March Favorites

I know I am going to sound like a broken record by saying this, but how is it that March is over already?!  Don't get me wrong, I am happy that we are closer to warmer days and plenty of sunshine, but I cannot believe that the first quarter of 2015 is in the books (a little accounting humor if you will).  Here are some of my favorite things from this month!

1. Bracelet Stacks - This has been the month of arm parties for me.  As much as I've wanted to buy all the things, I'm taking it slow with building my bracelet collection since it was literally nonexistent before a few weeks ago.  This particular one from Altar'd State has been one of my favorites!  I love it because it's big enough to stand along but also looks great paired with a dainty cuff.

2. Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume - A few years ago this mascara would have been the only thing you would find in my makeup bag.  But then I was bitten by the beauty bug and got the itch to try out new products.  I haven't used it in so long, and this month I was asking myself why?  It does what it says and best of all, it's a rubber brush rather than a bristle one.  I like those best because they really get in between your lashes to build up the volume without getting clumpy.

3. Sephora Formula X The System - Before this month, I couldn't tell you the last time I painted my nails.  Probably around the holidays, if I had to guess.  But I picked up this perfect little package and tried it out.  I love that you get a base coat, top coat, nail cleaner, and you get to choose the color you want!  I hate when sets like this force you into whatever color they chose to include.  Not everyone is going to like the same thing, so the customization is great.  Plus, the product itself worked really well.  I got several days wear before I noticed any chipping, and even then my nails looked good for at least a week.

4. Philosophy Purity Made Simple - There's not a lot to say about this cleanser that I haven't said before, but I wanted to include it because this month I became really aware of just how wonderful this product is.  I ran out of eye makeup remover and used this instead, and it worked just as well without making me feel like I was ripping out all of my eyelashes.  That's usually a problem I run into with oil-based (the kind you have to shake to mix together) removers, and for that reason I steer clear of anything like that.  If you were in a pinch or needed to conserve space when packing, this stuff would definitely do the trick.

5. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner - This is another product that resurfaced after being absent from my beauty routine for a few months.  I go through phases where I do winged liner and March was a month of the cat eye if there ever was one.  Even better, I forgot I had a brand new one stashed away in my drawer, and there is nothing like that first perfect swipe of eyeliner from a fresh applicator.  It's the little things.

6. Nashville - You know how most shows go on hiatus during the holidays?  Well Nashville was no exception.  But when it started back up in February, I was still so wrapped in the Bachelor that I didn't bother to even touch my DVR.  That changed this month, when I held a mini marathon of the latest episodes I needed to catch up on.  I'm 100% hooked on this show again, just in time for them to take another break (wahhh!).  At least I have all of the soundtracks to get me through it!

Favorite Outfit Post - Blue & Blooms

What are some of your favorites from March?

xoxo,

Amanda

February Favorites

Just like that, we've got two months of 2015 under our belt.  Yikes!  For me, February was a slow transition back to normalcy after the craziness of January.  I got back into a regular makeup routine despite Mother Nature's attempt to snow on my parade, and it didn't hurt that I had some new goodies to play with.  Here's a look at what I've been loving this month.

 

Too Faced Semi Sweet Chocolate Palette

Did I need to buy this?  Probably not.  But I wanted to, and that 20% off at Ulta coupon was burning a hole in my pocket.  And did I mention that it smells like chocolate?  It takes a lot of self-control to not eat this thing every morning when I'm doing my makeup! The colors are buttery, blendable goodness that I can't get enough of at the moment, and I'm having fun trying new looks, especially with that gorgeous blueberry shade.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation

Like I mentioned earlier and in previous posts, we got hit with a big snow storm and extremely cold temperatures this month.  I don't know why, but the cold makes me not want to even bother with makeup, especially foundation and the whole shebang.  It might have to do with the fact that my skin gets really dry.  For that reason, I gravitated toward this mineral foundation a lot this month.  I am so impressed with this product, because the coverage really is quite amazing for a powder!

Nars Albatross Highlight Powder

When I think back to the very first highlighter I ever used on my face, which was actually a Jane eye shadow, I can remember being mesmerized by the simple effect of a little sheen on the high points of your face.  Now I was probably in middle school at the time, so needless to say I've stepped up my game when it comes to choosing products.  The glow of this Nars powder reminds me so much of that shadow.  It's such a beautiful shade and perfect for every day wear.

MAC Plumful Lipstick

As much as I'm itching to break out the bright pink lipsticks, I reserved February to finish out the berry shades in my collection.  In my mind, March signifies the start of spring whether or not the weather agrees with me, so I wanted to get in the last few wears of my winter-deemed shades while I could.  I love this particular shade because it's not so vampy that I can't wear it comfortably to the office, but it's not so sheer that it feels like I didn't apply any lipstick at all.  As Goldilocks would say, it's just right.

Redken Cleansing Cream Shampoo

It's no secret that I hate washing my hair with a burning passion so when I do I want to be sure that I get all the gunk out, for lack of a better word.  This clarifying shampoo does just the trick, but is still gentle and safe for my color-treated hair.  Because let's face it ladies, salon color isn't cheap and it's a tragic loss to see all of your color washing down the drain.  Plus, with the amount of time I go between washes, buildup happens.  It's inevitable.  With this shampoo, my hair feels clean for a good three to four days before I need to apply dry shampoo again.

Sperry Duck Boots

All I can say is thank goodness I bought these boots back in November!  I'll let you in on a little secret though, I definitely bought these in hopes that by me being properly prepared for snow, we wouldn't get any.  All through December and January I thought my voodoo had worked, but then snow.  Lot's of snow.  But hey, at least I had proper footwear.

The Bachelor

If I wasn't hooked enough in January, now it's hook, like and sinker for me.  I blame the Sunday-Monday back-to-back episodes that I actually watched consecutively on a snow day at home.  That was four hours of the Bachelor, half of my work day, spent on the couch engrossed in the drama of farmer Chris and his ladies.  I'm at the point where I want to go back and watch some of the former seasons, but sadly they aren't available on Netflix.

 

What are your favorites for the month of February?

 

xoxo,

Amanda

Five Lipsticks for Valentine's Day

Lately I've been all about that lipstick life, the brighter the better.  It's funny because even just a year ago, I'd be hiding behind a safe MLBB shade.  While there's nothing wrong with that and I still rock a good nudey-pink some days, it's even more fun to try out pretty shades of red, pink and purple.  The key is to have the confidence to do so, and make sure you keep a good balance with the rest of your makeup.  In the spirit of love month, I wanted to share five of my favorite fun shades that have been on constant rotation in my makeup bag lately.

1.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick

- Melted Fuschia

I admit I was a little hesitant to try this one because it's really bright.  Like, really bright.  But it's also very flattering, especially if you have a paler complexion like I do, because it's a blue-based hot pink.  The tube packaging is pretty much fool proof, and I don't even need liner to get a crisp line.  Try this one with full lashes and filled in brows and you're good to go.

2.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

- Outlaw

I can't say enough good things about this lipstick.  The color is just bright enough while maintaining that true red tone, and it definitely stays in place through meals and anything else the day might throw at you.  I like to use a bright red lip liner with this to really make it pop.  Plus, it pairs perfectly with a flirty cat eye.  You can't go wrong with a cat eye.

3.

Tarte Power Pigment

- Flush   

This one is more of a berry pink, and it definitely stands out.  You have to reapply throughout the day to maintain the moisture, but it does leave a pretty stain as it wears and the pencil makes it easy.  If you're a fan of bolder pinks, this is calling your name.  And because it's not so bright, I like to rock a neutral eye look when I wear this lippie.

4.

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

- Icon

If you're feeling brave, I highly recommend this liquid lipstick.  It's the boldest of bolds when it comes to red, and incredibly dark and pigmented.  This stuff won't go anywhere all day.  Seriously, it looked just as good after 8 hours of wear as though I had just applied it.  It can run a little vampy because it's so dark, but a nice smokey eye would also play that up.

5.

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural

- No9 Copper Pink

Now I know everyone isn't as daring as me when it comes to makeup choices, so I definitely wanted to include a lipstick that was a bit more wearable for everyday.  The best part is, if you're a Sephora Beauty Insider you probably already have this since it was part of the birthday gift last year!  I'll wait while you go run and dig it out from the bottom of your drawer.  Got it?  Good.  Yes, this is pretty amazing for those days when I want a colorful lip but I don't want to draw so much attention and play up my eyes instead.  If you haven't already, try it on.  You won't be disappointed.

What are your favorite fun lipsticks for Valentine's day?

xoxo,

Amanda