Review: Ipsy Glam Bag December 2014

Hi Ladies! 

I'm here to share with you my last Ipsy Glam Bag of the year! I can't believe that December is more than half over! This month has been crazy for me! Running around doing Christmas shopping, decorating, and going to holiday parties. Even though it is hectic, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Let's talk about Ipsy..For those of you unfamiliar with  Ipsy, it is a monthly beauty subscription service. For $10.00 a month, you get 4-5 deluxe to full size beauty products. To learn more you can check out my previous Ipsy reviews on my Subscription Reviews tab at the top of my blog.  The theme of this month's bag is "Fearless Heroine".  I  wasn't really wowed by anything in my glam room this month. It was kind of disappointing because last December I got my first glam bag and I was really impressed! This month...not so much. 

Let's move on to what I recieved:

Boogs Bracelets*

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to talk about a local company called Boogs Bracelets. For those of you that love hand crafted items that you can find on Etsy, you will love Boogs Bracelets. The company was created and owned by fellow Bostonian Susan Goldstein. All of her bracelets are hand made. Susan specializes in Cancer Awareness Bracelets but also makes fashion bracelets, bracelets for girls, and bag bracelets.

Review: ColourPop Cosmetics Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencil in Bichette and Brink

Hi Ladies!
Today I'm going to share with you some ColourPop products that I recently purchased. If you are unfamiliar with ColourPop, it is a newer cosmetic brand that is cruelty free and made in the U.S.A. They exploded into the industry with their insanely pigmented pressed pigments and shadows that are a unique texture and only $5.00 each! You can check out my review of some of their shadows HERE. This fall they launched their Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencils in a variety of shades and finishes. These are also only $5.00 each.

Here are the ones that I picked up!

ColourPop Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencil in Bichette

Bichette is considered a deep wine colored lipstick with a matte finish. I would consider this more of a red with a pink undertones than a deep wine color. It is super pigmented and long wearing. Even though it is a matte lipstick, its not super drying. I always make sure to apply some lip balm to my lips before using any matte lipsticks to keep them moisturized. Using the lippie pencil makes it alot easier to get a clean line since this is such a dark color. 

ColourPop Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencil in Brink

Brink was curated by well-known Instagram celeb Brittany Suleiman. It is a mate dusty rose/pink and was inspired by the Kylie Jenner lip color. I absolutely love this color! It is so flattering and so easy to wear. I think this would be a great color on many different skin tones. I have been wearing this color a ton lately. As you can see above its very creamy and pigmented.

Overall, I'm VERY impressed with the ColourPop lip products so far. I have a BUNCH more on my Christmas list so hopefully I will be reviewing more of these in the near future. They are extremely pigmented and creamy and are so awesome. I think everyone should give these babies a try considering their amazing price tag!

Have you tried any of ColourPops new lip products? If so,which ones? Post your comments below!

-Tanya xoxo

The Resolute Beauty Blogger December 2014

Hi Ladies!  Beauty Bloggers Shalunya from Shalunya and Boyet and El from The Beauty Isle teamed up to create The Resolute Beauty Blogger. They wanted to do this to not only stay on track with their Beauty Blog Resolutions for 2014 but also to give other beauty bloggers the chance to join in on the action. I have posted my goals and updates each month for the past year.

Here are my goals and FINAL updates on each:

Collaboration: Holiday Makeup Looks

Hi Ladies!
Who else is in full swing holiday mode? With all of the holiday posts floating around, I decided to put together a collaboration with a few of my beauty blogger friends. The purpose of the collab is to give you ideas for different makeup looks that you can create for holiday parties, gatherings, etc.

Below are the bloggers that are joining me in this collab along with the colors that they will be incorporating into their looks.

El from The Beauty Isle - Green/Turquoise
Elle from Elle Sees - Gold
Cyndi from CDel Beauty - Peach/Purple
Lily from Beauty with Lily -Gold/Cranberry

I decided to do a classic neutral makeup look with browns, cream, and champagne shadows.

Here are the products that I used:

Face:
Rimmel Stay Matte Primer
Makeup For Ever Mat Velvet in Vanilla
Nyx HD Photogenic Concealer in Beige
Nyx Dark Circle Concealer in Light
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles in Medium
Nyx Stay Matte But Not Flat Pressed Powder in Soft Beige
Motives Bronzer in California Girl
theBalm Blush in Hot Mama
Laura Geller Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla
Urban Decay de-slick Makeup Setting Spray
Brows:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Auburn
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Soft Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Nyx Push Up Bra for Eyebrow (highlighter side)
Eyes:
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
Lorac Pro Palette 1 & 2
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner in Nude
L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Blackest Black
Lips:
ColourPop Cosmetics Lippie Stix and Lippie Pencil in Bichette

  

Tutorial for the eyes:
Step 1: Apply MAC Paint Pot (or makeup primer all the way to brow bone.
Step 2: Highlight the brow bone with the color Buff in the Pro 2 palette (or a cream colored matte shadow)
Step 3: Apply Lt. Brown (Pro 2) as your transition color to your crease and above crease. You can use any light brown matte shadow. Make sure to blend this out good.
Step 4: Take Cream (Pro 1) and apply to your mobile lid. You can also use any champagne, cream, or light colored shadow that isn't super shimmery.
Step 5: Apply Mocha to your crease (Pro 2). Any mid toned brown will work. Don't go super heavy with this. Apply it lightly.
Step 6: Take Cocoa (Pro 2) and apply lightly to outer v. Any dark matte or shimmer brown would work.
Step 7: Liner lower lashes with Lt Brown, buff it out, then go over with Mocha.
Step 8: Lightly blend over all the colors.
Step 9: Apply a black liquid liner to the top lash line/
Step 10: Apply a nude or white liner to your waterline.

Please make sure you go check out the other ladies' looks!

El from The Beauty Isle
Elle from Elle Sees
Cyndi from CDel Beauty 
Lily from Beauty with Lily

I hope that you enjoyed this post! Do you have a go-to look for the holidays? Post your comments below!

-Tanya xoxo

CambridgeSide Galleria Glamour Swap*

Hi Ladies!

Today I am going to share a fun holiday blogger event that I recently went to at the CambridgeSide Galleria in Cambridge, MA. It was hosted by Blog and Tweet Boston and the team at the CambridgeSide Galleria. The event was a chance for us to check out the latest holiday gift ideas, mingle with fellow bloggers, and snack on some food and drinks from some great restaurants. We were also given the opportunity to participate in a Glamour Swap! 

Here are some cute holiday outfit ideas:

My favorite is the comfortable one piece jumper and scarf that would be perfect for Christmas morning!

Beauty Empties

HI Ladies!

It's been quite a while since I did my last empties post. It takes me quite a while to save up enough to post about. The empties in this post have been saved over about a 4-5 month period.

Let's get right into them!

Batiste Dry Shampoo: I use Batiste every other day and go through a bottle in about 2-3 months. This is the best dry shampoo that I have tried so far. It does leave a powdery residue on your hair if sprayed too close but it can easily patted out. This dry shampoo does a great job at soaking up oils in my hair. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray: This is the only hairspray that I use. Even though it is a little pricey, it is so worth it. It keeps my curls in place without making them look crunchy or wet. It keeps my hair looking natural as if I had no product in it. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Redken Color Extend Shampoo and Conditioner: I began using this when I started to color my hair. Its supposed to help your hair color last longer. I have never really been a fan of how it makes my hair feel after using it. It just doesn't feel clean. I would say it probably does help keep the color in but I just really don't like it. I also think its expensive. 

Would I repurchase? Probably not. I have recently purchased the L'Oreal Everpure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner which is for color-treated hair and sulfate free. Thanks to Kate from Kate Spitz Blog for introducing me to this.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo and Conditioner: I got these in an Influenster Vox Box. You can read my review of them HERE. I really liked this shampoo and conditioner for the summer time when I wore my hair scrunched or curly. It smells great and adds natural waves to my hair. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, but only in the summer.

M.A.C. Brush Cleaner: This bottle took me quite a while to use up. I mix it with water and shampoo to clean my brushes. 

Would I repurchase? Probably not, I would just buy a cheaper brush cleaner.

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray: I really like

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in Yellow: I reviewed this concealer HERE. I think it is a pretty good concealer especially considering the price. 

Would I repurchase? Not the yellow shade but I have repurchase the Beige shade.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara: I love this mascara. It gives me great volume and drama and you can't beat the price. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.

e.l.f. Studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths: I love this wipes. They are so inexpensive and work really good. They are also pretty big. I have purchasing these for years. Would I repurchase? Yes, I do every couple months.

CVS Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Moisturizer: Cocoa Butter is the only moisturizer that I use for my body. I go back and fourth between the CVS brand and Vaseline brand Cocoa Butter. They both do a great job at keeping my skin soft and moisturized.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Clarins Water Purify One Step Cleanser with Mint Essential Water: I use this cleanser every morning. I have been using it since 2006 and love it. Its a bit expensive but worth it for me. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Montagne Jeunesse Pure Oils Sleep Spa Mask: This is a paper mask that you use before bed. Once you take off the mask you let the product soak into your skin. You don't wash it off. I think paper masks are hard to keep on. This one specifically burned my eyes so bad. I don't know if I touched my eye after putting on the mask or if it was just from the mask being close to my eyes.  

Would I repurchase? No.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty: I really loved this mask! You can read my review HERE. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Gel Cream Moisturizer: This is my current moisturizer. I just reviewed it not too long ago. You can read my review HERE. 

Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant: I got this sample in my Ipsy bag. You can read my review HERE. I really liked it and thought that it worked well. My felt super clean after using it. However, it is super expensive. I know there are much cheaper exfoliants out there that are less money. 

Would I repurchase? No.

I hope that you enjoyed my long empties post!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts? Post your comments below!

-Tanya xoxo