New: Mary Kay CC Cream

It has been quite a while since I last posted! Life has definitely gotten more hectic lately but I hope to get back to blogging more often. I have so many products to share and have really missed posting.  It's great to be back!

Since the birth of my son, my everyday routine has been scaled down and makeup has taken a bit of a backseat. I want to look put together but no longer have the time to apply a full face of makeup. My mom recently introduced me to the new Mary Kay CC Cream. As soon as I used it, I knew I had to share!

Mary Kay CC Cream in Light-to-Medium

New: NYX Butter Lip Balms

I am a huge fan of NYX Butter Glosses and have several that I reach for often. I recently saw on the NYX website that they released a new Butter Lip Balm. Instead of placing an online order and waiting for it to arrive (I am impatient when it comes to new beauty!), I decided to see if my local Ulta carried them.

I had rewards club points to redeem so I dragged my hubby along with my fingers crossed that Ulta would have them in stock and that they wouldn't all be opened and used already. As luck would have it, there was a new row of Butter Lip Balms sitting in the NYX display. Some were already tested and some were out of stock but I was able to pick up four shades: Marshmallow, Biscotti, Panna Cotta, and Ladyfingers.

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Marshmallow, Biscotti, Panna Cotta & Ladyfingers

New: Wet n Wild In The Spotlight Color Icon Eyeshadow Medley Palettes

On a recent trip to Face Values, one of my favorite stores for new beauty products, my eyes were peeled for the new Wet n Wild Color Icon palettes. I searched the aisles and all the shelves when there they were in a display hidden behind a ladder. Tricky tricky but not even a ladder will keep me from checking out new makeup!

I purchased two of the three palettes in No Neutral Ground (34210) and A Great Glistener (34208). The third palette was heavy on the blues which I knew I would never wear. The palettes are different from their cult favorite eight pan palettes. The top row has three "shimmer overcoats" that they suggest for the browbone, the middle row has three pearl shadows for the lid and the bottom has two matte shades for defining.

Wet n Wild In The Spotlight Eyeshadow Medley Palettes in No Neutral Ground & A Great Glistener

Sephora Birthday Haul

My birthday was last month and my parents gifted me with some fabulous and very generous gifts including a Sephora gift card. I was debating on whether or not to save it for the Marc Jacobs Beauty launch but after seeing the product line, I decided to go a different route.

New: L'Oreal laLaque & leMatte Full Coverage LipColour

While paying a visit to my local Face Values to pick up more goat's milk soap, I spotted these new L'Oreal lip products.  Jumping on the bandwagon of crayon-like lip colors, laLaque and leMatte offer two different finishes with the same ease of application. Of course I went back and forth, trying to decide if I should pick them up. I have so many lip products already but my loving hubby reminded me that in a few weeks, I'll want to come back to get them and they will most likely be sold out. (He can be so smart!)

Ulta Birthday Haul

My birthday recently passed and one of my generous aunts gifted me with an Ulta gift card. I was so thrilled and I planned on saving it for a rainy day. I then realized I lost my beloved eyebrow pencil so to the Ulta website I went!

Mini Review: Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick

Something about foundation just draws me in. The packaging, the claims and the fantasy of finding a product that can perfect your skin upon application, I just get suckered in.  Fortunately, widely available drugstore brands have been stepping up their game and releasing affordable foundations. 

I recently picked up the new Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick at my local Target. Maybelline describes this foundations as "lightweight gel foundation with an anti-shine powder core" that "instantly dissolves excess oil, for a perfect matte finish". It is available in twelve shades and retails for $6.99.

Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation in 310 Sun Beige

Half & Half: Pink Summer Lips

Back again with another Half & Half post! I am really enjoying these and plan to feature some face products in the next post. This time I am featuring some of my favorite pink lippies for summer. You can't go wrong with a beautiful bright pink lip! Here are some options for beauties on a budget and beauties looking to splurge.

Half & Half: Peach/Coral Summer Lips

Just a quick little post to share my top ten peach/coral lippes for the summer.  Half are drugstore products and half are high end products.  I thought this would be a fun way to showcase several options for every budget!

e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation

e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation in Beige, Buff

Yes, I know, I did it again!  I purchased another foundation.  I had heard some buzz about the e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation and kept checking my local Target, hoping and praying they would get it in stock.  There are some e.l.f. products that I really like but I find the shipping rate to be less than desirable when ordering online.  Luckily, I received an email from e.l.f. for free shipping on a purchase of $15.  I jumped on the chance to scoop up this foundation.

May 2013 Favorites & Fails

The month of May has come and gone and I am excited to share my monthly favorites and fails! Since shifting my focus mainly to my blog, I thought these posts would be a fun way to document my beauty routine while sharing beloved products (and not so beloved products) with others.

Just a quick disclaimer, the products featured have all been used by me and use is quite apparent in the pictures. I was going to pretty up all the products but this is what they look like in my makeup storage and how they look after I've used them. So this is an uncensored edition of Favorites and Fails.  ;)

May Favorites

Covergirl 3 in 1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundations

My CVS Beauty Clearance Sale Haul (Spring 2013)

I patiently wait for the CVS Beauty Clearance Sale which comes around twice a year.  I stalk the Nouveau Cheap blog (http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com) and review the master list prior to setting foot in the store.  During past sales, I have stocked up on quite a few products for gifts and future giveaways when I was more active on my YouTube channel.  I would say I have gone overboard in the past and my husband will agree.  For this sale, I decided to only purchase things I feel I would use, no duplicates of products and no stockpiling for the sake of a good deal.  I think I succeeded in sticking with the plan!  Check out my haul after the jump!

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup

Back again with yet another foundation!  I have more foundations than I will ever be able to wear in a lifetime but they're one of my favorite products to try out.  In my quest to find the absolute perfect foundation, I purchased Clinique Superbalanced Makeup in Cream Chamois (04) during the recent Sephora VIB sale.

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

I have been venturing into "mascara land" more due to the cost of my favorite mascara (They're Real by Benefit) and the launch of several new drugstore mascaras.  I am on a quest to find affordable alternatives for my favorite higher end products and I love trying new drugstore products! 

So I gave into the hype and picked up a tube of Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express mascara in Very Black.  I was excited to try this because I have heard many great reviews and lots of people really like it.  Plus the price point is great.  The Rocket mascara (what a name?!) retails for about $6.

Loving This Right Now: Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade (047)

Hi again!  Just a quick post to share a new addition to my ever growing lippie collection.  I finally found the new Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade at a local CVS.  It is a very subtle, soft, pretty light pink.  It is not the most pigmented lip butter but is great for pulling together a casual look or for a polished work look.  

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade

IMATS NY 2013

For Valentine's Day this year, my hubby purchased tickets to IMATS for Saturday, April 6th.  From that moment, I have been eagerly awaiting the day and saving money for an IMATS haul.  I wanted to share with you some pictures and a little bit about my first IMATS experience.

Outside Pier 94

Teeny Tiny Haul~February/March 2013

I have a teeny tiny haul to share with you.  I have been trying to shop my current stash and go on any beauty shopping sprees which has been extremely difficult.  There are always new products being released and I want to try everything but I am saving for a trip at the end of the month and for IMATS in April (woohoo!).  I have a few products that I did pick up over the past few weeks.  Keep in mind that I am on a "low buy" not a "no buy" and that these purchases were made over a span of a few weeks.  

First, I picked up the new limited edition Wet n Wild eight pan eyeshadow palettes in Going in the Wild and Nude Awakening.  They were around $4 at my local Face Values store.  I was thrilled to actually find these because Wet n Wild's limited edition products are almost impossible to find.  The quality of their eyeshadows are amazing for the price and I cannot wait to try these out!  Plus the LE packaging is so pretty!

L: Going in the Wild    R: Nude Awakening

Mini Review: Lorac Natural Performance Foundation

I am addicted to foundations.  I am on a quest to find the perfect formula for oily skin that leaves a lasting satin to matte finish.  I purchase more foundation than I will be able to use in a lifetime and it has gotten to the point where my husband told me I cannot buy another one until I have used what I already have.  That's when I knew I should really shop my stash.

I purchased the Lorac Natural Performance Foundation about six months ago during a 20% off everything promotion at Ulta.  It retails for $36 for 1.0 fluid ounce and comes in ten shades.  I have NP5 which is a pretty good match.  (It is difficult to find a perfect match in foundation because I have yellow undertones.)  

Changes, Challenges & Updates

As you may or may not have noticed, I have made a few changes to my blog. It needed some sprucing up! My ultimate goal is to tie my blog and YouTube channel together, as well as utilizing my Facebook page more often. (In other words, lighting a fire under my butt to get moving again!) I completed a mini project that incorporates all of these together and am anxiously waiting to see the final product. It should arrive around the beginning of March.

I also wanted to restructure my blog a bit, give it somewhat of a content makeover. My goal is to focus more on makeup and beauty including product reviews, monthly favorites & fails, tips & tricks, sales, hauls, and anything else makeup/beauty related. For now, I will be putting "The Saturday Seven" on hold but possibly incorporating some of my answers in monthly favorites posts. I am not completely eliminating random life related posts because I enjoy sharing these as well, just shifting my focus back to makeup and beauty. I truly love blogging and am looking forward to posting on more of a regular schedule. 

Lastly, I have imposed a beauty challenge on myself comprised of "shopping" my current makeup collection and putting myself on a "low buy". My current collection has some really fabulous products that have not been used enough. I hope to rediscover favorites and weed out products that are not worth keeping around. "Low buy" is my answer to the ever popular "no buy". I have attempted a "no buy" in the past but to me, it is just not realistic. I prefer "low buy" which I define as drastically cutting back on beauty related spending while allowing an occasional, minimal purchase. This will be my beauty challenge indefinitely.

I am excited to share all of these new changes and challenges with you. Thank you for visiting my blog! Your support means the world to me! See you soon!