The Best Makeup Mirror Ever

I spotted this iHome mirror at Bed Bath & Beyond a few months ago, and I knew that I needed it right away. My previous mirror was a plain, unlighted mirror that wasn’t quite tall enough or big enough. I needed an upgrade, so I threw this mirror on my wish list. I was thrilled to receive this gift on my birthday, and right away I was ready to use it to create some new beauty looks.

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Collection

As always, MAC has put out a visually stunning collection for the holidays. MAC holiday stuff has always kind of been a tradition for me for a solid ten years, so I always get excited to see what is in store.  The aesthetic of each collection always exceeds what any other brand is doing. They go above and beyond to make special packaging that MAC junkie will cherish and enjoy using and displaying on their vanity.

The Nutcracker Sweet Collection definitely does not disappoint.

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Voxbox

It’s that time again–Voxbox time! As always I was super thrilled when I received the email letting me know that I would be getting another Voxbox. Over the last year, I’ve been getting lots of Voxboxes from prestige cosmetic brands, and as far as prestige and tried and true brands go, Makeup Forever is one of the best.

For a long time I didn’t really identify with Makeup Forever. Their aesthetic and their ethos seemed so close to that of MAC Cosmetics; another makeup brand for makeup artists created by makeup artists. Glossy black packaging, minimalism, and so forth. I’ve always been a MAC girl from the very beginning of my fascination for makeup. Now that I’ve discovered a few MUFE products that I really dig, I can’t see why I was not all about them before.

Two Great New Lipstick Formulas

I’ve been waiting for Jeffree Star’s Lip Ammunition collection to drop since the first time it was announced. I am a big fan of his Velour Liquid Lipsticks, and since I normally prefer traditional lipsticks, I knew I would probably love these.

I am also really interested in Charlotte Tilbury, but had never made a purchase. When I was checking out on  Beautylish, I decided that it was as good of a time as any to grab something from her collection. I have been seeing lots of photos of the Hot Lips collection lately, so I opted to add one of those to my cart as well.

The Best Brow Products For Blondes

Plenty of women with blonde hair can rock a darker eyebrow with no problem. I am not one of them. When I first began learning how to apply makeup to enhance my eyebrows, I felt like there weren’t really any products that were made for me. Everything I tried–even products for light/medium hair and those meant for blondes–looked far too dark for my coloring.

In the past few years, brows have become a major focus in the beauty industry. Perfectly filled and shaped brows are a great way to frame your face and make your eyes stand out. This step I used to skip has now become one of the most important parts of my routine.
I don’t claim be an eyebrow expert, but my brows have had a major transformation in the past year and a half. Here are the products and techniques that have worked best for me.

Hourglass Surreal Light Palette

My first Ambient Lighting Powder was where my love of finishing powders started. I first purchased Dim Light, which is described as “a neutral beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones”. After trying this powder, I realized the power of being able to shift the look of your makeup ever so slightly. I learned to use them to blend the makeup I was already wearing, making my contour softer, my blush more glowy, and my complexion look gently lit from within. They can give the appearance of a change in lighting and they photograph beautifully.

The Surreal Light Palette, $80, is the newest release in the Ambient Light family. This limited edition palette. was released first for Sephora VIB Rouge members, and it is now available for all, as of today. If you’ve been coveting this palette, grab it now, as it is bound to sell out quickly.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit Review

I’ve been a fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills since I started figuring out what the hell to do with my sparse blonde eyebrows. Since then, the brand has expanded to include more fabulous beauty products in their line. Their powder and cream contour kits– which seemingly kicked off the contour palette craze of the last two years, eyeshadow (both singles and palettes) , gel eyeliner in a variety of colors, single highlighters, and most recently, their foundation sticks. In such a short time, Anastasia Beverly Hills has gone from a single focus brand to a beauty powerhouse.

One product I kept coming back to were their glow kits. I would swatch them at Sephora and Ulta every time a new one came out. I’m a bit of a highlighter and illuminator collector, but I kept coming up with reasons not to grab one of the glow kits. Enter the Sweets Glow Kit…

Dose Of Colors Eyescream Palette Review

I initially wasn’t going to post about this palette since it was limited edition and sold out before I received it, but it’s back now and you can grab this beautiful palette here at the  Dose Of Colors website! More information about the palette & my review after the jump.