Best of 2013; Beauty

Here we go for 2014 everybody, and what else is better than talking about last year? hahaha. I'm just kidding, but I AM going to tell you what I used the most last year. The best of my entire makeup collection. I found myself drawn to these products the most and I believed that they did the best on my skin. The only thing that is not pictured is my beloved Rimmel Stay matte powder because I have mentioned that at LEAST a million times by now. :) and on we roll!

Blushes:

Benefit's Bella Bamba: I'm not going to lie, I think that the packaging is nothing but annoying. It's bulky and big for basically no reason; BUT I love the color. The gorgeous pink with gold flecks of shimmer. I love that the payoff on the brush is just the correct amount and it's not crazy pigmented from one swipe. Absolutely beautiful color.

NARS Torrid: This was the first NARS product that I ever purchased and it led me into my deep pocketed love affair with NARS products. If you were going to compare Torrid to Bella Bamba, it's a lot more of a deep orange, so it's a coral color with gold shimmer. I love NARS packaging--who doesn't?-- because it's just so clean and simple.

December Wishlist!

Links for all items pictured will be at the bottom of this post. 

I've been drooling over a nice pair of boots, all these people I see have these great boots. My big thing is I'm 5'10" and I don't feel the need to be any taller. Most boots on say JustFab, they all have a pretty big heel on them, the ones that I would like anyway. I'm not that much into heels I want a nice pair of flat boots. I found three that I really like two at h&m and one at Guess. The ones from Guess are a nice pair of combat boots, and what girl doesn't need a good pair of combat boots? Listed on Guess.com they are $129, but I also found them at Macy's for $99. The other two pair of boots are from h&m and they're the same boot, just different colors. These are a more casual pair of boots. Listed for $69.50 These are also knee high, and the combat boots are a little above the ankle.

The next item is a scarf, it's a tube scarf. But I honestly just really like the print it's a nice delicate little floral. Really feminine scarf and I love it and it's only $2.95.

OCC lip tar value set from Sephora. It contains 5 different colors of lip tars. Colors are as listed from Sephora: Vintage (deep burgundy), Stalker (true blue based red), Melange (terracotta neutral), Grandma (classic coral), Ophelia (basic ladylike pink). Of course I've heard all the hype on the lip tars and I have one in my collection, but I'm not a fan of the color. This would be a good variety to start out with. $49

What's in my makeup bag!

Hello adventurers! Today's post is a very popular video on youtube, and I have actually filmed one myself and that can be found here, but that is old and here's an updated one! I got a new makeup bag as a gift with purchase from benefit if you purchased any of the Ultra Plush lip glosses. As you can see it can hold a lot of stuff. In no particular order:

Victoria's secret mini lipgloss in Innocent( dupe for NARS turkish delight post here)
Revlon Colorstay Overtime mascara
Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara (brow gel)
Neutrogena Healthy Skin brightening eye perfecter spf 25
MAC lipstick in Lovelorn
Benefit Ultra plush lip gloss in Sugarbomb
E.l.f eyelid primer
Maybelline the Mega Plush volum' express mascara
NARS Turkish delight
Maybelline Instant age rewind concealer in brightening
Revlon Just Bitten kissable lip color in Sweetheart Valentine
Revlon Colorburst Lip butter in Sweet Tart
E.l.f Baked blush in pinktastic
MAC Lipstick in Plumful
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Creme Brûlée
MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup
MAC Lipglass in Myth
NARS Blush in Gaiety
Sample size Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Sample size Clear Prep FX primer
Benefit Erase paste in no.2 Medium
NARS Blush in Torrid
Benefit Ultra Plush lip gloss in Hoola
Clinique Cream Shaper for eyes in chocolate lustre
Rimmel Stay matte powder in Silky beige


Perfumes(Rollerball):
Vera Wang Princess
MAC Turquatic
Viva La Juicy--also came with a lipgloss on the other end which is just absolutely horrible!
Marc Jacobs Daisy

I know you may be thinking "why does she carry so much makeup on her?" It's because I do my makeup from this bag every morning and if I use a different product I just throw it in there. I don't use all of this every day by any means. It's a little look into my favorite products!

Have you done a post like this? Leave it down below for me to check out!

Would you like a review on any of these products?


xoxoAlaina

August Wishlist!

Hey Adventurers I know I'm a day early, but I got plans for August and I want to get into it already! :) So today is my monthly wish list!

1. Urban Decay

Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

I want to try this foundation because 1. It's new 2. It's Urban Decay. and 3. It's name is 'weightless' Uhh, hello? Exciting! The description of this is:

A weightless and virtually invisible liquid foundation that a luminous, demi-matte finish.

Description alone makes me want to try it. I'm a sucker for these types of things. New products always 

get me intrigued.

2. NARS

Foreplay

I'm still lusting over NARS Orgasm blush from last month--I didn't buy it, and then I saw this along with it last month. It's a new--well, not THAT new-- product that deconstructs the infamous Orgasm blush. With one pink square, one red square 'yellow' like shade that contains the shimmer that Orgasm does and then Orgasm in the corner. I've heard that this palette is a lot smaller than one would think. but I just want it so BAD! I don't know if it's going to be worth the price tag though, BUT I have always liked NARS blushes so I just might give in and buy it. I'm just thinking, do I really need it?! It has a $49 price tag but I regret not buying the danmari palette and I'm thinking I'll regret not buying this one as well. Decisions decisions!

3. LORAC

PRO Palette

This palette caught my eye because of how beautifully simple it is. The color names aren't fancy and the colors are true colors, some shimmer colors, some matte, it seems like an extremely good palette to have a 16 colors for $42 doesn't seem that bad to me. I just have to think of how much I'd actually use it. But I would seriously love this thing. Seems like it would be the perfect thing to take traveling, it has it's neutrals, and it's pops of colors. I think I just convinced myself I need to get it.... 

4. Bare Escentuals 

Pure Transformation Night Treatment

This product intrigues me. It's a powder you put on at night before you go to bed and it's supposed to improve your skin. The price tag is $60 but I know that I can get it at the NEX for $48. I'm going to have to do my research before I actually decide if I'm going to get it or not. It comes in three colors, Clear, light, and medium. I would probably get the clear because in my mind there is less of a chance of it transferring to the pillow if it's 'clear'. This just intrigues me so much, because I've never heard of anything like it. Again, I'm just not sure it's worth the price tag. 

Those are all of my items for this month! What are some of the items you're lusting over? 

xoxoAlaina

 

July Makeup Wishlist!

1. NARS Orgasm: Blush, Multiple, and Illuminator

Basically, I went to the NARS website (https://www.narscosmetics.com) and saw the ad on the front page and well, it got me. Good Advertising NARS. I have not ever tried the Orgasm shade in anything from NARS and I love the two blushes that I have, so why not get a few more things? Make sense? No? oh.. Well... Good Advertising NARS.

2. Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss: Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Coralista, Hoola

I haven't heard too many things about them, I know a lot of people got them but I haven't seen any reviews on them about color pay off or anything like that and I am really interested in trying them out for myself and doing a review on them. I picked so many colors because they are all a little different and I'm really interested in Hoola because it's a nude shade. 

3. BB Cream- Clinique, Dr. Jart, Dr. Brandt.

I tried the Dr. Jart and Dr. Brandt in the Birchbox and New beauty Test tube and loved them. I'm really interested in the Clinique one because of how well known the brand is for being hypoallergenic and I'm a fan of Clinique. BB cream also isn't as heavy and foundation and I haven't been broken out by the bb cream's that I have tried so I'm on the bb cream train. 

4. Too Faced La Creme lipstick- Variety of shades.

I have fallen in love with Lipstick through MAC and Revlon, so to branch out, Too Faced seems like a good Idea, I haven't actually tried Too Faced Products before and these are New so I'd like to try these out and give them a review as well!

5. Korres Wild Rose & Vitamin C Advance Brightening Sleeping Facial

I've heard a lot about this product through many different youtubers and it sounds amazing. I'd love to give this a try, putting on Makeup at night, I'd love to see if it transfers onto pillows and make a review on this as well. This is a pretty pricey product($48) but if it's as good as everyone makes it seems, I'd love to try it out. 

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Hula Hula

Hey guys! I'm back with a review of NARS Hula Hula Eyeshadow Duo. NARS products are pretty pricey and this will run for $34. Usually in my opinion NARS Products are worth the price. I love their blushes and this is my only eyeshadow from them.

The duo comes with a pink and a light tan color. I picked it out because they were very neutral and easy to work with. Before you dip your brush in them, they look perfect. But the pink had VERY chunky glitter flakes that are very unappealing and get everywhere, and the chunks have gotten in my eye and they hurt so freaking bad it's not cool. The tan shade has no chunks of glitter-- actually they aren't really glitter, they are clear flake of a glitter like material but they don't give off a glittery effect. The tan shade is really gorgeous and I will probably continue to use it. But the pink shade is not appealing to me.

Final note, Hula Hula- pass.


xoxoAlaina


Let me know if you like reading these reviews in the comments below and do you have any duo's from NARS, that I should try?

NARS Turkish Delight VS Victoria's Secret Innocent

So as many of you have probably heard the Victoria's Secret lip gloss in Innocent (rumored to be renamed 'Pink') is a dupe for NARS Turkish Delight. So I've been on the hunt for this lip gloss and found it in the 5 lip gloss set from Victoria's Secret. Now as you can see in the picture this is just a sample size of lip gloss and the size is very small. But the fullsize lip gloss is 14 dollars for Innocent (Pink) and the NARS is 24 dollars. 

 Above are the swatches on my hand, Innocent (Pink) is on the bottom, Turkish Delight on the top. Now Innocent was a heavier swatch which is why it's showing up more opaque. In certain lights (I had natural lighting, no artificial) Turkish delight comes across a deeper pink, but again only in certain lights. So I'd say that yes, Innocent (Pink) is a damn good dupe for Turkish Delight and if/when I find Pink at VS I will buy it and compare Pink and Innocent cause again, I've only heard it was renamed. If you know for a fact it was renamed please leave it below.

You may recognize this from my wishlist but I was walking buy the VS section at the NEX and it caught my eye and I wanted it so I picked it up. Included in this set are Innocent, Glow. Baby Doll, Elegance, and Wet. All contain shimmer but Wet (Farthest shade on the right) has a very faint shimmer and Elegance contains a lot as you can probably tell from the picture above. The size of them are very small which I was bummed about, but you would deff know if you liked the shade from this set, and that is what they are all about. and they are the perfect handbag size.


xoxo Alaina

NARS Blush!

Yup! I bought it. If you don't know what "it" is, it is the NARS Blush in Gaiety from my wishlist. That is the only thing I bought from my wishlist this month. I tried not to spend too much. This blush is an absolute gorgeous bright pink color. The tester at Sephora really did not show the color well, at my Sephora it had a white overcast on it and I'm assuming that's from it being open all the time. This color shows up well on my skintone and I don't find it chalky at all. The color is highly pigmented and it's perfect for spring, which is probably why they put it in the Spring collection. I've fallen in love with the few NARS Products I own, but they are super expensive. BUUUTTT, right now they are having 15% off for Beauty insiders! So if you're a beauty insider than go ahead and goooo!

Haul: BH Cosmetics, NARS, Lovestruck, MAC

Corresponding video: COMING SOON! My eyes are really irritated so I decided no makeup today, which in turn means no filming. Tomorrow I shall most likely put up the video.

^^Sneak peek! Can you guess what I got?! ^^

Valentines gift from the husband is above! He so sweet. 

Lovestruck by Vera Wang perfume.

 

  Torrid Blush by NARS. You may recognize this blush from my wishlist. I decided to bite the bullet and get it the color is absolutely gorgeous.This blush has a some shimmer to it and is pretty true to the picture I took to it, but because of varying pixelation colors on computers, it's a coral-pink color. Very pretty.

 This is my first blush from NARS, and I decided not to get orgasm or super orgasm only because I've heard so much about them, I wanted to try something different and I've been after this color for a while. So happy about my purchase. In the swatch you can kind of see it above the eyeliner swatches. It shows up pretty well on my skintone. I love it. :D

 This is an Ombre Blush from MAC in Vintage Grape.  This picture is not color correct it appears much more purple in the photos than it actually is. It goes from a light pink and then fades into a dark purple and the purple is maybe a third of the blush. I'm excited to try it out as it swatched pretty pigmented but I think a light hand would be best with this blush.  This is my first MAC blush and product. Also pretty excited about that.

 Next up is the BH Cosmetics Contour and Blush palette. It has six colors in it. A white highlight, two pink blushes, a tanner highlight and two contouring shades.

 The white swatched well, white. The two tan colors didn't show up. The two pinks came out pretty much the exact same color and the darkest color came out pretty splotchy. It's not looking good for this palette. But I'm going to give it some time to see if I actually don't like it or not.

 

 

 The 26 color palette which contains 21 eyeshadows and 5 Blushes. Unlike the above palette most of these colors swatched very well. They all were pretty  pigmented except a few of the pastel colors, they didn't show up and they were powdery.

 

 Top row in the palette. You can see the pastel pink didn't show up very well. The color is there, but it's very faint.

 

 Second row, all the colors showed up well. You can also see the shimmer in this picture.

 Bottom two rows with the blushes at the end. These blushes were very pigmented on swipe was all it needed to transfer on to my skin.

 BH Cosmetics stippling brush. Much more dense than my e.l.f brush. This brush seems like it would actually stand up to the foundation or powder instead of just flopping over like the e.l.f one.

 BH Cosmetics 10 piece brush kit. These brushes are very soft, much softer than I would of pictured.

 Fluffy Powder Brush

 Blush Brush

 Foundation Brush

 

Blending Brush

 Angled Definer Brush

 Smudge Brush

 Fine Eyeliner Brush

 Spoolie

 Eyeshadow Brush

 

Precision Brush

 Brush bag they comes in.

 Pen liquid liner.

 Showing the applicator.

One swipe over the hand. Very pigmented and it stayed on even after trying to wipe it off. 

 Free gift for spending over a certain amount of money. The Waterproof pencil liner in Onyx.

 Typical Pencil liner.

In comparison to the liquid eyeliner it is not as black, but it is waterproof so this one was a fight to get off even with the makeup remover.