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Best of Beauty 2014 – Cosmetics, Skin care and more (The Beauty Council)

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I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by.  In all honesty, I think I blinked or closed my eyes for a nap like Rip Van Wrinkle and woke up a year later.  So much has happened this year and I have had the awesome opportunity to try out so many different products newly released.  While I have tried out so many wonderful products, I also found that I stuck with a few favorites from last year as well.  With the end of 2014 so quickly approaching, myself and the gorgeous beauties from the Beauty Council bring to you our Best of Beauty 2014.

best of beauty

My list includes a variety of Cosmetics, skin care, face and body products as well as hair and perfume.  My favorites range from Drug store products to high end and include a wide variety for all.  I know I’m a little earlier than usual this year, as I normally make this post or video in January – but I wanted to share this information with you in case you are looking for ideas for Christmas presents for that Beauty lover in your life.  I’ll have a video and maybe a revised post sometime in January.

[Some of the products mentioned in this post include Press Samples & Affiliate Links.]Best of Beauty 2014

This year I tried out a lot of new skin care items and while some didn’t quite work for me, others have become favorites of mine.

skincare

  • Coconut Oil – this has been a favorite of mine a few years now and still something I just can’t live without.  It is the number one item in my skin care arsenal.
  • Freeman Beauty Feeling Beautiful Face Masks – I have tried several of these this year and so far I’m loving them all.  They are not harsh on my sensitive skin and really affordable.
  • Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser – this is my HG facial cleanser and one I’ve been using for years now.
  • Japanese Konjac Sponge – I have used a few varieties of these Konjac Sponges this year and they have been great for my face and a separate for my body.
  • Valentia Skin care Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Serum – We all know I’m a serum addict and this one is one of my favorites.
  • Michael Todd Soniclear Cleansing System – I have only been using this the last few months but it is my favorite cleansing tool to date.
  • Be Delectable by Cake Beauty Body Lotion – yummy, delicious scent and great moisturization.  One of my favorite lotions – EVER!
hair care

For hair care this year, I wanted to be able to use products that would offer my hair more moisture so I could embrace my natural curls.  I also needed products that would protect my hair from sun damage and help tame my frizz.

  • Dove Pure Care Dry Oil – When used in combination with my Coconut Oil and/or Argan Oil, this dry oil has helped to keep my hair soft and frizz free.  This product also smells yummy!
  • DermOrganic Argan Oil Hair Care line – these products, all of them from this line have become favorites this year and I don’t know what I would do if I lost them or couldn’t buy them.  They leave my hair feeling so soft, my curls are gorgeous and my hair is frizz-free.

best of makeup 2014

I can’t believe the amount of products I have had the opportunity to test out and use this year.  While I had to narrow my list down quite a bit, I chose out a few items that I knew I tend to pull for more than others.

  • NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams – I wish my local stores sold all the shades available, but nonetheless, I stock up on these when I can.  They apply like a liquid lipstick, feel nice on the lips and their matte.
  • J.Cat Wonder Lip Paints – these very affordable lip gloss like products are fun and come in a variety of shades.  I own six of them and really have been enjoying wearing them the last 6 months or so.
  • Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes – these lippies were just recently released within the last few months.  They are creamy, feel wonderful on the lips and they don’t dry my lips at all.
  • Milani Color Statement Lipsticks – there’s no secret there that I am in love with these lipsticks.  Nuff said. lol
  • Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencils – ah, these are so awesome.  Full with pigment and color, feels wonderful on the lips and non-drying.
  • Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Shadows – I love how easy these are to apply to my eyes and they are so easy to grab and use for days when my makeup application has to be quick. So affordable too.
  • Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette – I have a few favorite palettes from this year, Lorac Pro 2, Lorac Mega Pro and so many more… but if I had to choose one palette I thought really hit it home for me this year – it was the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. And, I’m not gonna lie… my Semi Sweet palette is on its way – so I am excited for that too.
Best Face Products 2014
It’s no secret that I have a thing for blush and highlighters.  Well, let’s face it, I have a thing makeup in general. lol  But this year I tried out some new products and ventured on to new goodies to play with.
  • Benefit Porefessional – While I don’t use many face products, I do sometimes look to primers to help minimize pores.  This is still one of my all time favorite face products.
  • Maybelline Baby Skin – Instant Pore Eraser – I love the way this product feels on my skin.  Just like the Benefit Porefessional, this is a product I do not use often, but when I do – it helps my products in longevity (like blush and bronzer) and minimizes my pores
  • NYX Sunkissed Radiant Face Powder – One of my all time favorite highlighters I used this year, this product feels so soft, is finely milled and blends great on the skin.  It can be used as an all over face powder or on special areas on your face.
  • NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep – This is one of my favorite Matte bronzers from the drug store.  This product is the right shade for me and the shade range is nice for a drug store brand.  It blends nicely, doesn’t look patchy on and works as a great all over bronze or contour.
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders Palette – this palette is well worth the cost for the amount of product you get.  If you are interested in diving into Hourglass – this is a great way to try three of their powders.  I love Radiant Light as one of my favorite sunkissed highlights though all of the shades definitely have a place in my heart.
  • Milani Baked Blushes – Come on now… we all know I love Milani and I am a huge lover of Milani Baked Blushes.  They are available in gorgeous shades and are very pigmented, have awesome staying power and are some of my favorite blushes to bat.
Best of Fragrance 2014

I love sweet smelling scents and this year no matter how large my collection of fragrances, I still found myself consistently pulling for these.

  • Malin+Goetz Dark Rum Eu de Toilete – this scent is unlike any I have smelled before.  It’s unisex so man or woman can wear it.  It’s a musk like scent but has a soft hint of feminine touch.  I can’t explain it.  I love layering it with some of my favorites for a custom blend.
  • Coach Love – this is one of my signature scents and it makes so much sense seeing as I love the brand Coach.  Definitely one of my favorites.  Soft with a hint of sexy.
  • Aquolina’s Pink Sugar – There is just something I love about a sugary sweet or vanilla scent and this one really takes the Cake. lol

Best Mascaras and eyeliners 2014

I am always looking for the perfect mascara and eye liners and while I have quite an extensive collection, I tend to gravitate to the same ones over and over again regardless of my selection available for use.  These are some of my favorites from this year.

  • L’Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara – I really love that this mascara gets all my tiny little lashes and makes them visible.  For the price tag, I think it offers great volume and some length that work for me.
  • Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara – this one has been a favorite now for about two years.  Since I have short lashes, I love that this coats my lashes, gives them great volume and make them visible for me.
  • Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara – still one of my favorites into the second year of use and I have continued to purchase over and over again.  Gives me length, volume and doesn’t flake.
  • New York Color Liquid Eye liner – while this isn’t waterproof, I still love that it lasts on me for quite a while, definitely a favorite of mine and under $3.00 – it can’t be beat.
  • Mally Beauty Evercolor Waterproof Liners – Midnight is probably one of my favorite liners, though I do have a few other colors and love them.
  • Jordana 12 Hour Made To Last Liquid Pencil Liner – these are some of my favorites and I have them in every color available.  They work well on my waterline, apply smoothly and hello – they are under $3.00

I know my list of products is long and I would be lying if I didn’t say that I actually narrowed it down quite a bit.  Truth be told, I had a lot of fun testing out and trying new products this year and it definitely reflects on the products I enjoyed using and selected.  I think the joy in beauty products and makeup for me is that the options are definitely endless… from drugstore to high end brands, now a days you have so many choices available for you – it really is difficult to narrow down favorites when so many of them are close calls.  Did you notice I left out nail polish?  If I included those… I would need a whole new post. lol

I’m definitely looking forward to 2015 and all the new releases and products that will become available soon.  Brands are constantly developing new formulas and shades, colors and textures that it makes for a great selection.  I hope you all stick around and read or watch about those products here as I love to share them with you.

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday season.  And, don’t forget to stop by the other lovelies posts from the Beauty Council and see what made their top picks for 2014.

Signature Honey

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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA & STOCKING STUFFERS IDEA – Colour Pop Cosmetics

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So it is no secret that I’m a fan of Colour Pop Cosmetics, having posted about this brand several times and creating looks using these products.  At just $5.00 each shadow and/or Lippy Stix or Lip Pencil, these make great stocking stuffers and Holiday Gifts.  I figured I would share a few goodies I picked up along with swatches so you could decide if this is something you want to add to your Holiday Wish List or something you may want to pick up for the beauty lover in your life.

Colour Pop

I got two of the Holiday Sets still available on Colour Pop’s website.  Each Holiday Set was $30 and not only did I get free shipping with an order of $30 or more, but each set includes six products.

Check out the video embedded below where I walk you through all the goods or click here to watch directly on Youtube.

Not A Box Of Chocolates is a set that includes six single eye shadows conveniently in a box ready to give or receive.  The collection includes a variety of shade textures from satin, metallic, pearlized and matte.  The collection is limited edition so you will not be able to buy the shadows in this set individually.

Colour Pop Not a Box of Chocolates

This set is available till the Holidays or until it sells out – but I definitely suggest it. The colors are absolutely gorgeous and great for those who want a little sparkle in their life but still want shades they can wear and get good use out of.  I love how it has Holiday inspired shades but you can use them together or on their own to customize your makeup look.

Colour Pop Not a Box of Chocolates

Top to Bottom – Left to Right:  Halo (satin luxe), Tinsel (metallic), Partridge (pearlized), Sleigh (metallic), Drift (pearlized), Doe-A-Deer (matte).

Choosing a favorite color from this collection is near to impossible because they are all very gorgeous shades.  If you watched the video, I talk about Partridge being a possible dupe for MAC’s blue brown pigment.  The shade is slightly different with a difference in hues, but it can totally be used for similar looks.  I swatched both shades side by side in the video, so you can check that out here.

Colour Pop Not a Box of Chocolates

Swatches from Left to Right – Halo, Tinsel, Partridge, Sleigh, Drift and Doe-A-Deer is the purple shade that is swatched on the top.

Each shade is very pigmented with one swipe and provides great color pay off and longevity.  The swatches below are the same from above, but the below photo was taken almost 10 hours later after washing dishes 3 times.  As you can see – the wear on these shadows is absolutely awesome.  The swatches were done without primer, so you can only imagine what it is like over a primer or base.  These shadows are perfect for an all over wash of color or for a quick makeup look on your way out of the door.

Colour Pop Not a Box of Chocolates

If you are not looking to pick up a Holiday set – check out any of Colour Pop’s single shadows – again, sold for $5 each and available in a variety of shades.  Pictured below I have So Quiche, Cricket, Hammered and Mittens, though there are a plethora of shades you can choose from at the affordable $5 price tag.  Pick and choose your shades and spend $30 or more and get free shipping in the US.

Colour Pop Shadows

The second set I picked up was a Lippie Stix set in Forget the Fruit Cake.  This set includes 6 limited edition lippies, 2 in their Hyper glossy finish and 4 in their matte finish.  The shades are gorgeous and perfect for the Fall and Winter season trends.

Colour Pop Lippie Stix Forget the fruit cake

Just like the eye shadow set – the lippie stix set comes in a cute gift box, ready for gift giving.  The set is $30 and includes colors that are full of pigmentation and bold colors.  Since this is a limited edition collection, once it sells out or once Holidays are over – it may not be available, so you definitely want to get your hands on them soon.

Colour Pop Lippie Stix Forget the fruit cake

Left to Right – Flawless (satin), Leather (matte), Tutu (matte), Lady (matte), Cheers (matte), Confetti (hyper glossy), Tuxedo (hyper glossy), Cookie (matte).

Flawless and Leather were purchased separately – they are not a part of of the collection Forget the Fruit Cake.  I included them in the swatches because each of them are just $5.00 and available for purchase separately.  If you love wearing dark berry or purple lippies, these would be fabulous lippie stix to add to your cart.  If the Forget the Fruit Cake collection is not for you, you do have other options for lipsticks, including the Preferred To Pudding Set which includes Colour Pops best selling lippies.  You can also pick and choose the shades you want from their permanent line.

Colour Pop Lippie Stix Forget the fruit cake

My hope is that Colour Pop decides to make the lippies in the Forget the Fruit Cake set and the shadows in Not A Box of Chocolates available as single shadows because each are gorgeous and would do well on their own.  I’ve been impressed with Colour Pop now since the first time I used their shadows and each color range they have continues to amaze me.  If you have six friends that are beauty lovers, it would be a great way to introduce them to this brand by choosing out 6 shades to give to each friend and put it in their stocking for Christmas.  I know I would love this as a present, so I’m sure they will love it too.  Check out what Colour Pop has to offer – a wide range of shades… and see if they will make your Holiday Wish List this year.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  All products discussed in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are my own and I was not paid or sponsored to provide any information regarding this company or their products.

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Sephora VIB Haul 2014 – Tarte, Bite Beauty, Benefit and More

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As much as I love makeup – I do my best to keep my makeup purchasing at a minimum… well, at least now I do.  But, I cannot tell a lie, there is one time of the year that makes it most difficult to skip on the purchases and that is during the holidays when all the cool makeup holiday sets come out.  It also means that I look forward to the Sephora VIB sale each year and that is the time when I take part in my annual Sephora VIB Haul 2014.  Check out a few things that I hauled during this sale.  I’ll be sure to have details of each one coming soon to the blog and YouTube channel.  Not interested in reading?  Well click on the video below and watch directly on Youtube. lol

Sephora VIB Haul 2014

There were a few items on my list to grab from the get go and that was the Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot collection and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette.  But after browsing Sephora I practically jumped for joy when I seen the Bite Beauty Lip Crayon Mini Collection of four… I am in love with these lippies and a few other goodies I had been wanting to try.  I also had my eyes on that Tarte set so it was in my radar while going through the site.

Check out my video embedded below, sit back & watch as I talk about each item or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

I hope to have reviews for most of the items up soon so that you can try to take advantage of them if you are purchasing for Holiday gifts.

Products hauled:

  • Tarte Bon Voyage Collector’s Set and Travel Bag
  • Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Set
  • Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix
  • Bite Beauty Lip Love Kit
  • Too Faced Melted Kisses
  • Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo
  • Bite Beauty Mix & Mingle Lip Mini Color Matte Cream Lip Crayon in Augbergine
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette
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Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter – Rainforest at Dusk

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It’s no secret that I consider my lips to be one of my best assets… well, besides the fact that I’m well endowed in other areas, but that is definitely a subject for another post… teehee.  While I do have my cult and holy grail favorites when it comes to lip care items, I am a sucker for lip butters and I am willing to spend the price on one that works and does the job just as it says.  I can count my favorites on one hand so I was quite intrigued to see how this particular one would match up with some of my favorites.  Having never tried the Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter before (or any of the products from this brand for that matter), I couldn’t wait to put it to the test.Teadora Rainforest at Dust

PRESS SAMPLE

Let me start by saying that anything and I mean anything that smells like chocolate that I can put on my face… is already a seller for me.  Immediately upon opening the packaging and before opening the little box the lip butter came in – I could smell a soft hint of chocolate.  Nothing overpowering but enough of a fragrance that I was immediately entranced by it.  This lip butter (in a very generous sized pot) retails for $15.00 and includes 0.5oz/15mL worth of product.  Now, if you know anything about me… it’s that as much as I love Lip Butters, I’m not a fan of the pot and the fact I have to dip my hands into it to get the product out.  But, I’m not gonna lie, I have and will continue to make the exception with this product.

Teadora Rainforest at Dust

The lip balm is quite firm at first touch so using this as a balm and applying with your fingers is definitely best.  It’s as easy as swirling your finger on the balm and rubbing onto your lips.  I love that this can also be used as a light exfoliant before moisturizing.  Simply scoop a larger portion of the butter with your finger, apply to your lips, and lightly remove with a damp warm wash cloth.  After you are done exfoliating, go ahead and swirl your finger on the butter again and apply to your lips to moisturize for soft lips that last all day.  The balm not only smells like berry and chocolate but it has a light flavor of chocolate with a hint of berry too.

Teadora Rainforest at Dust

Each lip butter is packed with antioxidant and vitamin-rich Buriti, Brazil Nut, Andoriba, Maracuja (passion fruit), Acai oils, Cupuacu, Murumuru, Mango butters plus Carnauba Wax to help moisturize your lips, add extra vitamins needed to heal your lips, protect them from UV Rays, anti-aging benefits and so much more.  The Acai-Acu (which has that berry chocolate flavor) also provides the light exfoliation and hydration for your lips making this product a benefit for your puckers.

Ingredients: Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Astrocaryum Murumuru (Murumuru) Seed Butter , Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Organic Euterpe Oleracea Fruit (Açaí) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Organic Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit (Buriti) Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed (Brazil Nut) Oil, Non-GMO Tocopherol (mixed Ester – Vitamin E), Carapa Guianensis (Andiroba) Nut Oil, Eugenia Uniflora Fruit (Pitanga) Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Passiflora Incarnata (Passionfruit) Seed Oil, Organic Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, Natural Flavor.

Not into a chocolaty flavor or scent? Don’t worry, because Teadora offers this lip butter in two scents/flavors:  Dawn (which has a citrus type scent/flavor) and Dusk which is this one having a chocolate/berry scent and flavor.

Teadora Rainforest at Dust

I absolutely love that Teadora’s Lip Butters are 100% vegan. They are free of parabens, synthetic fragrance, silicone, gluten, phthalate, sulfates and other harsh chemicals which we try so hard to avoid in our skincare today.  This product has become a favorite in my daily routine, especially now during the colder months when my lips are most dry.  The pot seals up nicely which allows me to travel with it or toss it in my purse without any issues and while the pot includes much more product than I would expect, I love that this gives me the opportunity to do double duty and use as both a lip butter or light lip scrub.

For the price point on this item, you are getting two in one and a delicious treat for your lips.  I definitely recommend this product and I know it will be one of my favorites moving forward.  I can’t wait to try out Dawn.  Also, by purchasing Teadora products, you are also supporting sustainable agriculture in Brazil to help stop rainforest deforestation.

Have you tried anything from Teadora before?  What are your favorite lip butters available on the market today?  I would love to hear from you so be sure to leave a comment down below.

Signature Honey

This product was provided to me as a Press Sample for review and / or consideration.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.

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Halloween Makeup – Dark Gothic Alice In Wonderland

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“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” – Alice in Wonderland

I bring to you my final Halloween Makeup tutorial for the year.  This one is in collaboration with some of my favorite beauty bloggers (you can check out their links below).  We wanted to have a little fun and create looks inspired by fairy tales.  I chose to do Alice in Wonderland but decided instead of a standard Alice, I would embrace the Halloween spirit and create a “Dark Alice” – a little sultry, sexy and gothic, I wanted to create an Alice that would fit with the Halloween theme.  I hope you enjoy the tutorial and I wish you all a safe and fun Happy Halloween.  And without further adieu, here is my Gothic Alice in Wonderland makeup look.

Dark Alice in Wonderland

PRESS SAMPLES, AFFILIATE LINKS, SELF PURCHASED

Click here to watch my tutorial directly on YouTube – or scroll down to watch the embedded video.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.  If you did, please don’t forget to Subscribe, Comment and Like.
Dark Alice in Wonderland
Products used to create this look:
  • Coastal Scents Step One Eye Primer – applied to my lid from lash line to brow bone as well as lower lash line.
  • Tarte Smolder Eyes Shadow Pencil in Brown – applied to lid blended from lid into crease.  Also applied to lower lash line as a base.
  • The Balm’s Nude Tude Palette – Sultry (transition and blended onto lower lash line), Sleek (lid shade blended on lid and into the crease and also applied to lower lash line), Sexy (blended into transition shade and crease and also applied to lower lash line to smoke out the line)
  • Milani Bella Eyes in Bella Ivory – Brow bone highlight
  • BH Party Girl Palette – Red Shade (applied above crease and blended as part of transition shade to deepen the red hue, also applied to lower lash line to add the similar hue)
  • Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Pencil in Black Point to line the lower lash line, waterline and tightline.  This was also used to line my lips.
  • Milani Bella Eyes in Bella Chiffon – inner corner highlight
  • MAC Sunbasque blush – applied to cheeks and blended to cheek bones to create a more defined cheek look without contouring.
  • Wet n Wild Fergie Lipstick in Pagan Angel – applied to lips.  This lipstick is creamy but can sink into the cracks of the lips, so be sure to exfoliate and moisturize lips first.
  • Lashes – Kiss 11 Lashes (whispie lashes) and Benefit They’re Real Mascara applied to lower lash line and to blend false lashes with real ones.
Gothic Alice in Wonderland
Accessories:
  • Wig was purchased from local costume store – Alter Ego Wigs
  • Necklace from Shoplately
  • Black Rose Stud Earrings – Handmade by me
  • Headband – basic black ribbon tied into bow (craft store)
Dark Alice in Wonderland
If you don’t have a white wig, a blond one will work as well.  I figured a white one would add to that “gothic” dark look so I chose to use it in this look.  Since I didn’t have a similar dress or top to what Alice wears in the movie and story books, I opted for a black dress.  Simple but still a bit dressy.  I definitely suggest keeping with the dark theme and wearing something black if you have it.
Dark Alice in Wonderland
I hope you enjoyed my makeup look.  I think this will be an easy one to create – simply create a dark and bold smoky eye with a dark bold lip or black lipstick.  Don’t forget to stop on by my friends’ links below and see their versions of fairy tale recreations.  Wishing you all a fabulous Halloween – be safe but have fun.  Smooches!
xo
Signature Honey


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