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Beauty Products That I’m Thankful For – The Beauty Council

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The Beauty Council

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  Thanksgiving or the Holidays in general always excites me and I find that I am not only very happy and looking forward to making memories with my family but also a little on the emotional side as I remember past memories with loved ones who are no longer here.  While family time is important to me, I also consider my “beauty buddies” my extended family and the Beauty Council includes some of my favorite beauty loves.  Along with the Beauty Council, I bring to you Beauty products that I’m Thankful for… so grab a coffee, tea or cup of cocoa, have a seat and enjoy!

Beauty products that I am thankful for

I say this time and time again that finding and choosing a favorite product for me is kind of like asking me to choose between my sons.  Don’t get me wrong, I do have those that I cannot live without, but I also feel that I either love it or hate it and if I love it, I will definitely make use of it.  This year (2014) was all about either rediscovering old favorites or brands I stopped using or trying out products again that I haven’t used in a while.  I do have some new goodies on my list, but overall these are items that I know I have grown to love or have loved from the first use.  Some are newly introduced, others have been a favorite of mine for a while… but overall, these are the products I think I would thank the Beauty Gods for.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Colour Pop Eye Shadows – These gorgeous shades with a weird and unique texture have captured my heart a few months back and I use them so often, how could they not be favorites?

Lorac Mega Pro Palette – I’m definitely thankful for this one, because I literally stalked the site to make sure I got my hands on this palette.  I’m thankful most importantly that I got a chance to get one… because it’s awesome.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Dress Your Face Palette – I’ve been rocking out the colors in this palette consistently, how could it not make this list.  Gorgeous shades for year round and pretty much any skin tone.

Milani Baked Blushes – It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Milani, but their baked blushes or any of their blushes are definitely favorites of mine and great for everyday use.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette – Have you tried Hourglass Ambient lighting powders?  Well, this is a great set to try out some of these powders and fall in love as I have.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette – These are so gorgeous in the pan I don’t even want to use them sometimes… but they are worth it and you will fall in love with these too.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara – Hey, my lashes are so short and sparse but I have found the best “hands down” mascara on the market for volume and some length and it’s normally less than $4.00

Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara – Top 5 of my favorite mascaras.  A mascara that I can use on it’s own and it offers me enough length and volume so you can see my little wittle lashes. lol

NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep – We all know I love my Sunny Bronzer from NYC, but this one is definitely a favorite and perfect for my skin tone.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance & Coastal Scents Step One Eye Primer T – My Holy Grail Primer is from Too Faced but lately I’ve been crushing on my Coastal Scents Primer.  Definitely must haves that I can’t live without.

Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter in Dusk – a great asset year round but especially during the colder months.  I’m so glad that I got to try this lovely treat for my pucker.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Bite Beauty Lippies – they have definitely stolen my heart this year from their lipsticks and high pigment pencils to their Agave Lips Mask.  Fabulous brand and awesome lip goodies.

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks – these are a new release and I own three of them.  So creamy, moisturizing and I love how awesome they feel on the lips.  Looking for a great matte lipstick, yup – check these out.

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks – my #1 love of lipsticks from the drugstore.  If you know anything about me, it’s that these are still my favorite.

Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencils – I will pull for these before my Urban Decay 24/7 liners, because they really don’t budge on my waterline.  Less than $3.00 each these give high end eye liners a run for the money.  I can’t wait for Jordana to come out with a larger variety of shades.

New York Color Liquid Eyeliner in Black – If you watch my videos or follow me here you know this is an important one for me.  I’ve been using this eye liner now for over 6 years, before it became a cult favorite.  Back then, it was an affordable option that I loved and still do.

Paula Dorf 2+1 For Brows Kit – this is a new favorite but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to try it out because it makes doing my brows easy as pumpkin pie.

Color Switch Duo – The Beauty Gods know I have more than my fair share of makeup brushes and sometimes I’ll use 8 or more in one look.  This awesome little gadget allows me to switch between shades for blending or placing color and I can still use my same brush.  Of course, it is not meant to take the place of cleaning your brushes – you still have to do that, but it’s such a dandy tool.  A makeup artists’ dream.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Be Delectable by Cake Beauty’s Lemon & Cream Hair & Body Mist – I need to get the rest of the scents, but these are fabulous.  A light mist of yummy on the body or hair makes for a showstopping entrance.  Yes, this is affordable and no it does not replace my love for perfume, but this is great for every day.  My favorite body mist.

Freeman Feeling Beauty Facial Masks – I pictured the Facial Brightening Mask but most of them are favorites of mine and considering I have super sensitive skin, I’m very thankful that these work pretty well for me without any issues.

Michael Todd Soniclear Cleansing Brush – Last year I had many issues with my Clarisonic.  While it does work for others, it just did not work for me and it was difficult to find something similar that would wow me.  This cleansing brush is gentle on my sensitive skin, anti-microbial and most importantly – it’s purple. lol

Argan Oil & Coconut Oil – pictured is one of my favorite Argan Oils from BebeLush. Used in combination with my Dr. Bronners coconut oil, these products have definitely improved my skin’s texture, look and overall appearance.  These oils have made a huge difference in my skincare and used alongside some of my favorite serums, it’s because of these products and caring for my skin that I no longer need foundation and concealer.

DermOrganic Hair Products – pictured is the Leave-In Spray Therapy which I use often, but DermOrganics products have really been a huge asset in how awesome my hair is.  Soft and manageable and my curls are pretty.  My hair loves these products to the end of the earth.

Dove Pure Care Dry Oil – African Macadamia Oil, Coconut Oil and more.  Yes, I knew I would love this product.  The ingredients alone scream volumes of why I love it so much… so no explanation needed. lol

Be Delectable Triple Moisture Body Lotion in Strawberry & Cream – one of my all time favorite body lotions because who doesn’t love to smell like vanilla and strawberry?  Moisturizing with shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera, this is one that I know I will continue to love for years.

So – my very very long list of products is finally over.  I know, I know… I need to start learning how to narrow down my options.  But, there is nothing wrong with options and I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity this year to try out so many awesome products.

Happy Thanksgiving loves and don’t forget to head on over to the blogs below and check out what made my buddies thankful list. <3

Signature Honey


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Monthly Favorites: Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle – July 2014

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july favs 2014

I know I say this each month, but man…  July sure flew by faster than ever and August is already proving to be traveling at lightning speed.  I had so much going on I really just forgot to post my Monthly Favorites here on my blog… so I am sharing it with all of you now.  Last month was a month of discovery because I tried out quite a bit of new products, most of which I found I immediately enjoyed.

Check out my video embedded below where I go through each product or click here to watch it directly on YouTube.

Check out the rundown of products for last month below.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

I did a review here on my blog of the Hask hair care products in Argan Oil and Keratin Protein.  After using other products for a few months, I find that I still enjoy this line and it has made a whole lot of difference on my hair since the sun has been doing a full beat down.  Check out my complete review for these products here, and definitely check out the line where you can find them at select stores – I have been picking up my masks at Walmart.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

I have a review coming soon on the Verona Color Switch.  This product is pretty genius and I think would be a great benefit for Makeup Artists especially.  It allows you to take your brush and swipe it through the product cleaning off excess product so you can use the brush again.  I especially love to use this when I used the brush originally to apply a color and then swipe it through the color switch so that I can blend the shade out without transferring additional product and causing a muddy effect on your eyes.  I also love that I can go from a dark shade like black to a light cream or white shade without mixing them.  It’s a great product and I hope to have the review done soon.

L’Oreal has hit a home run with Voluminous Miss Manga mascara.  It has quickly become one of my favorites because you can actually see my lashes when I use it and used in combination with one of my favorites… Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – they have become a pair made in heaven. lol

Kiss 11 Lashes have been my jam this past month… this is my third pair even with reuse and cleaning of previous pairs.  I love how affordable Kiss Lashes are, how thin the band is so it makes it near to impossible to detect you have them on and most importantly – how comfortable they are on the eyes.  I especially love that these are dupes to my favorite Ardell Demi Whispies… but a bit cheaper than they retail since I can get them in a larger pack if I can find it.

July Beauty Favorites - 2014

Of course, I have been loving the new Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Shadows.  If you have been following me at all in July – you would have seen my review, which you can find here, as well as a tutorial using a few of the shades I mentioned in my favorites which you can find here.  Bella Chiffon, Bella Sand and Bella Bronze have been some of the favorites I have been gravitating to this past month and I know they will surely be favorites for time to come.

L’Oreal Infalliable eye shadows have been a favorite now since first trying them earlier this year.  While I am smitten and in love with Iced Latte, Gilded Envy has been a shade I have been rockin’ out in July.  I love just applying it with a quick wash of color and blending Milani’s Bella Cappuccino in the crease for a sweet every day look.  I promise I’ll have a quick tutorial for that coming up soon.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

 

Through most of the summer I usually pull for my more nude shades and since I’m already on my second tube of Milani’s Nude Creme, I figured I needed to switch things up a bit and pull out some shades I haven’t been using all that much.  I purchased Bite Beauty’s Duo Lipstick in Lychee & Musk earlier this year and have really enjoyed the shades as well as the formulation.  Creamy, moisturizing and the colors are gorgeous.  The only downfall is that the formulation of these lippies are so darn soft, the warm summer heat has been doing a number on them and I know that soon I’ll be needing to apply these lip colors with a lip brush because the lipstick is getting bent out of shape.  They are naturally soft so even without summer, they were already starting to warp.  Regardless, for the price tag I am loving these and I think that anyone would enjoy them.

Of course, NYX’s Butter Lipsticks have been a favorite for months.  I have been pulling for Pops much more now then I did any other time.  I have a review for this lipstick here and if you are someone who likes nudes, this may be a great addition to your collection.  Creamy, soft and buttery on the lips, it’s been a favorite of mine all month.

July Beauty Favorites 2014

After purchasing my Lorac Pro 2 Palette last month, I instantly fell in love.  The shades are perfect for year round because they are soft and wearable… you can easily use most of them for all over the lid one wash shades.  I love that there are a few bold shades as well.  I have a review of this palette coming soon as well as a tutorial coming up using colors that I have been rocking all month long together:  Rose, Mocha, Cool Gray, Nectar & Plum.  This is surely becoming a favorite palette of mine and will take it’s place right next to #1 in my Holy Grail pile.

Of course, we all know I’m about that Vanilla Cake scents.  I have been a long time fan of Pacifica and their Island Vanilla scent has been a top scent for me the last 2 1/2 years.  I haven’t used anything else but this scent all month long in July.

July Lifestyle Favorites 2014

Last but not least are my Lifestyle Favorites.  As I mentioned in my video, the boys have been enjoying listening to Magic’s Rude on the radio so it has become a favorite of ours in the house.  I think it’s beyond adorable when twin 4 year olds and a 10 year old knows all the words to a popular song and they love it.  I have been also getting great use out of my Glasstic Water bottle.  I have a review for it here, and definitely recommend it to anyone – especially people who love infused waters.  It has been a lifesaver for me to carry around my drink in this heat.

Last but not least is my Cafe Press Customized Plus Size V-Neck T-shirt.  I designed this last month and have been enjoying it.  I think Black and Gold are such a great combination and I have been loving the simplicity and the statement.  I’ll try to remember to post a quick Outfit of the Day the next time I wear it.  The fabric is breathable, it’s cut and fits this plus size gal really well and it’s personalized.  I love it.  You can check out more information about creating your own shirt or many other things here.

Overall – even if July flew by so quickly and August is here… I am thankful that I accomplished so much in the month.  The twins are off to school as well as my eldest and all started on August 1st so the house has been quiet during the day, and I miss them so much.  Our summers are always filled with fun and this summer was surely no exception.  From hitting the beach, to the park to just cruising and enjoying our time together – I was certainly sad to see it all go (excuse me while I tear up a bit), but all three boys were so excited for school (I’ll have more of that in another post this week).  It’s times like this when I reflect back on a previous month that I realize how awesome life is and I’m glad for Monthly Favorites that allow me to reflect on the month previously.  My number one favorite that I didn’t mention in my video – time!  The past two months has given me awesome and quality time with my littles and my husband… that overall, is the best favorite of all.

Signature Honey


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May Beauty Favorites 2014

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Holy batman… it is another month gone by in 2014 and my favorites list is the size of a watermelon – lol.  To watch my May Beauty Favorites video directly on YouTube, click here.

The life of a blogger is pretty awesome, however… it also means that my Monthly Favorites list is growing like mad.  Am I complaining? No – of course not, but just know – I don’t mean to bombard you with a million favorites each month. lol Because of this I’m gonna try really hard to get back to doing my 5 Friday Favorites in 5 Minutes Segment once again to help lessen the load. lol

 

May Beauty Favorites 2014

Products that made my favorites this month include:

Hair Care –

  • Derm Organic Argan Oil Line to include Shampoo,  Conditioner and Intense Moisture Mask
  • Skin Delicious Body So Fine Curling Gel – soft control

Skin Care –

  • Be Delectable by Cake Beauty Strawberry and Cream Body Lotion and Lemon and Cream Hair and Body Mist Spray
  • Freeman Golden Grain Mask
  • Bebelush Argan Oil
  • Lulu Blossom Body Balm

Makeup Tools –

  • Coastal Scents Bamboo Brush BR-B-S43
  • Crown Brush HD Brush – Tapered Blush
  • Sedona Lace EB 19 Bent liner brush

Makeup –

  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
  • Scandaleyes Retro Glam Waterproof Mascara
  • Chella Defining brow pencil in Dazzling Brown
  • Perfekt Beauty Brow Perfection Gel in Caramel
  • Milani Brow Gel Set
  • Cailyn Waterproof Gel liner
  • NYX Matte Bronzer
  • Milani Matte Baked Bronzer
  • Milani Bare Secret
  • NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee
  • NYX Xtreme shine Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz
  • Wet n Wild The Naked Truth Palette

Nail Polish

  • Zoya Shay
  • Zoya Adel

I have tried a bunch of different foods and listened to a lot of different songs this past month – but one that my sons have been loving a lot has been Lucky from Daft Punk and Happy by Pharrell Williams… so I will share one with you all.

I’m super excited that summer is here and we are in full swing of Summer break.  Hope you are all enjoying some warm weather.  I am hoping that I can start doing my Friday Favs again and that should help eliminate my super long list.  Wishing you all a wonderful week and day!

Signature Honey

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Friday Favorites – Makeup and Skin care

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It’s been quite a while since I did a Friday Favorites but I have been enjoying some new things lately and rediscovering some old things that I normally only use this time of year.  Check out the video below as I go through each item on my favorites list or click here to watch it on YouTube.

Friday Beauty Favorites 04.11.14

Eu Natural Clarity Organic Vitamin C Serum with E + Hyaluronic Acid – $39.95  I recently did a review on this product.  Click here to read all about it.  I love the texture and what it has done to my skin in such a little amount of time.  I’ve been on a kick with using serums lately, but I’m glad I decided to add this to my routine because it is awesome.

Perlier Royal Elixir Face Youth Serum with Royal Jelly – $99.00 (HSN)  I just started using this products about 2 weeks ago and my first impressions on this after using it in that time would be that this is gonna be a product I know I’ll continue to use.  My skin loves it and I enjoy it too.  A review on this product is in the works and after testing it the next few weeks you can expect to see one here.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish – Pretty in Peach – $3.99 (found in most drug stores, Walmart, Kmart and Online)  I have been loving peach and coral shades this season.  I normally don’t pull for those colors on the nails, but I found such a pretty shade that I love.  Check out the nail look I did using it here.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Goddess – $3.99 (found in most drug stores that sell Wet n Wild, Walmart, Kmart)  I have used this bronzer for a few years now, this is my 2nd one and I love that the shade is dark enough to show up against my skin.  Wet n Wild products are not only affordable but you can find them everywhere and this bronzer offers me the right shade for a great contour.

NYC Sun to Sun Bronzing Powdering in Sun Mist – $3.99 (found in most drug stores that sell NYC or Walmart, Kmart)  I usually use NYC’s Sunny – but have been using my Sun to Sun Bronzing Powder lately.  I love that it offers me a nice contour without being too over powering.  Perfect for every day use.

Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar – $8.99  This has been a favorite highlight for me for a year or so now.  It’s affordable and offers such a sweet and soft glow to the skin.  I am a huge fan of Milani products and this is no exception.

NYX Sunkissed Radiant Finishing Powder – $9.00  NYX did a great job with this Finishing Powder.  It has been a favorite highlight for my cheekbones and I love that it feels really nice and silky to the touch.

Milani Rose Powder Blush (Limited Edition – no longer available) Warm Petals – $7.99  Sadly this product is no longer available – but Milani really should bring it back if not in the Rose edition in a baked blush.  It is one of my favorites and probably the one I use the most from last years Rose Powder Blush collection.  This blush just offers me a glow and a light soft blush so that my face has added dimension without going overboard.  My fav to use every day.

Maybelline Color Elixir in Petal Plush – $8.99  I’m truly enjoying the color pay off on these Color Elixirs.  They have pretty nice staying power for a gloss.

Maybelline Color Elixir in Vision in Violet – $8.99

Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Tropical Frenzy – $2.99  I love these Twist and Shine Balm Stains.  Not only are they super duper affordable but you get great color pay off and pigmentation and a nice stain.  If you are one that wants to try out the balm stain pencils that everyone is raving about but looking to find a cheaper alternative – you may like these.

Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Sweet Pink – $2.99

Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain  in Candy Coral – $2.99

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Tulip – $25.00  I am a huge fan of the Laura Mercier Lip Glaces.  They are a little pricier than I would like, but I love their color pay off and how they feel on the lips. They are comfortable to wear and I love the scent.

I hope to be able to keep up with these posts and videos like I used to.  Do you enjoy Friday Favorites posts and videos?  I think it’s a way for me to be held accountable and to shop my collection of beauty products more often and keep me trying new things.  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

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