Best of August | 2017

hello friends!  another month has come and gone and it’s time again for a monthly favorites post.

1.  Subculture Eye Shadow Palette|Anastasia Beverly Hills  this was a must for me.  the reviews were mostly thumbs down for this palette for reasons such as kick up and fall out of the powder.  this doesn’t really bother me and i’m glad that it didn’t keep me from purchasing it!  all the colors in this palette are perfect for a fall eye look.
2. MorphexJaclynHill Eye Shadow Palette  if you didn’t get your hands on this palette the three different times it launched, then i’m very sorry.  i literally sat with my finger on the order button when it launched in July!  this palette contains 35 of the most buttery soft, pigmented, blendable eye shadows i have ever used.  if this palette launches again, i suggest you get it!
3. MAC Powder Blush in Desert Rose  i was so excited when Ulta started carrying MAC products.  this blush is one of the first things i bought.  this color is a soft reddish burgundy and looks like a natural flush when applied to my cheeks.  i will most definitely be adding more colors to my makeup collection.
4. Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Foundation this quote states it best when describing this foundation:   “Your skin, only better. Our new high-performing, skin-perfecting foundation underwent major road testing under seven different photo lighting conditions to deliver flawless camera-ready makeup every time. Specially made with a matte, light-diffusing complex to give your skin #nofilter perfection”.  this is all true!  one of the best foundations i have ever used.  i use colors:  bronze beige and golden beige.
5. Gita Tassel Earrings|Stella & Dot  tassel earrings were the must have statement earring for summer and they are still going strong for fall.  i love wearing this earring when i have my hair pulled up into a messy bun.  that hairstyle really shows them off!  guess what?!  they also come in white!
6. Triad Ball Drop Earrings|SUGARFIX by BaubleBar  i’m seriously in love with all the earrings by this brand!  this is the third pair i have purchased and there are a few more styles on my wishlist.  they look the best worn when my hair is pulled back into a bun.  they are also very light so my ears don’t hurt at all when i wear them!

thanks for reading and have a great week!

xoxo, ang

Favorites | February 2017

i don’t know about you, but I’m ready for spring!  mother nature has been a little crazy lately here in the midwest.  one day it’s 70 degrees and the next day it’s in the thirties.  even though february was winter one day and spring the next, i found some great things that i don’t think i can live without.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette $42

this palette has been out for a while and every time i wanted to buy it, it was out of stock.  i finally found it and bought it immediately.  this palette contains 14 beautiful, earthy colors.  they have great pigment and blend very well together.  it was my go-to eye palette in february.

Becca First Light Filter Face Primer

i am never sure if a face primer works, but i think this one by Becca really does.  this primer refreshes my face and gives me a fresh canvas for all day makeup wear.  i have noticed that my foundation looks amazing after applying this primer.  even after a long day at work, my makeup still looks fresh.

Kat Von D Lock -It Makeup Setting Mist  $26 & CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream $8.49

i cannot say enough great things about this make up setting spray.  i usually use a drug store makeup spray but since i love everything KVD, i had to try it.  this spray sets my makeup all day.  it claims to be a 24 hour makeup setting spray and i agree!  it has the finest mist and call me crazy, but the scent reminds me of a farmers market i visited in nova scotia.  i love it and i’m addicted!  the covergirl clean matte bb cream is amazing.  i started using it last summer and recently started using it again.  it has a matte finish and i find it gives a fuller coverage finish.  i can wear this bb cream all day and it doesn’t budge.  even when i work 10 hours, it still looks flawless.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder $26 & Sephora Mini Color Switch by Vera Mona Brush Cleaner $14

the laura mercier secret brightening powder is perfect for setting your under eye area.  it diminishes fine lines and brightens dark circles.  i use this powder to bake my under eye area and i will tell you, i haven’t found anything else that sets my concealer better!  it’s worth every penny!  i’ve heard a couple of beauty influencers talk about the sephora color switch.  if you use multiple eye shadow colors and don’t want to wash your eye shadow brushes constantly, this is for you.  you can alternate between eye shadow colors without cleaning your brush with brush cleaner by using this dry alternative.  all you have to do is swipe your brush over the sponge until the pigment is removed and you’re ready to move on to another color.  genius!

Citrine Crescent Horn Necklace by Alexandra Gioia $88 & Elaina Gold Bracelet in Rose Quartz by Kendra Scott $50

i love accessories that are unique but stylish.  this crescent horn necklace is both of those things.  i love Alexandra’s jewelry because it compliments almost everything i wear.  this is the second necklace i have bought from her line and it won’t be the last.  the kendra scott elaina bracelet is constantly on my wrist.  kendra scott jewelry is classy and a must have!  every piece i own, i love.  this bracelet stacks very well with the other dainty bracelets adorning my wrist.

 

thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,ang

Sephora: A Love Note Shopping Event

makeup and beauty lovers rejoice!  the Sephora shopping event is upon us.  if you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s the scoop:  twice a year Sephora allows you to purchase all of your makeup and beauty favorites at a discount.  the first event is in April (the sale is running now thru the 13th).  the second event is held in November.  if you are a Beauty Insider, you will receive 10% off of your purchase thru 4/12.  if you are VIB or VIB Rouge, you get 15% off of your purchase thru 4/13.  this is the best time to stock up on all of your favorites and get those more expensive products at a discount.

there were a few things that i needed and a few new products that i wanted to try so i placed my order a few days ago. they are due to arrive this week.

here’s what i purchased:

 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara | Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray | Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Firenze | Bumble and Bumble Surf FoamSpray Blow Dry | Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara | Sunday Riley Power Couple Duo: Total Transformation Kit | Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown | Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown

the tattoo liners and brow wiz, i have had before.  i am most excited try the rest of the products.  i am trying to get my skin care routine perfected.  i have heard nothing but great things about the Sunday Riley products, so i thought i would give them a try.  the Too Faced Mascara is one of the best mascaras out there right now.  i was so excited to hear that they came out with a waterproof version.  a few of my favorite youtube vloggers rave about the Marc Jacobs mascara so i thought i would give it a try.  it is supposedly comparable to the Better Than Sex mascara.  the Ouai Texturizing Hairspray is also getting a lot of hype on youtube.  i usually use Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray or Amika  Undone Texture Spray. those two brands are amazing, but i cannot wait to try the Ouai spray!  Bumble and Bumble products always get great reviews, so im sure i will love the surf foam spray.  in the reviews i read on Sephora.com, it is supposed to give flat limp hair volume.  i need volume, so i hope thats true.  i already have one of the Stila liquid lipsticks and i love it. this formulation rivals the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks.  the color that i bought is available to VIB Rouge members. if you have it, let me know if you love the color.

here are the codes if you are planning on shopping this event:

Beauty Insider:  use code BINOTE at checkout.  this code is good thru 4/12

VIB:  use code VIBNOTE at checkout.  this code is good thru 4/13

VIB ROUGE:  use code ROUGENOTE at checkout.  this code is good thru 4/13

whats in your shopping basket?  don’t forget if you are VIB ROUGE,  you get free flash shipping on every order!

 

thanks for stopping by!

xoxo, ang

 

 

 

February Favorites|2016

hi friends!  here we are at the end of another month.  i haven’t purchased a ton of makeup or other beauty items lately.  work has been super  busy and i have been working on my dressing room project at home.  it is 98% complete and i will share all with details with you as soon as its 100% complete.

i did have a few standout products this month.

i am on and off with makeup primers.  i bought the Makeup Forever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer at Sephora.

my favorite Sephora girl recommended that i try it.  i have noticed that the skin on my face is somewhat changing texture and the pores around my nose seem to be getting bigger.  this primer does a great job of filling in those pores and balancing my skin so my foundation goes on more smoothly.

i always have to set my under eye area with a setting powder or i get raccoon eyes.  i had a couple other powders i was already using for my under eye and they work ok, but i am always looking for something better.  i was checking out the makeup section at Target and i came across the ELF High Definition Under Eye Setting Powder .

i honestly bought it because the packaging was so little and cute.  it was only $3 so if i didn’t like it, no big deal.  it just so happens that i do like it!  it camouflages my lines and dark circles.  it also doesn’t cause my concealer to cake.

this Mario Badescu Facial Spray is a must for me.

i have really dry skin and this spray is perfect to spray before makeup application, during makeup application and anytime your face feels dehydrated throughout the day. it works very well for me and it smells like roses.   i don’t use this spray to set my makeup though.  i still use the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray after i apply all of my makeup.

highlighting powders can be a bit tricky for me.  i want a little glow, but i don’t want to look like a disco ball.  i recently purchased the Glow Kit by Anastasia Beverly Hills.

i got the kit called Gleam.   They also have one called That Glow.  the powders go on beautifully and not as dark as they look.  i apply them to highlight my cheekbones, the middle of my nose and my cupid’s bow.

starburst and crushed pearl are my favorite colors in this kit.

i’m off to get ready for a birthday dinner and hopefully catch the red carpet event.  i love to see the beautiful dresses and makeup everyone is wearing!

thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

xoxo, ang

 

 

 

November Favorites

november was a wonderful month full of adventure and shopping of course! the hubs and i vacationed in South America.  in case you missed that post, you can read about it here.

i also got a lot of great things at Sephora and Ulta that i used in november and most of them made it to my favorites. i also have a few accessories that i just adore and want to share those with you as well!

 

1. Louis Vuitton Emilie Wallet.  it seems that I have a small LV addiction.  i bought my first LV bag this summer and i just had to have a matching wallet.  this wallet is just the right size.  it holds cash, cards and my check book.  its the perfect size for the LV Favorite MM that i own. i may or may not have bought another new LV bag last week…
2. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight-01. this highlighting powder gives just the right amount of shimmer to my cheekbones, down my nose and my cupid’s bow.
3. Stella & Dot Signature Engravable Bar Necklace and Signature Engravable Memento Locket.  i am a big fan of pretty much anything Stella & Dot but these two are my current favorites.  they are classy pieces that go with just about anything i wear. they can be monogrammed with your name, initials, childrens or spouses initials, coordinates etc.  i would also like to mention that the engravable bar is now available in rose gold; this season’s must have metal!
4. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. I had been wanting to try this but just couldn’t pull the trigger on it.  i was at the checkout in Ulta one day and they had what is called Too Faced Sex and Chocolate.  you get a deluxe size of the Better than Sex Mascara, which i will talk about later in this post and a deluxe size of the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.  i thought i would take a chance since it was inexpensive.  I LOVE IT!  it is the perfect matte bronzer and it smells like hot cocoa!  i will be buying it in the full size as soon as i use this one up.
5. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder. i have rather large pores around my nose area.  this powder makes them disappear.  you can use it to prime your skin before you apply foundation.  it can be applied as a setting powder, which is what i do or alone for more of a natural look.  i also like to use it to set my under eye concealer.
6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. this is the perfect gel to keep your brows under control.  i use this after i pencil them in.  i use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, btw.  it is the best pencil i have found to fill in my brows.  one tip on the using the gel:  make it the last product you use before you use your makeup setting spray.  you do not want to gel your brows and then set your face with powder.  its not a good combo:)
7. Lorac Mega Pro Palette 2. i already wrote about this palette and the primed and poreless powder in my October favorites here.  both of these products are so fabulous that i had to mention them again this month.  i cannot say enough great things about this palette.  the colors are beautiful and they blend out really well.  you get so many options with this palette (16 matte and 16 shimmer shades).  you really need to add it to your Christmas list if you don’t already own it.
8. Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid  Lipstick in Outlaw and Bauhau5. this lipstick stays on and goes no where.  it dries to a matte finish and requires no lip liner.  i actually think it works better if you do not use it with a lip liner. the color Outlaw is a brick red and Bauhau5 is a deep raspberry color.  if you love matte lips this is the one to try.
9. Viseart Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Neutral Matte. after watching my favorite beauty vlogger rave about this palette, i decided to give it a try. i bought it when the VIB Rouge event was going on so i did get it 20% off.  its a pricey palette but worth the $$$.  the colors are very rich and blend very well.  there are 6 other versions of this palette so I’m sure if you are willing to spend the extra money there will be one that you like. (this palette is available online only)
10. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. this to me is probably the best mascara on the market.  it gives dramatic volume and length.  when you wear it, you look as if you are wearing false lashes. what’s not to love!
11. Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette. i wrote a post about finding the perfect eyeshadow palette.  you can find it here. i said it then and I’m saying it now.  if you can only buy one palette, this is the one to get.  with a mix of neutral, warm and cool shades, you can achieve the perfect neutral or smoky eye. it also comes with an insert with step by step instructions on what color to put where.  everyone i talk to that has this eye contour palette raves about how much they love it.

what were you loving in November?  what’s on your Christmas list this year?  i have a whole bunch of things on my list 😉

xoxo,ang