4 of My Favorite Highlighters... that you might not have tried

I do love a glow... even when I'm wearing a shimmery blush, the temptation to add a sweep of highlighter is too strong to resist - it just seems to make my whole look pop and really wake up my face. Quite frankly, I own a shameful amount of highlighting products (more than any face needs, and more than I care to admit!) but I thought I'd put together a little post, sharing a few of my favorites that aren't necessarily "cult favorites" and that maybe some of you fellow beauty junkies might have never tried, or even seen.

 

 

ELF "Blush" - Gotta Glow

 

And then in swatch form....

 

This is truly a beautiful highlight, I suggest a light hand to avoid any chalkiness.... but for $3.00 it's nearly perfect, if you need a High End comparison - think Nars Albatross (white gold).

 

 

Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer

 

And swatched...

Now this isn't marketed as a highlighting product at all, but rather as a bronzer, but on my skin tone this is a lovely golden highlight.... not too much shimmer, just enough gleam. If you have any experience with the dream mousse range, you know the texture is lovely, and blending is a breeze!

 

 

 

Benefit - Girl Meets Pearl

Swatched...

 

This is such a nice highlighter, almost to the point that if I wasn't wearing any makeup at all, I'd consider (perhaps not try - but definitely consider) applying it all over my face! It's pink toned, but really does leave a "pearlescent" finish.

 

 

 

Tarte Celebutante

It doesn't show up so well in swatch, but...

 

This is totally different than all the other's, the main difference being that this is an oil-based, moisturizing highlighter, meant for use on the body. It has no real color, but features the prettiest micro-shimmer. No matter what it's intended use - I love this blended onto my cheekbones, it's natural and glowy and shimmery perfection.

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you've tried any of these.... and if you have the same love affair I do! Happy highlighting my dears!













 

 

 

 

Milani LOVE...

Run don't walk to your local CVS (at least that's where I went).

I'm not someone who really follows the new drugstore makeup collections, or any makeup collections actually... But while dangerously browsing the cosmetic aisle at CVS this past weekend, I found the loveliest new stuff from Milani. Milani has been developing quite the buzz over the last year or so, and personally all of the products I've bought have been winners. The new collection of eye shadows seems to be no different. I bought two (which took great restraint!) And one is my current obsession!

Meet ''Copper Excess'' the baked beauty, that's stolen my heart (dramatic but true)

This is a combination of bronze, copper, peach, and amber... It's so gorgeous.

Dry on left, wet on right (natural light)

Dry on left, wet on right (artificial light)

 Here's a look at the other two Milani shadows I own... On the left is ''bronze doll'' which I've had for years... And adore, its a super warm bronzey gold. On the right is ''Antigua'' which is a part of this new collection... Its a hunter green with a gorgeous gold duo-chrome.

The only thing wrong with ''Antigua'' is that all the fabulous gold glitter is merely an over spray.

 I highly recommend ''Copper Excess'' its unique and lovely. Check out the whole collection for yourself here: http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-101-baked-eyeshadow-marble.aspx

Any must-haves... Or already-haves?

Smokey in Seconds...

List of everything needed for a perfect smokey eye:

1.       Too Faced Shadow Insurance

2.       ELF quad in Drama

3.       Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust

4.       Almay Black Liquid Liner

5.       Tarte Eye Pencil in Black

6.       Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara

7.       NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Dark Brown/Brown

8.       Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup in Tan

9.       Benefit Boxed Powder in Dallas

10.   MAC lipstick in Blankety

11.   ELF Lipgloss (liquid lip color?) in Pink Lemonade

Even though I don’t usually like to “blog” about things I just filmed about… a simplified smokey eye, seemed well worth it!

Bargain Beauty: A Surprising Find

One of my favorite things to do is wander around my local dollar stores beauty department. Although I love the products found exclusively behind the pretty glass displays at the department store... nothing is quite as exhilarating as a good value :). The dollar store I frequent has a wonderful range of cosmetics... from loreal to ELF and everything in between. They carry discontinued items as well as overstock, and I can literally spend hours combing through.

One of my most recent purchases, which looked quite uninteresting was a double sided eyeliner (truthfully I bought it because it came with a jumbo sharpener!!!) It's LA Colors brand, which I've never tried.... but the pigmentation of this pencil rivals my favorite Tarte pencil. It's creamy... the color is rich.... and it stays put on the waterline.... this is a stand out product!

The Black Side:

The Brown Side:

Both Smudged Out:

I don't believe this exact product is still available, but if it's any representation of how LA Colors is as a brand... run don't walk!

Blue on the eyes.... Tacky?

I was never one for blue cosmetics… even blue nail polish only recently crept into my collection. But this morning (after a long and quite relaxing - makeup free weekend) I woke up uninspired about what to do with my face! Golds… purples… silver - I do it ALLLLL the time, even green is overdone for me. So I dug around in my "eye drawer" and found some pretty blues.

I really love the way it came out, and even though there's a bit of my "signature smokiness" it still feels springy and fresh. Like crisp denim shorts :)

Sometimes a step outside the box is exactly what your Monday needs!

My Current Lust List

I know I'm double posting today.... BUT this just needed to be shared! These are the things I'm drooling over, saving for, and convincing myself I MUST own :)

(not in any particular order)

Where do I even begin with this.... Guess why do you know me so well. This is the "Bellissima Box Satchel" in pink of course... $130.00 at http://www.macys.com/

Now I won't lie to you and say this is practical and would be worn frequently.... BUT LOOK AT IT. I'm on the hunt, for a perfect - wearable nude pump, this is not it, but it's just so amazing! These are the "Parker Pumps" by Signature Shoes, $250.00 at http://www.macys.com/

I look at this bad boy nearly every day...  I love this watch and I just must have it! It's classy but still fun. Michael Kors -Clear Acetate Bracelet Watch.... $225.00 big ones @ http://www.macys.com/ but sooo pretty! 

I am a bracelet freak and these are so perfect! R.J. Graziano "Go Glam" Bangles. $59.95 at http://www.hsn.com/

Okay so what if I have enough makeup... I alllllways want more. This is an amazing value, rest assured I will have it! This is the Tarte "Beauty in a box" $36 at http://www.sephora.com/

I have been eyeing the UD <3 NY book of shadows since the first time I saw it... it's beautiful, it's Urban Decay, and It's NEW YORK! This runs about $56 at http://www.sephora.com/

So there's my list and I'm sticking to it... what have you got your eye on lately?