Sephora Annual VIB Sale Haul & Shopping Tips

In case you haven't heard, it's that time of year again! The Sephora VIB sale is back! If you are a VIB or VIB Rouge member you will receive a coupon to save 20% off your total purchase. VIB members can save 20% off in store or online with coupon code: VIB20, beginning 11/13 through 11/16/2015.

This is Sephora's biggest sale of the year. It's a great way to try out new products without breaking the bank and it is also a good time to stock up on your tried and true items. Even though you may not be out of your favorite Mascara right this second, you will kick yourself in a month when it dries up that you didn't stock up during the sale.

I am a VIB Rouge member so my sale was a week early and my order just came in. Here is what I picked up:

New Products:

Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover
NARS One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette
NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls

Bite Butter Cream Lipsticks in Caramel and Pecan

Anastasia Self Made Palette

Re-Stocks:

Rosebud Salve

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara


Money Saving Shopping Tips:

Cash Back - If you haven't already, check out EBates. It doesn't cost anything to join. To cash in, you simply go to the EBates website, search for the store you want to shop at and follow their link to the store and you'll earn cash back when you make a purchase. You can also download a button to add to your browser that will automatically alert you if there is an Ebates discount at the store you're shopping at. They are currently offering 4% back at Sephora.

Also, If you have a credit card that offers cash back, you may be able to earn extra cash back rewards when you shop through a link on their website. I have a Chase Freedom card that gives 1% cash back on all purchases, but right now through their rewards program they are offering an additional 5% back at Sephora.

Discount Gift Cards - There are several websites where you can buy gift cards at a discount. My favorite one is Raise.com. I was able to score a Sephora e-giftcard at a discount that I used during the sale. It is so easy to use. Once you purchase the gift card they provide you with the gift card number to use when shopping online.


The great thing about this event is you can shop in-store or online as many times as you want within the 4 day sale and get 20% off your order every time.

Happy Shopping!

Beauty Room Tour

Today's post is all about my beauty room. This room has gone though several transformations over the years. First, we painted it yellow and used it as our guest room. It then became a guest room/office for a while. Finally, when we were renovating our bathroom a few years ago I set up a mirror at the desk in here and made a little vanity for myself during construction. I loved getting ready in here so much that I created a permanent vanity area for myself in here and the room was transformed into my beauty room.

Here's a peek inside:

I get ready in here in the morning and also use this space to do the majority of my blogging and photography.

The vanity setup is mostly from Ikea. The desk is the Liatorp. I added a glass topper to prevent the white desktop from getting stained from makeup products. I think it gives it an elegant touch.

On my vanity, I have 4 of the MUJI 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers stacked up. These drawers are slightly taller than the ever popular 5-Drawer system by MUJI. This makes them more versatile on what you can store in there. The top drawer is the lift-top version that I leave open so I can store my foundations and setting sprays upright. These are great quality and a great value. The US MUJI online store doesn't seem to be open right now but you can find these on Amazon or go to one of the US Stores.

To the left of my desk I have two of the Alex 6-drawers stacked. I like these compared to the 9-drawer version since the drawers are wider. I use this to store my makeup collection and accessories. I still have plenty of room left to grow.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside my beauty room! I've been meaning to get this post up for a while now. I've been enjoying this space for about 3 years but alas, I'm being kicked out. This is the bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom so it is going to be the baby's room. It is actually empty in the process of being painted right now. I took these pictures over the summer. We moved the vanity, alex drawers and some of the decor upstairs to the guest room. I rearranged the furniture a bit in there and it actually fits quite nicely. While I'm sad to see this space go, it will be nice to have our little guy right next-door. I can't wait to share what I have in store for his nursery! Stay tuned!

Reference:

Paint: Behr, Moon Dance
Sunburst Mirror: Homegoods
Trifold Mirror: Pier 1
Foil Prints: I See Noise
Baies Candle: Nordstrom
Voluspa Candle: Bloomingdales
Orchid Quatrefoil Pillow: Motif Pillows
Purple Lattice Pillows: Dawns Decor & More
Bed: Ikea
Side Table: Target
Bedding: Target
Dress Form: PB Teen
Storage Drawers: Ikea
Desk: Ikea
Mercury Glass Jars: Anthropologie
Votives: Z Gallerie
Makeup Mirror: Target
Chair: Ikea
Faux Sheepskin Rug: Ikea
Chandelier: Home Depot

Anastasia Brow Wiz vs. Nyx Micro Brow, is it a dupe?

When it comes to brow products, Anastasia is queen. I've tried her powders, pomade, brow gel and pencils. What I've always liked the most is the Brow Wiz. It is such an easy, quick product to use that packs a big punch.

When I saw that NYX came out with a similar product, the Micro Brow Pencil, I knew I had to try it to see how it compared to the Brow Wiz.

When it comes to product design, these two are essentially the same. They're both mechanical pencils with the product rolling up on one side and a spoolie brush for combing and blending on the other. I tend to favor the brush on the Brow Wiz. It's just slightly more dense and pointed at the end. The one design flaw for the Micro Brow is that the caps are two different sizes. If you aren't careful, you'll put the slightly smaller brush cap on the pencil side and end up smashing the product. Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? On the Brow Wiz, both caps are the same size so this can't happen. Smart!

As far as the consistency of the product, the Brow Wiz has more of a creamy consistency while the Micro Brow is a bit dryer. I think the Brow Wiz is easier to work with in that respect, it glides on the skin a bit easier. Both products do a great job at making it easy to use short strokes to fill in your brows, which in turn makes them look more natural. Both products have great staying power. They won't smudge and last all day.

For colors, I use Taupe in the Brow Wiz and Blonde in the Micro Brow.  One thing I've always thought was lacking in the Brow Wiz was the color selection. Taupe is the lightest shade. I have dirty blonde hair and this shade is just a tad dark for me. Micro Brow also comes in a Taupe color but I bought the Blonde. This one is more of a color match for me. Color match is an important part of brow products. If a product is too dark, your brows immediately stand out in a bad way, making them look obviously filled-in, so it's always good to go a shade lighter than you think you need.

Verdict:

I would vote that the NYX Micro Brow is definitely a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz! They aren't exactly the same but the similarities are so close that if you're looking to save a little money, NYX Micro Brow is the way to go. The Micro Brow is a much better value at $10 for 0.003 oz while the Brow Wiz is $21 for the same amount of product.


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Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed Champagne Pop Review & Comparison

This is a collaboration between YouTuber Jaclyn Hill and Becca Cosmetics. Since Jaclyn is responsible for much of the hype about the Shimmering Skin Perfectors it only made sense that she created her own unique color for the brand. It's no secret that Jaclyn is one of my favorite makeup artists on YouTube so when I heard about her latest collab I knew it had to be mine!

Becca describes the color as a soft white, gold shade with pinky peach undertones. It has a warm, almost orange undertone. I'd describe the color as the lovechild of Rose Gold and Peach. This shade has the same creamy texture as the other shimmering skin perfector pressed powders. They are all highly pigmented and easily blendable.

Jaclyn describes this shade as being flattering for all skintones but she created it with fair skin in mind. Sometimes it can be difficult to find that perfect highlight shade that shows up correctly if you have pale skin. Champagne Pop creates a beautiful soft lit glow that doesn't overpower lighter skin tones.

Since the color payoff is so high with a high-shimmer finish, it does take a bit of finesse to apply Champagne Pop without looking like a disco ball. The two brushes I turn to are the Sigma F35 and the MAC 188. The F35 is a tapered highlighting brush. It lets you dust the highlighter lightly over targeted areas for precise application. The MAC 188 is a small duo fibre brush that I reach for when I want a lighter application as it picks up less product and is great for blending.

I thought I'd compare the color of Champagne Pop to the other shades in my collection. This shade is lighter than Opal but darker than Moonstone. Rose Gold is more copper in tone, Opal is more golden and Moonstone is more yellow.

Overall I love this highlighter. Even though I have 3 other varieties of Becca's highlighters, I think I've found my perfect shade. It compliments my fair to medium complexion and does not give me a white cast or look muddy on my skin.

This is a limited edition product that is exclusive to Sephora.

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Summer Foundation Rotation

With every season I like to change up my makeup routine to adjust to the climate changes. Summer is now in full swing and I've definitely been gravitating towards products that control oil and provide a dewy summer glow. Here's whats in my current foundation rotation:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

This is my go-to full coverage foundation for summer. The consistency is thick and almost whipped. I apply it with the Tarte Airbrush Foundation brush. The combination of the two is just magical. It covers all imperfections and discolorations and blends in wonderfully. The finish is definitely matte. You definitely need to add some bronzer, blush and highlight to bring your skin back to life. The wear is also very good. I use this if I'm going to be outside in the heat and don't want to worry about my makeup melting off my face. My shade is Light Neutral.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere 

This is a medium coverage foundation with a dewy glow finish. It feels light on the skin and does not dry me out nor make me oily. The best thing about this foundation is the finish. It does a nice job at camouflaging imperfections while leaving a beautiful subtle glow to my skin. Being Chanel, this is certainly a splurge item. It has a slight floral scent when you apply but the scent does not hang around once it is set. My shade is 20 Beige.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream 

This is a multi-tasking product that provides moisture, sunscreen and full coverage. The finish is slightly dewy, giving your skin a luminous glow. It is also infused with anti-aging properties that IT describes as providing long term brightening and color correcting benefits. The consistency is thick, similar to the Tarte, but more of a cream than a whipped texture. It is an extremely easy product to use. I can skip my moisturizing step when I use this and I can even blend it out with my fingers and it still looks amazing. It is a real time saving product. The only drawback is the staying power. It does break down quicker than a traditional foundation, so make sure to set with a matte powder to extend the wear. My shade is Fair.


All three of these contain an SPF which is a must for the summer. One better, they all contain physical sunscreens rather than chemical ones. Do you change your foundations with the seasons? What are you loving this summer?

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My go-to MAC products

One of my all-time favorite makeup brands is MAC cosmetics. MAC carries high-end makeup artist quality products at reasonable prices. They also have color and product selections that can't be beat. They carry everything from foundation to brushes and everything in between. To go to a counter or store can even be a little intimidating at times because the selection is just so vast. Since I've tried a lot of their products, I thought I'd share a roundup of my go-to MAC staple items:

Lipstick

One of the most iconic and raved about MAC product is their lipstick. I have an ever growing collection that you can read more about here. They offer just about every shade and finish you can think of, which is what makes them so popular. I recently dug through my lipstick stash and pulled out some of my favorite summer brights including this shade, Pink Nouveau. Its a blue-based, cotton candy pink. Blue-based pinks and reds are great because they make you teeth appear whiter, which is always a plus.

Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC describes these powders as "luxurious and velvet-soft with a high frost finish." My favorite way to use them is to highlight my cheeks and brow bones. All of the MSF's have a marble swirl throughout the product. They are really beautiful to look at. The texture is soft and finely milled. There are six shades in MAC's permanent line but they are constantly releasing new shades in their limited edition collections. This one is Perfect Topping, a pale peach highlight with lavender marble.

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

This is a baked mineral setting powder that provides a natural, matte finish. This is honestly the most natural setting powder I own. It is not powdery at all and really leaves my skin looking like skin. MAC touts this as a setting powder but in the past I've actually used this as a powder foundation and it worked great! It is also one of my favorites to bring in my purse for an on-the-go touch up. The shade I use is medium. They've re-done the packaging for this and it now contains a mirror, this is the old packaging.

Blush

Like MAC lipsticks, their blush comes in a vast array of finishes and colors. There are over 30 shades in the regular line. All of the blushes are soft and finely milled, making them easy to use. They are also long-wearing. If I apply it in the morning I can still see the flush on my cheeks when I get home from work. This shade is Lovecloud, a bright mid-toned pink. This is a great color to give you that natural, healthy flush.

Pro Longwear Concealer

This is a great full coverage concealer. It works for me both under the eyes and to cover blemishes and dark spots on my face. Even though this is full coverage it feels very lightweight when applied and a little goes a long way. I only need 1 pump for under my eyes and there will be some left over if I have any spots to cover. It dries to a natural matte finish. My shade is NC20.


These are the products that are not only my favorite but they are the ones I go back to and if I run out, I always repurchase. Do you have any MAC go-tos?

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick

I've been loving matte lips for a while now and my love has definitely transitioned into the Spring. Lately, I've been lightening up by using mostly rosy pinks, nudes and corals. The trouble with matte lipstick is that it can sometimes be tricky. In order for it to go on smoothly, you need to make sure your lips are exfoliated, hydrated and lined. Sometimes this can be a bear, so when I saw that Charlotte Tilbury had released a line of hydrating matte lipsticks I knew I had to try them!

The new formula is called "Matte Revolution." Charlotte describes them as "the matte lipstick of the future". The formula is long lasting, buildable and hydrating. After trying these, I can safely say that these live up to Charlotte's claims. My major gripe with matte lipsticks is that they are drying and difficult to apply. These lipsticks glide on so smoothly and feel creamy on the lips. The finish is also really special. They are matte but they aren't a totally flat matte. She describes it as "cashmere", which I think is spot on. Its somewhere between matte and satin. There is just a slight hint of healthy luminosity that shines through. 

The lipstick shape is also unique in that it is squared off at an angle, which is supposed to mimic that of a lip brush. Although the different shape took a bit of getting used to, I actually really like it. The cut gives you more precision when applying. It almost looks like you used a lip liner if you decide to skip that step.

As with her K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks, these have the same beautiful art deco inspired rose gold packaging.

I chose three colors: Very Victoria, a brown toned nude, Sexy Sienna, a peachy coral,  and Amazing Grace, a classic rose. All three of these colors have amazing pigmentation. One smooth pass on the lips is all you need to get the true color, but they are buildable and can also be sheered out. I love how versatile they are!

A matte lip, when done right, can be incredibly beautiful and Charlotte has hit the nail on the head with these! These were available exclusively on Charlotte's US website early this year, but will be coming to US retailers in the fall.

Morphe Jaclyn Hill Favorites Palette Review & Swatches

If you are a fan of YouTube's Jaclyn Hill, you are no stranger to her much lusted over collaboration palette with Morphe Brushes. Jaclyn teamed up with Morphe to create a custom palette featuring 28 of her favorite Morphe shadows. This was not a brand that I had ever heard of before I started seeing their brushes pop up in YouTube videos. In addition to brushes they also sell a wide variety of cosmetics including their famous eyeshadows. 

In her videos, Jaclyn gushed about the great quality of the eyeshadows and their unheard of $2/each price point. When she announced that she would be teaming up with them to create a palette of her favorite eyeshadow shades I was definitely interested! I missed the first release last fall but was able to get my hands on one of them during the April re-promote.

The palette consists mostly of warm tones but it does have some jewel-toned pops of color. It has a nice mix of matte, satin, shimmer and frost finishes. You can surely tell that Jaclyn hand picked these shadows as they mirror the shades she uses most in her videos. The quality of these shadows is truly amazing! They are buttery soft and easily blendable. They remind me a lot of the consistency of the Makeup Geek Shadows. The pigmentation is crazy, especially in the more metallic shades.

Row 1 (left to right): ES4, ES54, ES6, ES76, ES64, ES14, ES75

Row 2: ES67, ES13, ES62, ES63, ES20, ES47, ES66

The top two rows are mainly warmer tones. I'm most excited about the burnt orange (ES14) and the vibrant metallic bronze (ES20). Also, the coral color, ES66, love. These are screaming warm summer smokey eyes!

Row 3: ES33, ES68, ES16, ES15, ES61, ES24, ES74

Row 4: ES11, ES59, ES38, ES53, ES48, ES71, ES19

The bottom two rows spotlight some jewel tones and rich browns. I love the look of putting a pop of bright color on the lower lash line, especially during the summertime, so I'm excited to try out these colorful shades!

When I first got this I was skeptical if this palette would be worth the hype and the LONG wait, but it did not disappoint! Each of the different eyeshadow formulations performed wonderfully with smooth application, easy blending and minimal fallout. Right now this is sold out again and the Morphe website says that it will not be restocked. I thought this was still worth a review because you can still buy all these shades in individual form here. They are a steal for only $2 each. You can pick your favorites and then pop them into a Z palette, which Morphe also sells.