Black Friday Beauty Steals

With so many stores taking part in Black Friday sales, beauty retailers and brands have partnered together to get a piece of that glorious black Friday dollar. This is the best time of year to try out new products and brands. Since I love learning about what’s new in beauty, I’ve created a round up of the most exciting sales and products.

Source: Sephora

At big beauty retailers, brands are developing exclusive products and sets that are only available in limited supply. A favorite of mine over the last few years has been the sets that Tarte releases; mini blushes and highlighters in new shades. Two years ago, I ordered three of their $10 blush and cream colour stick sets from Sephora and they are still some of my favorites.

Whether you’re trying to get a deal on a favorite product or you’re in the market to try new things without having to purchase the full size, these sets are practical buys. Plus, who doesn’t love having minis and travel sizes for travel?

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.

Too Faced Funfetti Collection

In my last post, I said that nobody really outdoes MAC with their packaging. I was clearly wrong; there is one exception. Too Faced Cosmetics. Ultimate kitsch, girliness, and cute factor all the time. While they may not be as creative and inventive as the MAC product design team, you better bet that Too Faced has perfected its niche and brand identity.

You might be aware that I really adore Too Faced and their lovely blushes. The Love Flush Blushes are one of my favorite blush formulas of all time. When I saw some photos of confetti blushes on Instagram, obviously I was very excited. However, it took months for any more details to emerge. Finally, they announced it. The Funfetti Collection. HSN exclueive. Calendar reminders were set, and I ordered it the moment presale began last week.

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.

My Lipstick Tattoo!

Last Thursday I got a tattoo I’ve been wanting for a long time… A mark of my obsession with all things beauty. I chose a lipstick and wanted something a little dream inspired, surreal, sparkly, and even more luxe that a Yves Saint Laurent lipstick tube.

I wanted to write about my experience and give my artist Linzi some major props for her work. She works at Family Tradition Tattoo in Mooresville, North Carolina. It’s a bit of a hike from Raleigh, but every time I go, it’s so worth the trip!

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.

My Favorite Nude Lipsticks

If you know me, you know that I’m all about a nude lip. It’s just what I have found works best with my coloring and allows me to play up an intense smokey eye or every day look without overpowering the rest of my face. I’m always more about my eyes and my cheeks than I am about a statement lip.

There are all different types of nude lip colors in many different shades for any complexion. Since I’m pale, most of my picks will be geared toward paler skin tones, but rest assured, any skin tone can find a perfect Nude. Brands like Buxom, Hourglass, and many other brands sell lines with nudes in several different shades. Other brands like MAC have nudes in every shade and tone, and you don’t have to look far to find them.