currently loving

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Just a rundown of all the things I'm loving right now. Loving, as in, full on obsessed.

These candles are little jars of pure luxury. I'm not thrilled with the price tags, but the scents? They're amazing. 

I've also worn these flats every day for the past week. They're so comfy - I think my feet have molded to them. The heel height says 'practical' but the leopard says 'fun'.  

Speaking of fun, how fabulous are these headphones? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't drawn to them because of how they look, but the sound quality was the tipping point - waaay better than my old Apple earbuds.

It may be rainy and gloomy here still, April notwithstanding, but I'm determined to go on pretending that Spring has arrived anyway...starting with my nail polish. This pink and this blue are so cheery and bright that the rain is a little less gloomy. Of course, you can't have nail polish without nail polish remover. This nail polish remover has changed how I feel about nail polish removers. Seriously, it's hands down the best I've ever tried, and I've tried quite a few. Bonus: it actually smells kind of good - less acetone, more soft powdery floral. 

If you're looking for good quality, inexpensive brushes, Sonia Kashuk is always a good bet. I recently picked up this brush at Target. I love the pattern and the way it lets me apply my face powder with a light hand. 

Lastly,  after hearing so many things about this primer, I finally caved in and bought it. OH MAN. HOLY GRAIL product. I wasn't really a face primer convert until this, and now, I'll never look back. 

What are you currently loving?

lip service

here

 I find that as the days get sunnier and warmer, my makeup becomes brighter and more colorful but lighter. Some (tinted) moisturizer with spf, mascara, a little bit of concealer, and a swipe of color or sheen on the lips is my summer beauty routine - fast, easy, and carefree, as summer should be. After all, when the weather's that nice, who wants to spend ages on makeup? 

These are the lip products I have tried and tested in anticipation of spring/summer, and I must say, I'm hooked on all of them. For an oh-so-natural lip, I turn to Clarins Instant Light lip perfectors. Not sticky with just the right amount of my-lips-but-better color and a scent to die for, they've quickly become a must-have. Another barely-there option that I love is the Tarte Lipsurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint. The product looks petal pink in the tube but on my lips, the color turns to the loveliest flush of pink, thanks to its "personalized color" properties. I don't know the actual science behind it (I think it has something to do with pH?), but I'm loving the results. Plus, it's conditioning, and the tube twists up, so no sharpening required. 

For a little more color, I've been alternating between the Clinique Chubby Sticks Intense and the Color Whisper tubes from Maybelline. So many shades to choose from for both, but the good news is both of these products are friendlier on the wallet (the Maybelline especially at ~$6 a pop), so I picked up a couple of shades. They both have decent color payoff without the feeling that you're wearing a heavy layer. Most of the time, I forget I'm wearing anything.

And for the beauty spurge, I've been loving YSL for so many things lately. In addition to their Shocking mascara, I've become obsessed with their Rouge Volupte lines. The silver tube is the Sheer Candy version, while the gold tube is the Shine version. The sheer candy line is more of a balm, while the shine line is more of a glossy lipstick. Both come in hefty, gorgeous packaging and lightly smell of mangoes. Since the sheer candy is more of a balm, the staying power is pretty short (1-2 hours) but it does hydrate my lips upon application. The shine version is great for the gloss-over-lipstick look without the mess. If I want the most color, I go for the Rouge Pur Couture glossy stain. It applies like a non-sticky liquid gloss and dries down eventually to a semi-matte lip color over time. I was impressed by how this didn't budge on me for over five hours (there was only the faintest of transfers when I was drinking/eating). 

What's your summer beauty routine? What are some lip products you've been loving? Please do tell. :)

products I love: l'occitane

here


In the winter, my skin gets super dry and super itchy. After trying numerous other products, as a last ditch effort, I tried L'Occitane's range of products, starting with the concentre de lait and the shea butter hand and foot cream. After seeing how effectively these three products worked on my poor skin almost immediately, I was sold. I'm also now obsessed with the almond shower oil and pate delice (couldn't find online but similar) for the days I want extra exfoliation. The subtle, natural, and refreshingly not chemical smell of all their products is a nice change from a lot of other things available, and the great work they do helping women in Burkina Faso makes my purchases even more worth it. L'Occitane's products are pricey, but they're fantastic and last quite a while as a little goes a long way, so they're a splurge I budget for.

Have you tried L'Occitane products? Any faves?

gifts

James and I celebrated Valentine's Day the weekend before at a lovely restaurant, but some presents from my lovely fiance came this weekend.

I love a neutral eye with a little bit of a "wow" factor, and once I saw this palette , I was sold. I own two eyeshadow duos and two eyeshadow singles from NARS, and I've always had great color payoff. The texture of my shadows are so buttery and easy to blend, and with NARS' eyeshadow base (the set comes with a mini travel version as well as a short-handled eyeshadow brush), they don't budge for the entire day. The compact is great for travel with its slim size, and the palette is so versatile for day or night that I can see me just bringing this for eyeshadow on a trip and being completely satisfied. Total LOVE.

This nail polish has become a quirky new fave: the pink base is quite classic, but the micro glitters and the bigger pieces make it really fun. It comes in 5 perfect-for-Spring shades.

My nails look like mini Cadbury eggs. How fun is that?!

This lipstick is so creamy and glossy, I loved it at first swipe. I was strolling through Sephora with gift card in hand and was drawn to the sleek packaging and a rainbow of colors. After swatching a couple of colors, I went with #12. I think it will be great for spring, and I have nothing like it. I haven't always been a fan of YSL beauty products - they were and are a bit pricey for me. But with a gift card and James pronouncing it "a great color" (this is high praise from him), it came home with me. As did this mascara, which has become a new favorite. I wanted a mascara that gave me some drama and volume without clumping. This does that for me, and then some. Plus, it smells good. YSL's beauty products all have a little bit of fragrance - nothing overpowering and the scent goes away after awhile, if you're sensitive about scents. I'm all about how something smells, so it's a bonus for me for the mascara. It comes in several colors, in addition to a true black. I went with the sea black, a blackened navy.

#12 is a lovely coral (its name is Corail Incandescent). The color payoff is wonderful - rich color with a sheen of gloss. After a few hours on me, the gloss goes away but the color remains and ultimately fades over time. I find myself touching up sometime in the early afternoon if I put it on around 8:30 a.m.  and then another touch-up in the early evening.

I didn't spend all of my gift card, but a good chunk of the remainder went to these two powders: the one on the left is loose, and the one on the right is pressed. I had been unsatisfied with my previous powder: there was always some discoloration no matter how little I used. I decided to give this one a try when I heard good things about it - some have called it "photoshop in a pan". If that's the case, then that will be a bonus - I just want a powder that sets my foundation without leaving a chalky residue. I prefer loose powders, but I bought the pressed one as well for ease of travel.

The compact is very generously sized, and although it looks a ghastly white in the pan, it goes on sheer on your skin.

It's so nice to receive gifts, especially from someone you love. Thanks, baby!

I hope all of you had a lovely Valentine's Day.

Here's to a great week and Happy Monday!

routine

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One of my goals at the start of the year was to develop a routine to take care of my face and stick to it. After spending some time in Sephora trying out an entire range of products, I think I've found a set of products that work for me. I use this cleanser day and night; it's super gentle and has a very mild scent. When I want extra cleaning, I use this 2-3 times a week. I've used these makeup remover wipes for years and buy them in bulk at Costco (good for a quick or heavy-duty clean, or when you're traveling), and I recently discovered this toner (this cleansing water is great, too). This moisturizer with SPF from Sephora's line has become a favorite  for day- it keeps my skin moisturized without feeling like I put a ton of stuff on it. For night, I turn to this night masque for ultimate hydration. I wake up in the morning and my skin feels so soft. It's definitely a splurge, but a little goes a long way.

I also wanted to develop a "fail-safe" makeup routine that was easy to do yet still pretty, for those days when I've hit the snooze button too many times and I've only got 5 minutes. I have to say, taking care of your skin goes a long way to making 5-minute makeup effortless. In addition to products just applying more easily, adding all the extra stuff is just not necessary since your skin is lovely the way it is. For the most part, the only makeup I use throughout the week is five things: eyeliner (brown for day, purple or black for night), mascara (a favorite since high school; this is an equal favorite), neutral eyeshadow, lip balm/lipgloss/lipstick (always/often/sometimes), and a blush if I want more color. I leave the heavy stuff for the weekends for dates or nights on the town when I want a little bit more oomph and drama than my M-F look. 

* The specific shades in the collage are MAC lipstick in lickable, NARS eyeshadow in cordura, and NARS blush in orgasm.

What's your daily beauty routine? I'd love to hear some beauty product recommendations!

give (beauty)

 polyvore set here

lips: Clinique Chubby Sticks Set, Fresh Sugar Duo

lips&tips: Lancome 'In Love' Duo, Butter LONDON Holiday 2012 Collection

skin: Clarins 'Seven Wonders' Set, Fresh 'Skin Savers' Set 

eyes: NARS 'Express Yourself' Set, Laura Mercier Artists' Palette (appears to be sold-out online, but check in-store at Sephora)

coverage: Urban Decay Naked liquid foundation and Good Karma brush

brushes: Eco Tools eye brush set

Some quick confessions: 
1) For the price and quality, Eco Tools are my most-purchased, go-to brushes.

2)  I just bought the UD Naked liquid foundation and brush, and it has been a revelation. I get amazing coverage, but it feels like I'm wearing nothing. And the brush! Blending has never been easier.

3) Laura Mercier's Artist's Palette is amazing. It's UD's Naked palette's more grown-up, subtle sister, yet just as versatile. The packaging is discreet, functional, and sturdy; the shadows apply like butter, have good color payout, and last a long a time once applied. Hands-down the best palette I've tried.

obsessed with...

polyvore set here

When the weather gets cold and the wind starts biting, my skin quickly takes a beating. I'll talk about my other winter essentials for skin, fluids, etc. in upcoming posts, but first things first: lip care. 

Some of my favorites:

Softlips are my favorite drugstore brand of lip balm. They come in a handful of varieties and scents (vanilla is my favorite), have SPF, and I like the sleek packaging (even though I lose these immediately it seems perhaps because of it - I just buy them in packs!). 

I also really love Jack Black Intense Therapy lip balm. These also have SPF and come in several different scents/flavors, but I exclusively use the natural mint & shea butter. Bonus: my boyfriend appreciates the masculine packaging. Jack Black also makes a whole line of men's grooming products. My boyfriend has tried the after shave and liked it. The balm and other products are readily available at Sephora. 

I discovered Korres lip butter and the Korres line in general when I was looking for sensitive skin-friendly makeup for my sister. She loved their eyeliner and eyeshadow that didn't break her out, and I loved their lip butter. I get it in "jasmine" (pictured). I don't think the scent necessarily reminds me of the flower, but I appreciate the subtle scent, creamy texture, and how it can also double as a gloss since it has a little bit of a sheen. 

Every night before I go to sleep, I use Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy. I love the whole Fresh Sugar line in general, but the Advanced Therapy works wonders on my lips when they're really banged up. I put some on my lips at night, and I see a huge improvement in the morning. The lemon scent is also a plus for me, but it's strong, so not everyone may like it. I've also heard good things about their lip scrub, but I haven't tried it out. I left out mentioning a lip scrub because I haven't found a favorite yet . 

Any suggestions for good lip scrubs? What are some of your favorite lip balms? How do you take care of your lips?

vamp

Estee Lauder Beyond Black Collection

I'm a vampy nail polish kind of girl, and Estee Lauder's Beyond Black collection is definitely right up my alley. I'm seriously craving the two colors singled out,  Blue Blood and Viper.  At $20 a bottle, they're a definite splurge, but I've heard that the colors are amazing and that the formula wears like iron.  

A new fall manicure is sometimes all the retail therapy you need.