November Loves

I don't post one of these every single month because I don't always fall in love with a whole post full of new products, and I'm not going to bore you by going on about the same stuff I told you about last month. So here's what I've been loving over the past couple months:

Origins A Perfect World SPF 15 Age Defense Tinted Moisturizer with White Tea (01 Light)

This has a ridiculously long name, but my skin is loving the hydration and the sheer coverage.

Origins Silk Screen Refining Powder Makeup (Oatmeal 16)

I light-handedly sweep this all over my face, using my Eco Tools duofibre brush.

Almay* Wake Up Undereye Concealer (020 Light/Medium)

This comes with a brush on applicator, which I squeeze along the inside edge of my eyes and tap to blend with my ring finger.

Milani Baked Blush (Dolce Pink)
This applies really sheer but builds to the perfect natural  just-came-in-from-the-cold rosy flush.  I can imagine this shade being really  beautiful on a lot of skintones.

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss (Juicy Peach)
This is the absolute perfect Autumn-Winter lip product, not only because glossy neutral lips are the perfect foil to dark smokey eyes but because the formula is also really moisturizing (unlike most glosses, which tend to dry out my lips).

Wet n Wild Where's the Party Eight Pan Eyeshadow Palettes

I'm kind of obsessed with the original Color Icon palettes, and these new editions definitely don't disappoint.  I've been pretty much living in Sparkle the Night Away (neutrals) and Shine Till Morning (purples and blues).

Wet n Wild Color Icon Lipliner (Brandy Wine)

I don't mind splurging a little on quality skin products, but lipliner is an item I definitely don't believe in spending much money on.  Wet n Wild liners are just as pigmented as higher end versions.  At 99 cents a pop, I'll probably be snagging a bunch more of these on my next Walgreens trip.

Taylor Swift - Begin Again

I haven't gotten ahold of the Red album in its entirety yet, but I love what I've heard so far.  Chad Sugg's cover of Begin Again makes me weak in the knees.

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

This was my favorite book for the month of October.  I don't know why I didn't read it years ago.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I've obviously been reading a lolately.  I got through this one really fast because I couldn't bear to put it down.

Nescafe Memento

These come in delicious flavors like caramel (obv. my favorite) and mocha, magically froth up like cappuccinos and don't require cream or sugar.  They've altogether replaced Folgers as my morning instant coffee.

What do you think of my November loves?
Do you have/want any of these items?

What products have you been loving this month?

XOXO, T

FTC: The Origins tinted moisturizer and powder were both given to me by my momma.

*Update: Almay has been removed from cruelty-free lists, and I don't know what to do with my life.

I ♥ Drugstore Tag

I know this is a YouTube tag, but, seeing as I don't make videos, I've decided to do it as a blog post.  (Am I allowed to do that?)  Anyway, I saw this tag on Beauty Broadcast and Emily says it's okay, so here we go.

1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand?
I think I use a ton of Revlon because it's so readily available (and I do love me some Revlon), but if it didn't involve a thirty minute drive I'd see myself having a lot more NYX.  Its quality and color selection really are unbeatable.

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?
Honestly I typically use mid-high end face makeup (because it's the first thing that touches your skin and it can be hard for me to find a good color match in the drugstore), but if I absolutely have to pick a face product I'll say Revlon PhotoReady Concealer.
For cheeks, you really can't beat Milani Baked Blushes, although I also really enjoy the e.l.f. Studio Blushes at $3.
Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect is the end-all, holy grail lip product.  It moisturizes like no other, has spf, and even looks like a gloss on the lips.

3. Least favorite product?
Undoubtedly, EOS Lip Balm (although this easily could've gone as number 8, not worth the hype).  Although these come in cute, colorful little spheres and smell pretty, the balm just kind of sits on top of lips and doesn't deliver any kind of hydration.

4. What is the best makeup bargain?
I would say the e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing powder, if the blush worked better on my skintone, but, since it barely shows up, I have to go with Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow palettes.

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)
Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara is insane.  I have never seen this kind of volume from a drugstore mascara.  This product deserves way more attention than it seems to receive.

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?
Has to be nail polish.  OPI and Essie are absolutely ridiculous (Do they count as "drugstore?"), but even Revlon ColorStay costs like $8.

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!
It should come as no surprise to anyone who reads my blog that I'm going with Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion.  I didn't quite believe Liz when she first told me this is an exact dupe for Benefit High Beam, but I became a believer at first swipe.  Boots High Lights retails for $12.99 for 1 oz.of product, while High Beam costs $26 for a mere 0.45 oz.  I'm no physicist, but that makes High Lights half the price for (slightly more than) twice the product.  Side by side, High Lights is a bit less watery than High Beam, but they're pretty much identical once blended out.  (High Lights looks really reflective in my picture; I might have inadvertently swatched it a bit thicker than High Beam.)

Benefit High Beam (left) & Boots High Lights (right)

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?
Revlon PhotoReady Whipped Creme Makeup.  I'll admit the texture feels kind of nice (if a bit heavy), but it's near impossible to guess a color match in those clunky glass jars.  Revlon might be able to change my mind about this product if they'd step up their game and provide testers, but until that happens I have to dub PhotoReady Whipped as vastly overrated.

What do you think of my picks?  Do you agree/disagree with any of my answers?

I tag everyone, but, specifically:

April of April, Maybe

Bre of (Skinny) Arm Wars

Krystal of Beauty By Krystal

lovenailpolish of Addicted to OPI-yum

Rose of One Unique Queen

Sophie of Born to Buy

If you do this tag, please leave your link below so I can read your post.

XOXO, T

Trendy Tuesday #1: Summer Brights

A lot of bright colors have cool undertones, which is part of what makes them so beautiful with a bit of a tan.  If we tried wearing neon in the winter, it would completely wash most of us out.

The key to incorporating brights into your look, whether in the form of clothing, accessories or makeup, is pairing a single pop of color with an otherwise very basic, neutral look.  The most surefire way to pull off a bright lipstick, eyeshadow or blush is by wearing almost no other makeup.

It helps to wear a white base underneath brights to help the color pop, especially on darker skintones.  For example, I typically apply NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk under bright eyeshadow or liner and a white nail polish before a bright (or dark or weird) nail polish, to keep it from staining my nails.

These are a few of my favorite bright cosmetic items:

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop and Tutti Frutti

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Shangri La

Wet n Wild eyeshadow singles in Fuchsia and Lagoon

Milani Liquif’eye Eyeliner in Aqua

Wet n Wild Lipstick in Fuchsia with Blue Pearl

e.l.f. Studio Blush in Pink Passion