November Favorites|Tarte, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury

Hey ya'll! Today I'm going to share with you the makeup I've been loving for the past month (some for the past couple of months). I've been using all of these on an every day basis and am absolutely obsessed with them.

First favorite is the Tartelette 2 In Bloom palette. I have not been able to put this eyeshadow palette down since I got it. Tarte really knew what they were doing when they created this eyeshadow palette. The Tartelette 2 is a gorgeous eyeshadow palette full of cool, mauve, and warm toned shadows. If you are interested in seeing a review and swatches, you can check out my blog post for picture or you can watch my video on it.

I have been using the Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara for a few months now and I have been loving it. It's one of the best mascara's I have ever used. It's a dryer formula which I love, and it makes my lashes super full while lengthening them at the same time.

The Tarte Tarteist Liner is another product that I have had and been using for a while now. This eyeliner is like a hybrid of both a gel eye liner and a liquid eye liner. It's a lot thinner than a gel liner, but it's not quite as liquidy as a liquid liner. If you are a fan of gel or liquid eye liners, this is a different kind of formula that is worth trying out.

I have really been enjoying the Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Powder in the shade 2 Medium to set my foundation. It is a very light powder that sets foundation without leaving you looking overly dry or matte. It is impossible to over-powder with this, and the light application sets your face while leaving you with a slight glow.

I purchased the Buxom Lip Glosses in Bellini and Hot Toddy during the Sephora VIB Sale and they have been the only glosses I have used since. Buxom is my favorite lip gloss brand, and the lip creams are my favorite formula. Both of these are so perfect for every day.

Top to Bottom: Honey Love, Staunchly Stylish, Soar

These three have been in constant rotation for me all month long. My main combo has been MAC's Honey Love lipstick and MAC's Lip Liner in Soar. Honey Love is an awesome nude that works with so many different lip liners. I really like pairing Honey Love with Soar because the combination results in a beautiful muted mauve shade. I also love wearing Honey Love with Staunchly Stylish. Staunchly Stylish is a warm nude that looks great with just about anything.

Those are all my favorites from this past month. Hopefully you enjoyed getting a peak at all these beauties, and maybe will pick one or two up for yourself!

xoxo,
Casey

My Current Beauty Favorites

Hey ya'll!! Long time no see! I haven't posted in a while, but now that school is back in session and our family life is getting back to a regular schedule, I feel like I can finally get back to blogging. I haven't posted a favorites in a while, so I'm excited to talk about my August Favorites with you today. If you are interested in watching my favorites video then just click here.

Becca Highlighter in Champagne Pop: I think this is a lot of people's favorite right now, and I'm pretty sure you've all heard about it by now. This is seriously one of the best highlighters EVER. For one, Becca is one of my favorite brands for powder products. Their blushes and highlighters are some of the best on the market, and this collaboration with Jaclyn Hill does not disappoint. This peachy gold highlighter looks amazing with virtually any makeup look. Even though this was created to compliment any and every skin tone,  I think that if you are extremely fair complected, this highlighter might be a little too dark, but could easily be used as a blush topper and be equally just as gorgeous.
Benefit Blush in Dallas: I have been reaching for this blush a ton and for good reason. It's a gorgeous matte mauve-tan, border line bronze shade. It is seriously a beautiful blush that has worked wonderfully all Summer, but it's going to be absolutely stunning in the Fall and Winter. If you are looking for an everday, all year round blush, this is one you should definitely pick this one up.
MAC Blush in Eternal Sun: This has been another well-used and well-loved blush the last couple of months. Eternal Sun is a matte, orange-tan blush that is very pigmented so you only need a small amount to add a nice wash of color to the cheeks. I have been obsessed with matte blushes lately, and this one is one of my top 10 for sure. Like Dallas, this will transition into the cooler months just fine. It will look especially pretty in the Fall.
Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara: I got this as a 100 Point Perk from Sephora and couldn't put it down. I used it over all of my other mascaras, and used it so much that I've already finished the tube. I am a big advocate for drugstore mascaras, but this is definitely a high end mascara that is worth the splurge, and I absolutely want to purchase this in the full size. The wand is wavy, which I was very unsure of upon first impression, but it worked just fine. The formula is absolutely fantastic. It's a dry formula, which I prefer, and it adds tons of volume without clumping. It reminded me a lot of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in that sense , but it didn't transfer to my undereye area like the Better Than Sex did which I am ecstatic about.
MAC Lip Pencil in Dervish & Lipstick in Brave: This has been my most used lip duo for sure. Dervish is a my lips but better shade that would pair easily with a lot of nudes and mauve shades. Brave is another my lips but better shade, leaning towards the mauve family. This is an every day duo that will go with anything, and be appropriate at work and take you through Happy Hour.

 Becca Highlighter in Champagne Pop, MAC Blush in Eternal Sun, Benefit Blush in Dallas

 MAC Lip Liner in Dervish, MAC Lipstick in Brave

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Shimma Shimma, Peach Smoothie, 

Creme Brulee, Purely Naked, Latte, & Mocha

xoxo,

Casey

April Favorites|Beauty & Lifestyle Favorites

Hey ya’ll!! Today I’m going to be talking about all the things that I’ve been loving this past month. I purchased a bunch of new goodies this month, some I’ve been able to use a good bit to make them favorites, while some I didn’t get a chance to use enough to call favorites just yet. I have been using, and loving, a lot of the same products the past couple of months, so I don’t have a ton of new beauty items to talk about. To make up for the lack of beauty items, I decided to add in a few lifestyle favorites as well. If you like me adding in a few lifestyle favorites, let me know!

Let’s start with beauty favorites first. The first thing, hands down, is the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette. I picked this us during the Sephora VIB Sale and have been absolutely loving it. It’s a great, every day, matte eyeshadow palette. The shades are pigmented, buttery soft, and perform beautifully. I did a whole review and demo on the palette if you want to check it out.

Next up is the Becca Blush in Wild Honey. I have been wearing this blush non-stop since I got it. It’s a warm, apricot shade that’s perfect for Spring and Summer. I love the Becca blushes and want to collect the whole blush line. The next ones on my list to get are Songbird and Flowerchild.

This next product is the one I have used the most this month, and that is the It Cosmetic’s CC+ Radiance Ombre Bronzer. I am so in love with this bronzer, and it is one of the best I have ever owned. I like to wear shimmery bronzers in the Spring and Summer, and was in the market for a new one since most of the bronzers I own are matte. I was unsure of this when I purchased it, but am so glad I decided to bring it home with me. It’s so versatile with the three different shades in it, giving you multiple options depending on what kind of look you are going for that day.

The last beauty product I have to share is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance in the shade Champagne. I own a deluxe sized version, which is exactly half the size of the original. I got this, along with the shade Angel, during the Sephora Black Friday Sale this past December. I have been wearing it a lot over the past couple of months and decided it was high time I mentioned it. What’s great about this, is that it can be worn as an eyeshadow primer, or on it’s own. It is a shimmery champagne gold color that layers well under shadows, and looks really pretty on it’s own. I like pairing this with matte shadows. The shimmer gives matte shadows a really nice "satin glow” that I’ve been really into lately.

Moving on to my lifestyle picks…

First up I have a nail polish, and it is Essie’s polish in Mint Candy Apple. This is not a new product, but it’s new to me. I’ve heard tons of beauty bloggers rave about it for forever now, so I decided it was time I see what the hype was about. I really like the fun, light blue color against tan skin. It really pops and adds a nice pop of color.

Next up I have a candle from Bath and Body Works that was a complete surprise. I really love the Fall candles from them, but haven’t ever found a good Spring/Summer scent until now. The scent is Lemon Mint Leaf, and it smells so amazing. The description says it’s "freshly cut lemon balm and spearmint give a refreshing lift to a blend of vetiver and citrus”. It’s the perfect mix of mint and citrus, and I’m absolutely loving it.

I fell in love with the show Empire this month. The season is already over, so I marathoned it on Hulu. When I saw the initial promo’s for the show, I honest thought it was going to be dumb, but man was I wrong! The music first off, is so amazing, I downloaded the soundtrack and have been listening to it on repeat. Secondly, the story line, the characters, and the drama are so addicting. I cannot wait for Season 2.

I haven’t posted anything from my Beauty & The Books series lately, so I though I’d throw in a book favorite. I recently finished Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas which is the third book in the Throne of Glass series. The fourth book in the series is set to come out later this year and I am so excited. This book series is one of my favorites. It’s a Young Adult Fantasy series with lots of action, drama, mystery, magic, and of course a love triangle. If any of that strikes your fancy, I highly recommend this series to you.

That’s going to be it for my April Favorites! I hope you enjoyed getting a peak at everything I’ve been loving this month, and I hope you liked seeing some lifestyle favorites as well. I’m not sure if I will continue to add in my lifestyle favorites, or if it will just be an every now and then sort of thing. Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments! :)

xoxo,
Casey

Best In Beauty 2014 Favorites!

Hey y’all!!

It feels like forever since I have worked on my blog and my channel. The last few weeks have been crazy busy with gearing up for the holidays, Kason’s first birthday, and then a 5 day trip to Tahoe. Now that I’m back home and getting back to my normal routine, I am really looking forward to blogging again. With the start of the new year, I am making it a point at getting on a regular filming and uploading schedule, and showing on my blog some love as well.

Today I’m going to share with you my top beauty favorites from 2014. I basically am going through makeup categories, and sharing with you my most used and most loved products from this past year. There are a few categories that I have not included a favorite product for. Those categories are face primer,  eyeshadow primer, and eye liner. I didn’t include a face primer simply because I have not found one that I’m absolutely in love with. I didn’t include an eyeshadow primer, mainly because I don’t have my favorite primer on hand at the moment. If I were to give you my favorite eyeshadow primer it would be the NARS primer, and an honorable mention is the Urban Decay Primer Potion. For liner I’ve been using the Maybelline gel liner, and the Loreal gel liner. I like both, but haven’t found a holy grail yet.

My favorite foundation in 2014 was the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. It’s a medium to full coverage foundation, looks amazing in pictures, and leaves a beautiful, natural finish. If I want a bit of a luminous finish, I will skip a setting powder. If I want a more semi-matte finish, then I will set it. I have normal to dry skin, so I can skip the all over setting powder with this foundation and be fine.

My favorite concealer has been the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind. It’s really creamy, has great coverage, and doesn’t enhance my smile lines. I have a hard time finding under eye concealer’s that work for me and not that don’t leave me looking like a creasy mess. This one is awesome, and for the price, you cannot beat it.

My favorite setting powder is the Laura Mercier Invisible Pressed Setting Powder. As you can see, I have hit MAJOR pan and I am almost completely out. I will only be able to use this two or three more times because every time I tap my brush in it, more and more breaks off. I plan on repurchasing another one soon. Being the makeup-crazed girl that I am, I wouldn’t mind trying something new. Let me know your favorite setting powder, whether it be translucent or colored. I’m up for anything!

I have two favorite brow products from this past year. The first is the Anastasia Dip Brown Pomade in the shade Soft Brown. It’s really easy to work with and lasts all day. It’s a waterproof formula, so once it’s on, it’s not going to budge until you wash your face. To set my brows in place, I’ve been loving the Benefit Gimme Brow in the shade Medium/Deep. Not only is this great for setting the brows, but it’s perfect for my No Makeup-Makeup Days. It has tiny fibers in it that help your brows appear fuller, without filling them in.

I have two favorite bronzers from this past year. The first is the Becca Shadow & Light Bronze/Contour Perfector. It has two shades that can be worn separately, or mixed together. As you can see, this is a well-loved product. I love the darker shade for contouring. When both shades are mixed together, you get the most beautiful bronzed glow. My second favorite is the Marc Jacobs Bronzer in Tantric. This bronzer is very light, geared towards fair to medium skin tones. If you have a darker complexion, I’m afraid this bronzer would be too light for you. Even though it is on the light side, it is absolutely stunning. I was nervous when I first purchased it that it would be too light for me, but I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s matte and looks very natural.

I have a few blush favorites to talk about. The first is Becca’s Damselfly. It’s a pretty peachy, coral shade that has a sheen to it. I really love this blush in the spring and the summer time because of the sheen it has, but it is also a color that is appropriate all year round. In fact, it is what I’m wearing on my cheeks today. The next one is NARS Lovejoy. This is a beautiful, rich bronze/terra-cotta color with a tad bit of shimmer. It’s gorgeous in the summer with a tan, and is equally as pretty on fair skin. I have two Makeup Geek blushes, one in Infatuation and one in Spellbound. These are the only Makeup Geek blushes I own, but I’m absolutely obsessed! They are super pigmented, and are very easy to blend. I recently ordered another blush from the line because they are THAT good. Another bonus, they are only $9.99 each.

My favorite highlighter in 2014 was Becca’s Opal. This is the best of the best when it comes to highlighters, and I’m sure a ton of you have heard this product mentioned a million times. It’s a beautiful champagne/gold shade, and will make you look like a glowing goddess. This highlight is very intense, so if you are looking for a subtle highlight, this is not the product for you.

My favorite powder’s have been from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. They are so universal and can be used a ton of different ways. They can be used to set your foundation or concealer, as a finishing powder, or to highlight certain areas on your face. You could even use them as eyeshadow if you wanted to. They give your face a “lit from within” glow that looks very healthy and natural. If you like a more subtle highlight, and opposite the intensity of Becca’s Opal, then these powders are for you.

By far, my absolute favorite eyeshadows from this past year have been my Makeup Geek shadows. I am SO glad I discovered these little babies. They have been my go-to, most used shadows all year. They are affordable ($5.99 each), very pigmented, creamy, and blend like a dream. They have a ton of different colors too. I have a large Z-palette that I keep my shadows in, and have been working on my collection.

I have two mascara favorites to share with you. My first favorite is the Covergirl ClumpCrusher, and I have repurchased it multiple times. I don’t like this mascara on it’s own, but absolutely love layering it on top of other mascara’s. It’s perfect for lifting, lengthening, and separating lashes. For volume, my favorite has been the Covergirl Lash Blast Volume. I normally like natural bristle brushes, and surprisingly this one has a plastic, short bristled brush. The formula is awesome, and it does a great job at really plumping up my lashes.

Last but not least are my lippie favorites. Being the lipstick lover that I am, I have quite a few to mention. I’m just gonna zip through these little guys to keep this post from becoming a novel. My favorite lipsticks have been the Chanel Rouge CoCo Shine in #57 Aventure, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #9, MAC Velvet Teddy, Maybelline Creamy Matte in Daringly Nude, and Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft. My favorite glosses this year have been Buxom Celeste, Urban Decay Walk of Shame, NARS Chihuahua, and Gerard Cosmetics Lipgloss in Nude.

I hope you really enjoyed today’s post! I’m really excited to see what this year has in store. Let me know if you have any blog post, or video recommendations, as well as any “series” you’d like to see from me!

xoxo,
Casey

September Favorites: Beauty, Books, Fashion, & Mommy Favorites

Hey ya'll!

Another month down, another Favorites post to share! I have a little bit of everything to show you today. I don't have a lot of beauty favorites this month because I've really been using a lot of the same products, especially since I wasn't being super spendy this month and buying a ton of new products. I added in a fashion favorite, my book favorite, a random "home" favorite, and my mommy favorites for the month.

Let's start with my Beauty Favorites first.

The first product is the Loreal Magic Lumi Primer. Since we are going into the colder months I wanted to find a primer that would add some radiance to my skin. I have been wanting to find a nice primer that was from the drugstore and decided to try this one. I've tried the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer before, but it was a bit too shimmery for me. The Magic Lumi is a really nice primer that adds a subtle glow to my face without making me look like a disco ball. I have used it by itself underneath my foundation, I've layered it on top of Benefit's Porefessional, and I have also mixed it into my foundation and it worked great all three ways.

My next Beauty Favorite goes along with the Magic Lumi Primer, and it is the Loreal Magic Lumi Concealer. I use this to brighten my under eye area and to highlight my face. I apply it on top of my under eye concealer, to my chin and forehead, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid's bow. Like the primer, this concealer add's a subtle glow that's not overpowering or super shimmery. If you are looking to add a little bit of a glow to your face, but don't want to look super dewy, I really recommend the Magic Lumi products.

The lip duo I've been obsessed with lately is the Kat Von D lipstick in Lovecraft topped with Urban Decay's Naked lipgloss in Walk of Shame. Both products look great on their own, and work wonderfully together. Lovecraft is a really pretty pinky/purpley mauve color, and it is completely matte. I was wearing it in my 90's Inspired Makeup Tutorial if you'd like to reference back to that. Walk of Shame is a really pretty, natural looking gloss with a tad bit of gold shimmer in it.

My last Beauty Favorite is my Real Techniques Sponge. I've had this for a while now but hadn't really been using it much. I did a review on it a while back, and it is most definitely a dupe for the Beauty Blender. I really like it for blending out my under eye concealer, and for blending out the Magic Lumi concealer that I use to highlight my face. It's also really great if you apply too much foundation. Just go over your face with the sponge, and it will soak up any excess foundation you may have applied.

My Fashion Favorite is my green plaid flannel. I have worn it a ton this month and really need to go pick up some more. I got this one from Macy's last fall and got it in a size bigger than I normally would. I like my button ups and flannels to be a size larger because I like the way they look when they are a bit slouchy and oversized. Flannels are great for Fall and Winter month's and can be worn on their own, or layered over a cute shirt or tank top.

My Book Favorite this month has been Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. It's the first book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and it is so good. If you love YA Fiction and Fantasy, then I definitely recommend checking out this series. You can read the synopsis here.

My Random Favorite has definitely been my Bath & Body Works candles. I have been burning them non-stop and have already ordered, and received, another batch. I love all of the Fall and Winter scents. They make my house smell amazing and makes it feel so warm and inviting. They normally sell for $22 per candle, but they often go on sale for 2 for $22. If you go to the Bath & Body Works website you can sign up for the emails. They always send out an email blast when they go on sale.

My Mommy Favorites this month have been this Mesh Feeder and this Munchkin Sippy Cup with a straw. Not only have I been loving these, but Kason has been loving them as well. They have made my life a little easier these past few weeks. I will talk more about them in Kason's 9 Month Update this Wednesday. If you are interested in either of these, you can find them both at Target.

That's it for this month's Favorites and I hope you guys really enjoyed it!


xoxo,
Casey