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 was running low on MAC Fix + and new I needed to restock very soon. I was going to place a MAC order but somehow, some way, ended up placing a Sephora order instead. I really wanted the new NARS Lip Cover in Overheated from the Summer 2016 collection and I needed more dry shampoo, so I let myself be tempted by an email from Sephora and just placed one inclusive order.



Instead of MAC Fix + I ended up grabbing MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix Setting Spray. It's got really great reviews and some people like it better than MAC Fix +. It's supposed to work the same way Fix + does to make your face look flawless and airbrushed. It makes everything look seamlessly blended and helps powders to look less chalky. I will also use it to spray my foundation brush before buffing out foundation and as a mixing medium to apply eyeshadows wet. So I'm excited to try this and see if I like it as well as or better than MAC. I've got high hopes.


I've seen just about everyone on YouTube mentioning NUDESTIX lip and cheek pencils non-stop. I was the most inspired by RachhLoves love of the NUDESTIX Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in Belle when this little beauty got place it in my cart. It comes in it's own tin with a mirror on the back of the lid and it's own sharpener. I'm a sucker for MLBB shades and I love the velvety finish. I think that this will look great as an easy, natural cheek color. I am all for multi-tasking products for mornings that I'm running late. Which, let's face it, is most mornings.


I saw the limited edition Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio on the website and couldn't add it to the cart quick enough. In fact I added it twice and then had sticker shock when I saw the total of the cart. It was love at first sight for me and then I saw that it was limited edition. Those two magic words get me every time. I love creams for summer as the give such a fresh look to the skin. I think cream cheek products, bronzers especially, blend better and give a more natural finish. I also think this is going to be awesome for travel. I'm already having daydreams about using my contour brush to apply this bronzer. Am I the only one that daydreams like this? Is it just me?


Before I processed my checkout I decided to go through the Sale tab and I found the Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in Stark Naked and 1993 for $11! That is half price. As I'd never taken the plunge and picked these up, now seemed like a perfect time.


I'm almost out of my can of Living Proof Dry Shampoo so I ordered my holy grail amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. I really like both the Living Proof also. I think the Living Proof works a little harder but it's definitely messier. It tends to really emphasize my grey roots and sometimes the only way to get rid of the white cast is to pull out the blow dryer. Most mornings I spend all my time on my skincare and makeup and I don't have the extra time for all that extra work on my hair. amika goes on clear and really does work amazing. I'll probably just keep a travel sized Living Proof under the counter for the weeks I'm trying to sport 4th day hair. Or you know, I'll end up with a full-size of both. Whatever.


I spotted the Sephora Collection Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream for $8 so I picked up the shade Wonderful Rosy. I haven't seen a lippie quite like this and for the price I'm willing try try it out. It's supposed to be a comfortable wear and have a really nice matte finish. It swatches beautifully. It might be a little bright but I really can't resist trying every lip product at least once.


I've really wanted to try Bobbi Brown's Art Sticks. Something about a really chubby colored pencil just calls to me. So I took the plunge and ordered one in Rose Brown. Really creamy and comfortable wear and the pencil allows for a really precise application on the go. The darker nude color is super pigmented and wearable. I'm excited to see how these wear.


The promo code I used added StriVectin Hair Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner deluxe sample duo to my cart. I picked this bonus because I've been looking for a new color care shampoo and conditioner. I love the Macadamia Oil set I've been using, but I've been using it for over a year and my hair seems to need the change from time to time. So this sample is going to give me a chance to switch it up without committing a lot to something new.

What have you gotten from Sephora recently? Let me know so I can feel better about my spending...

Do you have any thoughts on these products? Le me know!

Today's Tidbits:

• While I was looking up the reviews for Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix Setting Spray I found  phenomenal Reddit on the difference between setting and fixing sprays. It's definitely worth the read. I'm going to make some small changes to the way I use these. Even the trick about checking ingredients to see which is which is awesome. Here's the link. 
• Did you get anything from yesterday's flash 50% sale on thebalm.com? I grabbed a few things including a custom eye palette. 9 shades and the palette for $22! Amazing deal! 
• Happy Mother's Day weekend! I have a hair appointment on Saturday and then Sunday we have brunch and movie plans. What are your plans?