Mid-May Beauty Favorites

Hello Beautiful Ones!

It's been actually forever since I've done a monthly favorites post. So I might as well just throw the universe completely out of whack with a mid-monthly favorites post. Why not right?! Most of the products in this post are all things I've had for awhile, but I've found myself reaching for them often recently. I guess you could say these have been my spring staples!

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

I've been going heavier on the eyeliner and mascara lately, so I've found myself wanting to be a little calmer in the eyeshadow department (I have to have my eyeshadow though). So enter in the Naked2 Basics. This little palette is a collection of matte shadows in various greys and browns. The shades in this one are on the cool side compared to the original Naked Basics. It makes it easy to add just a little color and definition to my eyes so that I can let the liner and mascara do their thing.

Benefit Majorette Booster Blush

I became obsessed with this cream blush last summer when it was first released and then when the weather turned colder it got shoved in a drawer and forgotten. But something about the sunshine and warmer weather has made me dig this one out of the archives. It is a bright fun coral color that I promise is not as intense as it looks in the pan. The color is actually very natural looking on my fair skin. Because it's a cream blush it blends in easily with your finger. Bonus: it has an amazing citrus scent that is a nice pick-me-up in the morning. Oh and the band majorette motif on the packaging is adorable.

Ciaté Double Lines Eyeliner

Recently Ciaté, known for their nail polish, launched a whole line of beauty products. This is the first makeup product I've tried from Ciaté, but I'm already sold. This is a duo eyeliner pencil with a kajal liner on one end and a liquid liner on the other. I love kajal liners because the soft pencil makes it so easy to line your lower lashline, but I've never been able to find one that could last the whole day without eventually making me look like a raccoon. Until now! This is great, it passes the workday test (I can put it on in the morning and it's still in-tact when I get home from work). The liquid side is nice and long lasting too. It's great having the two liners in one handy product. Overall, this is just a home run for me. 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

Yet another Benefit product has made this favorites list. Roller Lash was one of those beauty products that sort of blew up the blogosphere before it was even released a few months ago. I couldn't help but try it for myself, and let me tell you it's worth the hype! I'm usually hopping from one mascara to the next, but I've been using this one exclusively since I bought it. The idea is that the lifting formula combined with the unique brush design will naturally curl your lashes eliminating the need for a lash curler (yay!). And in true benefit fashion the adorable packaging is meant to look like a hair roller. I don't see myself giving up this one anytime soon. 

e.l.f. Essentials Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal

I know I've talked about this one before, but it's still just the best. I use this little guy as a highlight. I can blend it in easily to my brow bone, cheek bone, whatever. Light makeup day? Use it on your lids and lips too! And the best part? You can get it for a $1!

Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

Again, I talk about this one all the time. But what can I say? I'm naturally pale skinned and need all the help I can get (we're talking approaching ghost levels here). I need to be able to gradually build up my summer color without looking like an orange. This totally does the trick and is also a great moisturizer. 

There's the beauty products I've been using religiously lately. Maybe I'll start doing monthly favorites posts again. Who knows?! Let me know if you are also loving any of these.

XO- Brittney

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September Favorites!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Whoah... am I actually writing my favorite things post for September IN the month of September?! Somebody hold me back! I'm slowly but surely adjusting to fall. The colder weather is definitely not my favorite but the cardigans, boots, and chai lattes are winning me over. This month my favorites consist of some loved beauty products and a few miscellaneous entertainment bits.

Beauty Favorites

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette- $28

This product is the hip older sister of the original Naked Basics Palette (I can confidently say that as a hip older sister myself #humblebrag). Confession: I've never actually owned the original palette, but I have stolen it from my before mentioned sister several times. I've been really enjoying this new one. The colors lean to the cooler side and with more grey tones than the first one. I would say that if you are in desperate need of a hardcore basics palette (with more browns and a black) then you should probably grab the original, but otherwise this is just a really nice palette to have in your arsenal. As with most Urban Decay palettes the quality of the shadows is fantastic. Here are some more pictures of the shadows and some swatches.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil: The Radiant Oil for Body and Hair- $25

It seems like just about everyone is crazy about argan oil these days (I'm definitely a convert myself). I was a little reluctant of this trend at first because it seemed super counterproductive to me to put oil on either my face or my hair, but I have to tell that I've seen the light! So I was excited when I saw this new offering from the Body Shop. I've used this both on my hair and on my skin. My favorite uses for it are to tame frizz and flyaways on my hair, and to calm my skin after shaving. Also, I love that it comes in a spray bottle because it makes application a breeze. 

Benefit Majorette Booster Blush- $28

You can find my full review and swatch of this product here. But, the basic jist of this blush is that it can be used either on it's own or as a booster underneath your favorite powder blush to add an extra "pep" to your makeup routine (hence the adorable marching band theme of the packaging). The highlights of this blush are that it goes on creamy and then takes on a powder consistency, lasts well, and has a delightful scent. I know a lot of people have been concerned about the coral color of this blush, but I personally find it extremely flattering (however, this is a color I often gravitate towards). 

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator- $12 (0.5 oz.)

I recently received this as a free sample after purchasing some other clinique products and I have to tell you that I'm in love! This is a fantastic moisturizer especially if you are plagued with dry skin. I use it every morning before I put on my makeup. The only con here is that it does smell a little weird while it's still in the pot, but I don't notice it once I apply it to my face.

Stila Lip Glaze- $22

This is a product I've had sitting in my makeup collection unused for awhile. I've only recently rediscovered it. This is a deluxe sample size in the shade Shortcake that I got in a Sephora value set that you can check out here. I love that it's long lasting and such a pretty shade. This is a gorgeous nude gloss that is perfect for fall. 

Miscellaneous Favorites

Music

PTX Vol. III by Pentatonix

Pentatonix is a five person acapella group that first gained fame for winning season 3 of NBC's singing competition show the Sing Off. They also have a massive Youtube following. I always adore their new album offerings and this one is no exception. It's a great mix of acapella covers and originals. One of my favorite tracks is a mashup of Sam Smith's Latch and La  La La which they have accurately named La La Latch. Even if you're aren't a major acapella fan I still encourage you to give this one a listen! You can download it on iTunes for $5.99 or grab the physical copy at Walmart for just $5.

Beggin for Thread (single) by Banks

This is a single that I have been completely obsessed with lately. The lyrics are smart and the beat is amazing. Prepare to have this one stuck in your head ALL DAY. 

T.V.

It's the time of the year for new and returning fall shows or as I like to call it: the season of endless new episodes clogging up my DVR. Instead of boring you with my endless list of shows I'm watching I'm just going to give you my two new favorites and two old standbys. 

Warning: there may be slight spoilers ahead (don't say I didn't warn you). 

How to get Away with Murder- ABC

This is arguably Fall's most buzzed about new show and I'm here to tell you that the hype is real. This is the latest offering from powerhouse Shonda Rhimes. I mean obviously this is Shondaland and we're all just living in it. The show follows law professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and her students, who will do crazy things to get her approval (hint: that includes murder). 

Red Band Society- Fox

This is genuinely one of the cutest shows I have ever seen. There is so much heart here it is amazing. The show follows nurse Jackson (Octavia Spencer) and all of the kids she tends to on her floor at the Ocean Park Hospital in Los Angeles. It has a little bit of a Glee vibe (a group of misfits coming together to support each other). I promise you that you will laugh, cry, and generally be filled to the brim with emotions.

Scandal- ABC

If you aren't on the Scandal bandwagon yet then you need to seriously reevaluate your life choices (I say that with love). This is yet another Shonda Rhimes thriller that is in it's 4th season and it just KEEPS GETTING BETTER. Just about every episode leaves me screaming at the television. Seriously, you probably don't want to watch T.V. with me. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine- Fox

I swear that Fox and ABC aren't the only networks that I watch, it just turned out this way. I just have so much love in my heart for this comedy. It follows Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samburg) and his colleagues in Brooklyn's 99th precinct. This show had me hooked at the pilot and nothing has changed now that it's started it's second season. You should definitely binge watch if you need a good laugh or a new comedy. 

There you have it: all of the things I've been loving this month! Let me know what you've been obsessing over in the comments.

XO- Brittney

P.S. Here's a bonus picture of my cat Smokey trying to figure out why I'm taking pictures of my makeup on my kitchen floor (do you ever wonder if your pets are planning to commit you for mental instability or is that just me?). x

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