum in it as I used to. I decided a few weeks ago that I needed to stop using brushes that were exclusively plastic bristles. Apparently, they are damaging to the hair; and, they don't distribute oils or help keep your hair clean. I started with an inexpensive brush from Ulta that was a mix of long plastic bristles and shorter boar hair bristles. I loved the way it made my hair look compared to my regular plastic brush. I was debating about going for the Cadillac of Mason Pearson brushes -- the Large Extra Hair Brush. However, that brush was $300.00! And not having used a Mason Pearson Brush, if I spent $300.00 and didn't like it, I'd be really pissed! LOL But, I love this "Popular" brush. I got mine from Costco for $149.00 -- still quite an investment for a hair brush. If I'm still in love with it a year or so later, I may consider getting the Large Extra Hair Brush. Mason Pearson brushes are made to last.
Ta-ta-for-now!
