Smart is Always Beautiful

It's full-on Halloween in my house currently, but I brought out one of my favorite Christmas decorations to introduce all the Holiday kits that are coming out at Sephora! I did go to the Rouge Preview last week and picked up a couple things that I'm super excited about. I also held, swatched, and looked at many more collections and kits that are new for the holiday season this year. I wanted to share what I picked up and I'll also throw in a few of my other picks. So let's start with what I picked up.

What I Bought

I saw the picture of the Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector's Makeup Case, $59 ($418.00 value), and instantly wanted to go to the preview event to see it in person. I had a feeling that I would be picking this up. I'm a sucker for Tarte's kits. They always tend to be quality and one of the best values if you love all their products. We swatched everything in the store and everything was pigmented and smooth. The amount of products that you get with this kit is pretty amazing:

• 24 x 0.031 oz/ 0.87 g Amazonian Clay Eyeshadows
• 0.10 oz/ 2.83 g Tartiest Lash Paint mascara in Black
• 0.158 oz/ 4.47 g Amazonian Clay Blush in Moment (coral)
• 0.158 oz/ 4.47 g Amazonian Clay Highlighter in Authentic (champagne)
• 2 x 0.158 oz/ 4.47 g Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Unique (shimmer), Provocative (matte contour)
• 0.10 oz/ 2.83 g Rainforest of the Sea So Fine Micro Liner in Black
• 0.01 oz/ 0.47 g Tarteist glossy lip paint in Ovbi

I'm totally in love with this set. Everything applies beautifully and wears well all day long. I love that this kit contains everything that you need for a full look and I love that it includes tried and true products, such as the Amazonian Clay Eyeshadows and Blushes, as well as new products. I've been loving the Tarteist Lash Paint and Glossy Lip Paints - both were new products this year. This kit would be great to pack for your holiday travels this year; just add your base products, a lash curler and eyeshadow primers and you are good to go.

I wasn't going to pick up the Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Plumping 6 Pc Mini Full-On Lip Polish Collection - $32 ($60.00 value), but my friend swatched the shades and I fell in love. I adore the Full-On Lip Polishes. They plump but never feel painful. They basically just smooth out any lines in your lips. They have a minty scent and flavor and make your mouth feel really fresh once you've applied. The shades are all sheer and can be worn on their own or paired with a coordinating lip liner. The shades range from a glossy topper to a dark cherry red. The shades in this kit include: (0.07 oz each)

• Dominique (glittering ice)
• Amy (golden nude)
• Celeste (prismatic soft peach)
• Clair (starry plum haze)
• Starr (brandy cordial)
• Jasmine (black cherry)

I took the bow from the Buxom set and added it to my light-up tree. I think it was a great addition!

My Picks

I really wanted the Bobbi Brown Bobbi To Glow Shimmer Brick Palette - $69 ($122 value). It swatched beautifully and I have never owned a shimmer brick before. This is a really great way to jump in and try a pretty iconic line of products. This palette contains three shades, 0.34 oz each, in Gold, Wild Rose, and Bronze so it's a great variety. The gold would be beautiful as a highlight, the rose would be great as a blush or blush topper, and the bronze would be great around the face to warm it up. I didn't pick this up just because I knew that I really wouldn't use it but I highly suggest grabbing it if you know that you'll get use out of it.
I walked around the store with the First Aid Beauty FAB Beautique - $48 ($95 value) - in my basket, but ended up putting it back. The kit contains the 6 oz tub of Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration, a 0.5 oz bottle of Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum, a 2 oz tube of  Face Cleanser, 28 Facial Radiance Pads, and a 0.34 oz jar of Ultra Repair Intensive Lip Balm. This is a really great value if you already use these products and want to restock or if you want to try out the brand. If the kit had contained the Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream, as it's a current favorite and I'm thinking about needing a backup, I probably would have picked it up. I am interested in trying the serum, but I'm not currently in need of one. I probably won't use the cleanser either, and I feel like I'm constantly getting samples of it. I do love the Ultra Repair Lip Therapy in a tube, but I don't much like potted lip balms. Regardless of my reasons for not picking it up, this is a really great kit for a lot of people. If you are one of them - grab it while you can!
I really, really wanted the Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set - $25 ($59 value), unfortunately, my friend snatched up the last one. That's okay, she needed it more than I did, and I got the last Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector's Makeup Case in the store. The set contains four mini (0.05 oz) Amuse Bouche Lipsticks in Fig, Pepper, Honeycomb, Nori in an adorable little tin that is perfect for travel. This set is an amazing value and a great way to try the new formula if you haven't. I actually own Honeycomb and have Fig and Pepper on the Luminous Cream formula. I still kind of want to order the kit though.
I spotted the Maison Margiela REPLICA Discovery Set For Her - $65 ($75.00 value) online and was immediately in love. My adoration for the REPLICA Beach Walk has continued well into Fall and I have considered trying out other REPLICA scents. This kit contains 3 x 0.34 oz Travel sprays in Beach Walk, Lazy Sunday Morning, Tea Escape. I love that these are travel sprays not roller balls. They allow me to liberally mist myself with the scent so that I and everyone around me can experience it to the fullest. I am unapposed to owning another travel-friendly version on Beach Walk and this is a great way to try out Lazy Sunday Morning, and Tea Escape. Grab it before it's gone.
Overall, I'm pretty excited by the Holiday 2016 collections. I think that brands have done a really great job this year. Is there anything that you are loving for Holiday 2016?

I have tried foundation after foundation, trying to find something that would give me perfect doll-like skin. I thought that if I blanked out my face with a full-coverage base and then drew back on perfect features I would give myself the look that I wanted. It's kind of ironic that when I stopped wearing foundation altogether, that's when I finally found my ideal look. I spent a week completely bare faced and the biggest problem that I faced without any base products whatsoever was that I turned into a sweaty grease ball by mid-day. Seriously gross. I knew that I didn't want to give in and start using foundation again so I started reaching for just primers. Primers are amazing. They smooth out the skin, blur, color correct, minimize pores, hydrate, add radiance, even out skin tone, and a whole bunch of other amazing benefits. The Perfekt 10 Skin Perfection + SPF 30 (my shade is Radiant) is like an amazing primer on steroids. It boasts 10 benefits that make it a super-charged alternative to a BB cream, CC cream, and tinted moisturizer; firm, treat, cover, prime, protect, correct, smooth, hydrate, longevity, and it's vegan and cruelty-free. I apply a large pea-sized amount to the face by pressing it into the skin. It feels like a silicone based primer and smooths on very easy. It has slight tinting but the coverage is sheer. It looks like my skin with all of its markings and imperfections only with a more even skin tone. My skin looks like it has the most perfect even texture with this on. Never have I ever been so in love with looking at my skin and the Perfekt 10 is has been a huge reason why. This product is really amazing and for $48, it better be.
I really don't want to use a concealer, but sometimes you just have to. It is allergy season and the redness on and around my nose is out of control. I also might tap some concealer on my chin if it's a little red. A few months back I picked up Becca's Ultimate Coverage Concealing Crème in Tahini at Sephora. It was a product that I just happened upon and honestly hadn't heard much about. I was having a Becca fan-girl moment at the time and the shade was a pretty spot on match for my face. I really like the texture. It's emollient, but a little stiffer until you warm it up. It is extremely pigmented and a little goes a long way. It's also in a pot and I'm not really a fan of cream products in a pot but I love that I I lightly tap my pinky finger into the product and it blends into the skin really nicely. Since I'm not wearing any foundation, any concealer that I dab on has to look like my skin. With this, I can apply the smallest amount, so that doesn't get too thick, and it also covers even the darkest hyper-pigmentation. The only word of warning that I might issue with this product is that it does not like to blend in on skin that isn't properly moisturized. Regardless, I really love this concealer.
The Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye Palette is one of those palettes that I think everyone should own. Kat might have well written the book on eyeshadow quality. These are all pigmented, blendable, and smooth. This palette is all matte shades and was designed to shape and define the eye. The palette is split into coordinating quads; neutral, cool, and warm. Each quad has a shade as a base, highlight, transition, and a dark shade to darken the outer corner/work as a liner. It also came with a card that tells you how best to use the quads to define the shape of your specific eye. You can also use the palette to create a gorgeous smokey eye: I love the transition shade in the cool quad, Saleos, all over the lid and along the lower lash line with Lazarus, the base shade, diffused into the crease. The dark black shade, Shax, can be placed in the outer corner and I like the cream shade from the neutral quad, Lucius, under the brow and the inner corner to complete the smokey eye. My absolute favorite way to use the palette lately is to contour the eye with a transition, outer corner, and highlight shades in this palette. Then once everything is placed and blended out I'll take a shimmery shadow and pop it into the center of my lid. Which brings us to my next product.
I picked up the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadows on the QVC's website. The shades that I have are Beach Sand and Rio de Rose Gold. They sold both shades together for only $8 more than one of these was being sold individually when they were new - $26 for the set. Like I said, I use the Kat Von D palette, or another matte shadow palette, to contour the eye. Then I shake these up and use the applicator to dot the pigment on the center of the lid. I blend this color out with my finger. They blend easy and dry very quickly. I suggest dotting and blending one at a time and working fast. They stay in place all day without creasing or smudging. The make up is half Argan-infused pigment half coconut water. They separate when they're not in use but when they are mixed together and applied, they create this gorgeous foiled shadow. You can get similar looks with a wet shimmery shadow, but these are great because you don't have to get your brushes wet and the Argan and Coconut oils hydrate the lids. I'm all over easier and less messy. This eyeshadow also feels really cooling and nice. The pigment looks smoother that dry shadows and I love products that look great and work to improve your skin. I can't get enough of these eyeshadows.
I am super obsessed with chubby lip pencils and luckily for me, they seem to be everywhere. I had to have the Clinique Chubby Stick the moment that I saw them. You would think by now that the obsession would fizzle out, but these days I am still very into it - in the form of the Bobbi Brown Art Sticks. What's unique about these lip pencils are that they are an actual sharpening, wooden pencil, not lipstick in plastic packaging. While twist up packaging is super convenient, the consistency of the product is very different from a traditional sharpening style pencil. These are slightly less creamy, but I'm taking it as a positive in this case. You can forget them in the hot car and they don't melt everywhere. Don't get me wrong, though, they definitely glide on and wear comfortably. They tend to wear better and last longer for me. Clinique's, Tarte's, and even Revlon's chubby lip pencils wear more like a balm to me than a traditional lipstick. These are very versatile. You can apply it on its own as a pigmented long-wearing lipstick. The shape allows for precision. They aren't really a matte finish. It has an ever-so-slight sheen. You can also wear it as a lipliner, top with lipstick, and/or gloss. They are super easy to throw in your bag and take everywhere. My favorite combination this month is one of these with the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Sugar that I mentioned in my July Favorites. The shades that I have are Brown Berry (pictured) and Rose Brown (not pictured because it lives in my bag lately) and I love them both. Brown Berry is a medium nude brown. Rose Brown is a brown berry, definitely on the mauve side. Both wear really well and they pair with a number of looks. The craziest part about these is that I've been using the crap out of them and I haven't had to sharpen them but once. They are going to last forever.
So first and foremost - I'm sorry. I've never used the phrase "on fleek" in my life. I don't know what came over me. Anyway, I've been really loving using the combination of Benefit Goof-Proof Brow Pencil and NYX Control Freak. It's been really simple and easy to apply and my brows are still natural and perfectly in place at the end of the day. They are pretty much the only part of my face that I don't want to check-in on throughout the day. I just know that they look good and will all day long. The Benefit Goof Proof pencil in No. 3 is a dead on match and I love that it includes a spoolie - Although let's be honest, it's a requirement for me. I use the spoolie to brush my brow hairs into place. The I use the longer, flat side of the tip to define the top and bottom shade of the brow. After that, I use the fatter side to fill in the middle of the brow. Then I brush through with the spoolie again to smooth out any harsh lines. It literally takes me 30 seconds to do both brows. Then I take the NYX Control Freak and brush through my brows and everything is locked in place. The Control Freak has a full-sized, almost jumbo, mascara wand. It's a little intimidating, but the spoolie comes out clear, without any excess product. It's really super simple to use - and it works great. There's no goopy-ness. There's no stickiness. It takes a couple minutes to dry, but when it does, it doesn't dry crunchy. It leaves the brows looking super natural. If you're looking for a good brow gel, I strongly suggest checking this out.
I am all over cool-girl multi-tasking products, and Bite Beauty hit the nail on the head with their Multi-Sticks. If you haven't heard, they released these cream sticks that work three ways: as a blush, as a cream eyeshadow, and as a matte lipstick. They apply like a cream but wear like a powder for a lightweight, long-wearing result - perfect for all three applications. I picked up two shades, Blondie and Cashew. I wanted a couple shades that would wear really well on the lips, cheeks and eyes; not just one or two of the applications. Blondie is a nice nude beige. It's a great lighter, more wearable nude on the lips and cheeks. On the eyes, it works as a nice nude eye or works great as a base for other shadows. Cashew is a pretty mauve pink - very pretty on the lips. Dab a light amount on the cheeks for an equally pretty look, and it's okay as an eyeshadow blended lightly all over the lid. It's not so pink that it looks like you have pink eye, but pink enough to give you a nice girly look.

I have read that a lot of people have had problems applying these as an eyeshadow, but I apply them over a primer, with a cream shadow brush and it goes on really well and lasts all day. I see minor creasing somewhere between six and eight hours, but it's easy to tap it back into place. I use my finger to dab the color onto my cheeks and blend out. They look really natural and blend easily. They actually set to a natural powder-like finish and it really lasts all day. The powder formula seems weird to apply to the lips but it actually applies and wears really well. The pigmentation is great and they glide on easy - no pulling on tugging. They feel really smooth and velvety and they leave a beautiful matte finish. They are long lasting without feeling tight or drying on the lips. However, they are less forgiving with cracked, peeling, chapped lips. This formula does accentuate any of that. It's really easy to throw on a gloss like Supergoop Shine On Lip Screen over it and problem solved! I really love this in all three applications. The packaging is the exact same as the Bite Butter Cream Lipstick, which I'm a fan. The packaging feels really solid and has a magnetic pull. I feel really safe throwing it in my bag for touch-ups on the go. Bite released 18 shades and they all look gorgeous. I would probably consider picking up a few more.
I found myself really really loving the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Beauty Palette The Dolce Vita Look in August. The eyeshadow trio is really really pretty and easy to use. It's shimmery but not in an overly glittery way. It just adds the nicest shine to the lids. It was designed to just accentuate the eye in a very flattering way. It really helps facilitate a really natural look. They are all excellent quality and pigmentation. This with my first foray into Charlotte Tilbury shadows and I'm really happy. I was initially disappointed that the Filmstar bronzer and highlighter included aren't the same shades as the duo, but as I have both I'm now glad that I don't have duplicate products. The formulas are the same and they are both gorgeous - just different shades. I started absolutely loving the blushes though as soon as I realized that Swish and Pop aren't just their names - they describe how they are supposed to be used. You are supposed to take Swish, the lighter more peachy-pink shade, start on the apple of your cheek and swish it back towards your temple. Then you take Pop and pop it on the apple of your cheek. It is a gorgeous combo and it helps blend everything together in a natural way. I am really glad that I picked this up.

I normally don't talk about nail polish but I fell in love with Essie In Stitches back in late July - early August. It was love at first sight. A gorgeous fall blush-berry shade that isn't really pink but not really plum either. It a gorgeous, feminine neutral shade that was perfect for kicking off the season. I have been rocking this polish on my toes since the beginning of August. It's still going strong. I also rarely paint my fingernails but I had this on for a good week in August. Love, love, love this color.
Breakfast and snacking have never tasted so good, seriously. I spotted the Nature Valley Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squares Banana Bread & Dark Chocolate at Target and I immediately bought three boxes. I love banana anything, but throw dark chocolate in with it and I'm in love. These are like a thicker oatmeal cookie with bananas and dark chocolate chips. They are so soft too. This is what I've been keeping in my purse as an emergency snack. One bar is enough to fill me up and not just tide me over for a half hour. One bar is 150 calories, 6 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 grams of sugars. So a banana is probably better for you to grab and go, but it's way better than something from a vending machine. And, the carbs will help keep you moving throughout the day. If you see these in the store, give them a try. They are tasty enough to hunt them down.
My husband may not think so, but I have scaled back my purchases substantially this month. However, I do have a favorite purchase this month. It arrived the last day of the month, so it doesn't qualify as a favorite product that I used in August, but it was something that I just couldn't pass up and it is as beautiful as I imagined. The Bobbi Brown The Nude Library 25th Anniversary Palette was definitely a splurge. Earlier in July I had been debating picking up a nude Bobbi Brown eyeshadow palette and decided to pass. I've seen some of the limited edition palettes through the years and they've always spoken to me, but I've never made the leap. Now I'm glad that I didn't, because now I own all of them in one convenient place.
I have been extremely impressed with the quality of these shadows. All 40 shades have had excellent pigmentation and have been creamy and smooth. Even the sparkle shades that look like they are going to be a fallout nightmare have been easy to apply and to blend. I haven't had a problem with fallout at all. I cannot say that about a lot of palettes with a fraction of the shades that this one has. For a brand to get 40 shades right, that's pretty impressive. I have been using the crap out of this palette and I haven't had a bad experience yet. They are all nude shades but there's such a variety that I haven't gotten even close to being bored. I feel like there are hundreds of combinations of looks in this palette. Every look that I have put together has been gorgeous.
The packaging is amazing. It's super high quality and the whole thing is mirrored and shiny. I feel like I could drop it and not have the whole thing come apart on me - not that I want to test my theory. I love the look of the packing, but it does make me a little crazy trying to keep it from looking like a dirty, fingerprint-covered mess. I also like that you can use the center divider like a mirror, but also kind of wish it was easier to flip from side to side. The easiest way is to close it completely and reopen to the correct side. There is no clasp, but it feels like it has a magnetic pull to draw the book closes and keep it closed. I am extremely impressed with the palette and feel that it's worth every penny. I ordered mine from Nordstrom after their first restock. It's now available on the Sephora website, as well as Lord & Taylor.
Do you like the theme of this month's photos? I thought it was fitting as August was back to school month but also as because I feel like I spent the month learning a lot about myself, my skin, and my makeup techniques. I'm working on a lot of other posts - I promise. I will hopefully soon share what I loved in September also. As well as empties, holiday stuff and more!
What products have you been loving lately? Do share in the comments below!

I didn't really get into the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale until last year. Nordstrom is just one of those stores that only sells high-end. Before last year I figured that the sale was limited to card members and even if the discounts were good, 50% off super expensive is still expensive. I don't only shop at the drugstore - far from it - but I usually shop at the mass retailers like Ulta and Sephora because they have perk programs, they always have some sort of promo codes, and occasionally they have sales. I really only head to the department stores for "Bonus Times" and if they have a brand that the mass retailers don't carry like Charlotte Tilbury and Chanel. I finally realized last year that the beauty section of this sale was actually was worth browsing. The palettes and kits that they sell during these sales are an awesome value. They are also have many that are exclusive to this sale and limited edition (That's usually about all that I need to hear for me to be all over something). The downside of these exclusive, limited edition products? They are new palettes that have no online reviews. You can't find swatches or in depth reviews so you are buying solely based on the brand reputation. You can wait for reviews to post, but you might miss out. The bulk of the sale is bulk sizes or collections of permanent items packaged together at a great value. My suggestion is to really really want something. Either know that it's something you are going to use all year long or know that it's something that you will kick yourself for not getting after the sale is over.

If you are a card member you can shop the sale NOW, so get over there and do your damage. Early access started yesterday. You can also apply for the card and if you are accepted get access.  If you aren't a card member and don't want to sign up for a card, you can start browsing now and make up your list. I've browsed the Beauty Exclusive part of the sale and started my wish list. Here's what made it onto that list:

Nars 'Nordstrom's Best' Cheek Palette - $65
This palette contains four of the most popular cheek products from Nars - Orgasm, Deep Throat, Albatross, and Laguna - so for someone who doesn't own them and wants to try them it's an awesome treat at a super value. Or if you are someone who travels a lot this is a handy palette to throw in your bag. I own two of the six (I have the super value size of the Laguna bronzer so I'm set) so I might end up passing, but if you don't I'd say go for it.

This palette contains:
- 4 Blushes in Orgasm, Deep Throat, Luster, Desire
- Highlighting Blush in Albatross
- Bronzing Powder in Laguna

Charlotte Tilbury 'Instant Beauty Palette - The Dolce Vita Look' 5-Minute Face On the Go - $75
Back in May Charlotte Tilbury released the limited edition "Instant Beauty Palette - Nude" designed for use on a number of skin tones and as the only palette that you'll to complete your makeup in five minutes flat. This palette was a one time, super limited online release that was never supposed to be repeated; until this sale that is. There are some minor changes to the palette - the eyeshadows all have a sheen as opposed to the original palette that had two matte shades - but the blush, bronzer, and highlighter are all the same. This time around it includes a travel sized mascara. If you missed out on the May release, this is your chance to exonerate yourself.

This palette contains:
- Three Eyeshadows
- Cheek to Chic Swish & Pop Blush
- Filmstar Bronze & Glow Face Bronzer & Highlight
- Travel-size Legendary Lashes Mascara
Laura Mercier 'Flawless Icons' Eye & Cheek Palette - $65
This is another palette curated for this sale. This is really gorgeous and appeals to me as a lover of nude palettes. This is another (almost) complete face palette, minus a blush. Laura Mercier has always excelled in the baked face product game, so I expect nothing but stellar quality from this palette.

This palette contains:
- Eight Eye Colors in Stellar, Cashmere, Guava, African Violet, Boudoir, Vie en Rose, Minx, Coffee Ground
- Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze 02
- Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01

Kiehl's 'Ultra Healthy Skin Favorites' Collection - $69
For someone who wants to try a collection of the best Kiehl's skincare products, this is an awesome value. This set contains a mingling of the customer favorites to give you a compete skin care regimen all in one bag - a cleanser, mask, serum, moisturizer, and eye treatment. So if it's just time for you to restock or you want to mix up your routine this is the kit to stick in your cart.

This collection contains:
- Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (0.5 oz.)
- Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque (0.95 oz.)
- Ultra Facial Cream (4.2 oz.)
- Midnight Recovery Concentrate (0.14 oz.)
- Ultra Facial Cleanser (1 oz.)

Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light Palette - $62
For those lovers of Hourglass Ambient Lighting products who have long been hoping for an all-inclusive palette - glow, blush, and bronze - your day has come. This palette has a best selling shade from each line and is included in a palette packaged just like the Ambient Lighting Palette, the original Hourglass limited-edition-palette-made-permanent. Heads up though, the pan sizes are the same as the Ambient Lighting Palette, except that Bronze Light is 0.02oz smaller than it's counterpart.

This palette contains:
- Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light
- Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
- Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light
Murad 'Perfectly Beautiful' Skincare Set - $89
I originally purchased Murad's Invisiblur Perfecting Shield back when it was first released for $65 for 1oz. I loved the texture and I loved how it blurred pores. I loved it even more for being clear and containing SPF. But that $65 hurt. Enough that I wouldn't repurchase it without a deal of some sort. This kit appeals to me because it included the $65 bottle of Invisiblur plus two more items for just $24 more. I haven't tried either one. The Exfoliating cleanser is a deluxe sample size (the full sized is $36 for 6.75oz), but the Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture sells on it's own for $72! This kit is an amazing value. If you love these Murad products, this is a set that you can't pass up.

This set contains:
- AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (1 oz.)
- Invisiblur™ Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ (1 oz.)
- Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture (1.7 oz.)
Supergoop! 'Forever Young' Hand Cream SPF 40 Set - $40
My favorite hand cream of life is the Supergoop 'Forever Young' Hand Cream with Sea Buckthorn. It really helps me heal my hands that I strip bare washing 119 times a day. The cream is thick and spreads easily. It deeply nourishes skin and leaves it younger looking. I don't feel the need to put more hand cream on as soon as I was my hands again. It's pretty amazing. The best part? SPF 40! I don't have to I carry the 1oz. tubes in my purse at all times. I love the flat tubes because they slide easily in between larger items and don't take up much space. Each tube sells for $12. So when I saw that this set has two of those plus a 10 oz pump bottle ($38) for home, I was instantly sold. This kit should last me the year and hopefully they sell something similar again next year!

This set contains:
- Forever Young Hand Cream (10 oz.)
- Travel-size Forever Young Hand Cream (2 at 1 oz. each)

What is on your wish list for this sale? Share what you're getting or wish you'd get!

Today's Tidbits:

• I couldn't wait for this sale. I already placed a Nordstrom's order to get the MAC C'est Chic' Eyeshadow Palette (Nordstrom Exclusive) plus some Charlotte Tilbury stuff. It'll be here Monday; I'm excited!
• I've been really good this week about putting my makeup back as I use it. When I leave it on the counter I have the tendency to use the same thing every single day. This week I've done my makeup different every day. It's definitely something that I'm going to try to keep going.
• I got my Hautelook order from the Josie Maran event this week. It shipped right at 2 weeks. I also ordered from the Too Faced event last weekend. I got the Soul Mates Bronzer & Blush Duo in Carrie & Big and Ross & Rachel. They were on sale for $14 each!

You might have noticed on some social media and previous posts I was super freaking excited to get the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection. This week on June 16th - my birthday! - they are releasing the collection (sans the eyeshadow palette, more on that later) in stores so I thought I'd get some pictures up so you could decide if you wanted to try and snag it in stores this week. Get ready to plan your trip to Sephora on Thursday!


The collection originally launched two limited edition products - the Face Palette and the Eyeshadow Palette - and three permanent products - the Shimmering Skin Perfector and the Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured Crème both in Jaclyn Hill's original shade Champagne Pop. They also have included the Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop that started this all about a year ago.







As for the permanent releases, I picked up the poured crème version of Champagne Pop. This product sells for $38. If I'd known when I ordered this that it wasn't limited edition I probably would have waited but I'm kind of glad that I didn't at the same time. This product comes in the standard packaging; there is no limited edition packaging for this release. And, there really doesn't need to be. The packaging of these compacts are really sleek looking and easy to grip. It's not my favorite packing ever but it's definitely a nice solid package. It protects the product, it's rugged, and snaps closed tightly so it won't open accidentally in your bag. That's everything you can ask for in a product's packaging.

The crème version of the Shimmering Skin Perfector is my favorite of all the formulas that Becca makes. For me it's easier to get a really natural, more even finish and the crème, I feel, helps achieve a really dewy, glowy result. I know it's not a lot of other people's favorite because it isn't as intense as the other formulas. I like it because it's easier to keep myself from going overboard and it's also a great base for the powders. Apply the crème to the areas you want to highlight and then top with the powder. The crème helps the powder stick, makes you glow like crazy, and it lasts all day long. I have really loved the Rose Gold crème and until Champagne Pop, Opal was my favorite shade. But Champagne Pop is quickly becoming the favorite. Becca can pretty much do no wrong though when it comes to the Shimmering Skin Perfectors so I'm not surprised that I'm so happy with this product.

I did not pick up the Shimmering Skin Perfector, $41, or the Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, $38,  from this collection since they are permanent. I may grab them later on. The Shimmering Skin Perfector has a lot of really great uses, but that's a lot of product for me to realistically go through. I have a few of these in other shades in the smaller tubes with wands and I love them. Those are a lot more realistic for me to actually use up. I will most likely keep a lookout to see if they sell Champagne Pop in this format in the future. But if the liquid is your favorite format (and I can see why it would be) and you're going to use it on a regular basis then I highly suggest grabbing this with the release; This shade is perfect. I also didn't pick up the pressed compact because it comes in the face palette and it has been around for a while. If you grab the palette you definitely don't need the individual compact unless you plan to throw the smaller one in your bag for travel. They are both the same perfect shade and amazing quality. I didn't feel like I needed both but if you do, I say go for it! The Champagne Pop shade has really stolen my heart and I'm super excited to have it in so many formulations to chose from. Thumbs up to Becca.

If you decide that you have to have the Becca Champagne Collection Face Palette on Thursday, I highly suggest it and wish you the best of luck! I'm really heartbroken that so many people can't get their hands on the eyeshadow palette so I'm crossing my fingers that they release it again at some point.

Let me know if you are able to snag this palette! I'd love to discuss it with you!

Today's Tidbits:

• This month is flying by! I can't believe it's so late in the month, let alone the year! My birthday party was awesome this past weekend. This coming weekend I have a high school reunion and a hair appointment. Busy month! 
• I'm so proud! I got all my reading and work done for my class tonight. I'm such a good student.
• I got another Sephora order delivered yesterday. It's a problem. I'm really freaking excited about this order though! (Let's be honest though. I'm really excited about every order. I really love new stuff!) I'll be getting a post up about it soon. 

**All products were purchased by me for my own purposes. Any links to products are to the stores that I actually purchased them from**