The Weekly Question: What Makeup Item do you like to Splurge on? My Current Splurge Favorites!!!

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Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun! 

This week's question is...

What makeup items are you more likely to splurge on?

This is an easy question for me! There is a clear frontrunner for the "most likely to splurge" question. While I typically love both high end and drugstore items alike, there is one makeup category in which almost every single product I own is high end. 

So, my answer...foundation!!! I am including both powder foundation and liquid within this foundation category as I tend to go high-end on both liquids and powders. I think that great makeup starts with flawless looking skin. Foundation that matches well and is good for your skin type is the key here! Not only do I love many high end foundation formulas, but also I love being able to try them on in the store and get the assistance of a makeup artist or salesperson to help with shade selection. When I find a foundation that works, I tend to repurchase it over and over again. So, I really just don't even end up exploring drugstore foundation often since I already have so many high end formulas that I love and adore. Also, my skin is extremely fair. Many drugstore (and high end) foundations are too dark for my light skin tone. I have better luck with makeup brands with a very wide shade selection.

So, what are my current foundation favorites? Here they are (most of these have been favorites for years!):

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' blogs!

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Brittney from BellBelleBella
Christine from Simply Stine
Dawn from Ritual Beauty
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Kaitlin from Blushing Beauty
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 

If you would like to see previous bi-weekly questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

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Top 10 Tuesdays: Beauty Items in my Purse!

I Bought It Affiliate Link Press Sample

Top 10 Tuesdays:

Top 10 Tuesdays is the blog series for List lovers! Top Ten Tuesdays are a bi-weekly collaborative link-up series where top Beauty Bloggers share their Top 10 Lists for a given topic. This week: Top 10 Beauty Items in my Purse!!!

My Handbag:
I can't dive into listing my beauty items in my handbag before raving a bit about my bag! My go-to purse for the past 3 months has been my Coach Madison Phoebe Leather Shoulder Bag. This gorgeous bag was a surprise birthday present from my husband. He basically told the salesperson at Coach that I was a mother of a toddler and that I needed a large bag. The Madison Phoebe in Cranberry was what they decided upon. I love the gorgeous magenta color and the spacious compartments. This bag is supple and soft. The cranberry color is so versitile. Honestly, this bag is a gorgeous pop of color and I am amazed at how it goes with practically every outfit!!! This is the perfect "Mommy Bag"! I can even fit a few diapers and a travel wipes container inside. The inside features 3 main compartments: a small middle zipper compartment which is perfect for the wallet, keys, etc, and two large and tall side snap top compartments. I have loosely organized one side as the "kid" side and one side as the "me" side. My side has my makeup, brush, phone, etc. The "kid" side holds the diapers, wipes, and a couple toys or snacks. The Madison Phoebe served me well throughout Summer and this color transitions perfectly into Fall!

My Handbag: The Coach Madison Phoebe Leather Shoulder bag in Cranberry:

Top 10 Tuesdays: Beauty Items in my Purse with Bath & Body Works, Pixi for Target, Trish McEvoy

Top 10 Items in my Purse:

•  ecotools Retractable Kabuki: A retractable kabuki is a purse must-have! This one by ecotools is super soft, great for powder, blush, or bronzer touch-ups, and retails for only about $7.00! :) 

• Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Blotting Sheets: Blotting sheets are an absolute must-have for girls on-the-go! You can instantly remove oil and shine without disrupting your makeup just by pressing these on your face.

• Essence of Beauty Secret Woods Fine Fragrance Body Mist: I am body mist obsessed. I have a bit of a phobia of getting sweaty or stinky in public. So, I refresh with body mists throughout the day and always carry a travel size one with me. My current favorite is the super-affordable Essence of Beauty Secret Woods (which is a total dupe for Bath and Body Work's Twilight Woods, which I also love). The scent is so perfect for Fall and is such a warm and lingering scent!

• Neutrogena Shine Control Powder in Invisible: This powder is fabulous! It does just what it says: controls shine. My skin has been super oily with pregnancy and this is certainly my go-to powder. Great for setting my makeup in the morning and for touch-ups throughout the day. I literally never leave the house without a powder in my bag!

• L'Oreal Colour Riche Caress Lipstick in Cotton Pink: I usually carry around at least 5 or 6 lipsticks (lol, I know...excessive!). This one is my current favorite of my purse lipstick assortment (and really the only one I need to carry). Cotton Pink is the perfect princess-y pop of medium pink. I love how light and moisturizing this lipstick feels. It gives great color to your lips and instantly perks me up!

• Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Colour in Rosebud: OMG! I adore this blush! It is the perfect medium-barbie pink blush. I actually can't believe that I haven't given this one a full review just yet! It truly is one of my all-time favorites. I love a cream blush for on the go as application is so easy. Just swipe on with your fingers!   

• Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect SPF 30 Lip Protectant: This lip balm is so hydrating!!! It is my current favorite and I keep little tubes of this everywhere...bedside table, kitchen, desk, and yes...my purse! It instantly hydrates and smooths my dry lips. Plus, it has SPF! Love, love, love it!

• Trish McEvoy Lip Gloss in Irresistible Petal: Like with lipsticks, I usually keep a handful of glosses in my purse. This gloss by Trish McEvoy is my favorite amongst my purse assortment! It is a sheer and shimmery hydrating pink high-shine gloss. It is comfortable and smooth on the lips. Love everything about it!

• Pixi Extra Eye Bright Liner: I always look tired. I use great makeup to combat my dark circle problems (allergies, lack of sleep, heredity). This brightening eye liner from Pixi is fabulous! I just sweep it in my inner eye corners and on waterline to instantly look more awake! I apply throughout the day when I freshen up!

• Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel: OMG! What did I ever do before anti-bac hand gels? lol! I always have one of these in my purse. They smell great and instantly sanitize your hands. Germs...yuck!

Shop the Post: Here are all of my purse beauty favorites!!!

Want to read more Top 10 Purse Beauty Items lists??? Be sure to click on the links below! :) 

Makeup Wars: Color Wars!!! Peach/Coral

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It is time for another Makeup War!!! After taking a blogging break for a few weeks during my move (hope you have enjoyed all of the pre-scheduled posts!) it is so fun to dive back into a Makeup War! I have missed this!!!

What are Makeup Wars?

Before sharing my favorite peach/coral makeup item, let me tell you a little bit about Makeup Wars in general. The Makeup Wars Bloggers are a group of top beauty bloggers that publish coordinated bi-weekly posts. The Makeup Wars bloggers collectively pick topics to blog about (e.g., Top 10 Products, Beauty Pampering, etc). Then, we publish our posts at precisely the same time and link up through the graphic links and thumbnails at the top and bottom of our posts. It is always a big surprise to scroll through the links from the group to see what everyone picked!
   
Color Wars:
This week we are having a Color War! Unlike our usual makeup wars, this week we have divided up and are all sharing our favorites for our assigned color. 2-3 of us are representing pretty much every makeup color we could think of: from red, to peach, to yes...even taupe! When you scroll through the thumbnails at the bottom of this post, you will get to see the Makeup Wars bloggers choices for best products or featured looks in a whole rainbow of colors! This is so fun!!! :)

To find out what I picked for my favorite Peach/Coral makeup items, please click "read more" below.

Makeup Wars: Summer Manicure

 Affiliate Link I Purchased it

Are you ready for another Makeup War??? This week the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their favorite Summer Manicures! I have a go-to Summer Polish that I am very excited to share!!! Seriously, I when I look at this polish on my nails I just think "Ahh!!! Summer!"

What are Makeup Wars?
Before sharing my favorite polish for Summer, let me tell you a little bit about Makeup Wars. The Makeup Wars Bloggers are a group of top beauty bloggers that publish coordinated bi-weekly posts. First, the Makeup Wars bloggers collectively pick topics to blog about (e.g., Top 10 Products, Beauty Pampering, etc). Then, we publish our posts at precisely the same time and link up through the graphics at the top and the thumbnails at the bottom of our posts. It is always so much fun to see what products this group of top bloggers is using and loving! After you read my pick for Favorite Summer Manicure, be sure to click on all of the thumbnails at the bottom of my post to see what polishes my fellow Makeup Wars bloggers are loving for Summer 2013! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Products for Summer!

 I Bought It  Affiliate Link Press Sample

Top Ten Tuesdays: A new link-up blog series!!!

Today marks the launch of a new collaborative blog series: Top Ten Tuesday! I love lists. I love making them and reading them. Part of the fun of reading beauty blogs is discovering great products. Top Ten Tuesdays is a collaboration with other top beauty bloggers. We pick a topic every other Tuesday and generate a list of up to 10 of our very favorite items for each list.

We are kicking off this series with the "Top Ten Products for Summer". So, get your pencil, paper, or notes app ready to make your own list as you read through my list and my fellow Top Ten Tuesday bloggers's lists.

Top 10 Products for Summer with Algenist, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Sally Beauty

Top Ten Tuesday:

Top 10 Products for Summer 2013:

1. Skintimate Shave Gel in Strawberry Tangerine Twist: Smooth legs are a must in the Summer. This shave gel smells sooooooo yummy! If you love strawberry scents, then you will love this!

2. Physician's Formula Healthy Wear Pressed Powder in SPF 50 in Translucent Light: A powder with SPF 50, yes please! Plus, the silky formula, great color match, and great coverage make it a win-win-win!

3. EOS Lip Balm in Lemon Drop SPF 15  Great lemon scent plus SPF. A pool-bag must! The shape makes it easy to find when digging through your bag. 

4. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream Shadow: As you know from my Best Waterproof Makeup post, I adore these Aqua Cream Shadows from MUFE. The shade, 13, is my go to wash of color for almost every single Summer day. 

5. Fusion Group International Mesh Chignon from Sally's Beauty Supply: It is too hot in GA to wear my hair down in the Summers. When I want a look that is "more chic" than my standard pony tail, I reach for this to create a perfect doughnut shaped bun that lasts all day.

6. Anastasia Lash Genius: This waterproof top-coat makes any mascara waterproof. Genius indeed!

7. Algenist Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 A super high facial SPF is a must for the Summer. I love the lightweight and non-greasy feel of this one from Algenist. 

8. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets: I have been a fan of these blotting sheets for ages. You just dab them on your skin to soak up any extra oil.

9. Spa Sonic: In the Summer, nothing beats the deep clean feeling that you get from a sonic brush! This brush by Spa Sonic is a very effective and totally affordable!

10. Aruba Coconut Fine Fragrance Mist by Bath & Body Works: I love the lightness of body splashes for Summer. This blend of coconut, lychee, and musk is so Summery.

Shop this Post:

Cosmetically Challenged Beauty and Fashion Tech The Pink Sith Blog Beautiful Makeup Search Retrodiva's Beauty Gouldylox Reviews Perilously Pale A Girl's Gotta Spa!

Phyrra: Beauty for the Bold Prime Beauty polish insomniac Pammy Blogs Beauty 15 Minute Beauty Beauty Info Zone Older Girl Beauty The Makeup Blogger

Makeup Wars: SPF Favorites!!!

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It is time for another Makeup War!!! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are discussing their favorite sunscreens! SPF is not only our best anti-aging defense but also a total lifesaver. It is absolutely a product that I use everyday, without fail, on all exposed body parts: face, arms, and hands, etc. 

Lets talk SPF! Summertime is the perfect time to look at your skincare routine to see what types of sun protection you need to add. I am a bit of an admitted SPF-junkie. My skin is super-duper fair. So, not only do I seek out the anti-aging and cancer protection benefits of sunscreen, but also I don't want to get burned! Plus, Skin Cancer runs in my family (My Dad) and I have already lost a very dear friend to Melanoma. So, I honestly do not mess around when it comes to SPF. I inherited my Dad's complexion. So, I know I have an extremely high risk for Skin Cancer because of his Cancer history.

What types of SPF?
My SPF needs change depending upon what "mood" my temperamental combination skin is in, what time of year it is, and what activities I have planned for the day.  Spending the day outdoors? Then I choose a high SPF. At the Pool? I apply something water resistant. Is my skin acting a bit oily? I go with a mattifying sunscreen. You get the idea! :) So, with that said, I have quite an assortment of sunscreens at my disposal and I choose whatever my skin requires.

SPF: Recent Favorites with Neutrogena, Kate Somerville, Aveeno

Want to know more details? Keep reading for the scoop on my favorite sunscreens for the face, body, and the baby!

Spring Beauty Favorites!

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It has been awhile since I have posted a favorites post! There are just so many products that I am loving for Spring right now that I just had to share!!! This month I am all about products that help me get ready quickly, lip products for both color and moisture, and fabulously gentle anti-aging skincare products. 

We are in the midst of trying to sell our house. So, I find that I am always trying to get ready super quick. I need to be ready to get myself, the baby, and the dog out of the door at a moments notice, lol...stress! Also, since I am no longer nursing my baby, I can finally dive into some great retinol-based anti-aging products. The great news? I have found some that produce fabulous results with no negative side effects! Yay!!! Lips? Bring on the color!!! I am all-about looking natural and putting the pop-of-color no my lips. It is actually much quicker to do a simple eye and bold lips. Plus, I just love the lip shades this Spring! So fresh and pretty!

Spring Beauty Favorites with Paula's Choice, Tangle Teezer, Neutrogena

The Weekly Question: Did you stick to "Tried and True" Favorites or do you like to Experiment with New Products???

Affiliate Link Press Sample

Every other Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers will answer a beauty-related question just for fun!

This week's question is:

Product testing aside, on a daily basis do you stick to your "tried & true" favorites or do you like to experiment with different products?

Honestly, a little bit of both! Sure, I have tried-and-true favorites when it comes to skincare, makeup, hair care, body products, and fragrance. However, I am a bit obsessed with whatever is "new" for the season or limited edition (oh, those words just make me *want it*, lol!).

Skincare:
Sure, I am a bit more loyal when it comes to skincare. I mean, it takes a good month or so for me to even test out a new skincare product. So, when it comes down to it...when I find a good skincare item, it is a keeper for sure! :) However, I am so intrigued by research-based skincare products. If the product has fabulous claims that are backed by *real* research, then you know that I am all about trying it (especially if it promises to help with the bane of my existence: dark under eye circles!). So, my skincare is always a mix of tried-and-true basics and items that I am testing.

Hair:
My hair is very long, thick, highlighted, dry/damaged, and fine. It is straight; yet, it is prone to frizz. My hair is very picky when it comes to products! My main "splurge" in life at the moment is my every 12 weeks visit to the salon for my (too expensive) highlights! Yes, my hair is an investment. So, I want to take very good care of it! Redken's All Soft is my Holy-Grail Hair Care line. While I often test out other brands, I always go back to it. Also, I never stray from my every 12 week pre-highlights Aphogee protein treatment. While All Soft is my Holy-Grail Hair Care, pretty much anything from Redken or Pureology rocks my socks. So, I am always excited to try out their new promotions!

Makeup:
I have a few items I never stray from when it comes to makeup...like MAC's Studio Fix and Satin Taupe or my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette and my Pixi Fairy Face Palette.  There are some others, too. However, I am a complete and total *sucker* for Limited Edition cosmetic collections! The drugstores are constantly coming out with new collections and the higher-end brands have some truly beautiful seasonal assortments! I find that trying out new makeup collections is the best way to stay out of a "makeup rut"!

Fragrance:
Oh how I love fragrance! Nothing else beauty-wise has the power to evoke such strong memories, sensations, and feelings! Fragrance is so personal. I am a believer in having a signature scent. However, I strongly believe that scents are seasonal! Also, I feel that you can have more than one signature scent!!! Furthermore, I *love* exploring new fragrances!!! I love getting ready for the day and deciding what fragrance fits my mood and my plans for the day.

My absolute all-time favorite scent is Terry Mugler's Angel. Nothing else smells more delicious and amazing than Angel. I adore wearing it and I have worn it for about 10+ years. However, it is a very heavy scent. I prefer to wear it more in the colder months and for nighttime occasions. My other signature scent is Gucci's L'Eau the One. L'Eau the One is my Husband's favorite fragrance on me. So, I wear that one knowing that he just adores it! With all that said, I have a few new favorites! The latest? Valentino's Valentina Assolute!!! It is absolutely divine!!! Other recent faves? Shiseido's Zen Secret Garden (my fav this past Winter), Prada's Amber (review coming soon)!, and Shakira's E'au de Florale (I was suprised!).

Bath and Body Products:
Pretty much the only body product that I do not stray from is my beloved Olay soap! It is always in my shower and I always have back-ups on hand. :) Oh, and also my Skintimate Shave gel (in particular, I love the Strawberry scent!) Otherwise, all is fair game!

I love body splashes and scented body lotions! Occasionally I only wear body splash layered with body lotion. However, most often I layer my body lotions and body splashes with my perfumes. I love doing this! I almost always have a small-sized body splash in my handbag/diaper bag to refresh during the day. You can really customize your scent when you layer body splash over your perfume. :)

Besides scented body lotions and body splashes, I adore other bath products, too! I particularly love bath salts, body scrubs, and bubble bath/shower gels. I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to either LUSH or Bath and Body works; but also, I love drugstore brands like Bodycology, too!

Nails:
When it comes to nails, my main loyalty is to my protein nail treatment: Nailtiques Formula 2 and my beloved Seche Vite top coat. Oh, and I swear by my Nail Tek Crystal File, too! Crystal Files are a must for weak/brittle and peeling nails!!! Otherwise, everything is fair game! I adore trying out new nail polish shades from drugstore and high end brands alike!

Whew, that was a long answer to a short question, lol! :) It was a great chance to share some of my favorites with you! :)

Thanks so much for reading!
XOXO!!!

I have both purchased these items as well as gotten press samples. I would (and have) repurchased all items mentioned in this post. :)

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers!
Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Dionne from Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

Desert Island Beauty: 12 Top Products I Can't Live Without!

It is my turn for the Beauty Spotlight Team's Desert Island Beauty series!!! The Beauty Spotlight Team bloggers want you to know what beauty items they want to be stranded with. 

Since none of us want to really think of beauty needs if we were *actually* stranded from a disaster, we should think of this more as a fantasy post. Imagine a beautiful Island where you are stranded with some hot man...hmm...say, Tom Brady? David Beckham? Um, yeah, in this case you are going to wish for some beauty products and personal care items!!!

For this post, I thought of items that I literally did not want to be without! These are some of my very favorite beauty products! Also, I tried to choose multi-taskers when I could. For this challenge series, we were only allowed to pick 12 items total (ack!). So, I had to leave out many of my favorites! The Beauty Spotlight team collectively decided that there was a miraculous and unlimited supply of sunscreen and lipbalm on the Island. So, we did not need to include those two things in our lists. I had to edit this list a few times when I realized that I needed to add items like a hairbrush and deodorant! ;) Even as I publish this post I realize that I left out an essential: a toothbrush. Yikes! No kissing on the Island for me! lol Also, since it is not included in this list, I am assuming that I will become stranded while my hair is in a ponytail! I can't live without my hair ties and didn't include one in the list (oops!).

So, are you curious yet? Please keep reading to find out what I would want to wash up on shore if I was stranded on a Desert Island!

The Weekly Question: What Was Your Favorite Holiday Beauty Item?

Have you missed us?! We didn't go into a winter hibernation, although that would have been amazing! Instead, MABB collectively decided to take a mini-break from the bi-weekly questions in order to spend more time with our families over the holidays. But now we'll be back to normal! Thanks for your patience and understanding! We are excited to be back with our bi-weekly question!

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Each Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers answers a beauty-related question just for fun!

This week's question is...
What was your favorite beauty item that you received over the holidays?

The Holiday 2012 Collections were absolutely amazing this past season!!! Many of you followed my Holiday Shopping gift guide series. So, you know that picking a favorite is hard. So many pretty things! However, if I had to choose, I must pick Laura Mercier's Glamour Wardrobe as my favorite single item. This has become my most reached for palette for sure. It is absolutely perfect!!! The shadow assortment? Perfect! The Cream Blushes? To die for! There are just so many great things about this amazing palette!!!

I won't launch into a full review as I have already reviewed this palette in detail. If you want to read the scoop, please check out this post: Holiday Shopping 2012: Laura Mercier's Glamour Wardrobe. However, I will re post some pictures (so that you may feat your eyes on this awesome palette) and "The Skinny"! If you want to see swatches, be sure to jump to my full review post. :)

The Skinny:

• Dual Decker Palette for Eyes, Cheeks, and Lips: Contains 8 Shadows, 5 lippies, and 4 cream face products (blushes, bronzer, and highlighter). 
• Retails for $98 (retail value of $256)
• Still available online! It appears to be *on sale* for $58 at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom! This palette is a steal for $58!!!

Laura Mercier is one of my all-time favorite makeup brands. The quality of the products is just stellar. You get beautiful pigmentation for shadows and rich creaminess for the cream cheek and lip products. Plus, the packaging is extremely luxe and sleek. 

This palette is not only an everyday favorite, but also an amazing palette to take with you when you travel. You can have everything you need in one place! 

Thanks so much for reading!!! I would love to hear what your favorite beauty item was from the Holiday Season. Did you purchase it yourself or get it as a gift? My family and friends do not tend to get me beauty gifts as they know that there is not anything that I really "need", lol! So, mostly I purchase beauty items for myself. :) 

XOXO!!!

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Be sure to check out the other Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers' answers! I just love each of the girls in this group!!! So, be sure to check out there cute blogs! :)

Ashley Elizabeth from Ashley Elizabeth's Beauty Blog
Emma from Manicurity
Harri from TrailerHood Chic
Mandy from MandysSecrets
Missy from Gnarly Gnails
Pam from Pammy Blogs Beauty
Quinn from Mama Fashionista
 
If you would like to see previous questions and answers, you can do so by viewing the Question Archive here.

If you're a beauty blogger in the Metro Atlanta area and would like to join us, please visit our website! We would love to connect with you!

New Favorite Cleanser for my Sensitive Skin: Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

It is not every day that you find a new all-time favorite cleanser! I am so excited!!! Sure, I review a lot of cleansers on my blog. I like a lot of them but rarely do I find a cleanser that has potential to be a new all-time favorite Holy Grail cleanser. I think I have found this rare treat with Neutrogena's new Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser!!!

My Skin:
In a nutshell, my skin is combo (combo to oily in summer and combo to dry in the colder months) and sensitive. 

What do I look for in a Cleanser?
For me, the more basic the cleanser the better. My skin is prone to irritation and redness. So, I am all about a cleanser that is super gentle on the skin. I like my cleanser to rinse clean, not leave a residue, and not dry out my skin.

What do I think of this new cleanser from Neutrogena? Keep reading to find out!

Falll 2012 Beauty Favorites!

Fall 2012 Beauty Favorites!
with OPI, Shiseido, Wet 'n Wild

It is time for a favorites post! I am so excited!!! I am especially excited because I am featuring the cute graphic above from Beautysets! Have you guys had a chance to play around with Beautysets yet? So fun! I hope to create more lists there!!!

In the past, I featured Monthly Favorites. In the future, I think I will fluctuate between monthly and seasonal favorites. It seems that I went a couple months where I was literally just using the same products. So, I skipped a few months in favor of doing a seasonal Fall Favorites post instead! I just don't want to be too repetative. With that said, if ya'll really want to read favorites posts here on a monthly basis. Please let me know! I would be happy to do it monthly if ya'll really love reading these types of posts.

There are a ton of products that I am *totally loving* right now. Some products I stumbled upon recently and some of them are long-term faves. Buckle in ya'll as this is a long list! I seriously love everything mentioned here!

If you are curious to find out what my Fall Favorite items are, please keep reading!

Makeup Wars! Holiday Metallics: Favorite Metallic Polishes

It is time for another Makeup War! This time we are battling it out over the best Holiday Metallics. What better time than the Holidays to wear metallics! :) 

What the heck is a Makeup War?

The Makeup Wars group blog blasts about the same topic about every other week. We link to each others' posts through the themed graphic at the top of the post (see the last mascara, next mascara links) and the blog logo/photo links at the bottom of this post. We encourage you readers to click the links and scroll through all of our blogs to see our favorite mascaras! Our posts all go live at the same time. So, finding out what other Makeup Wars bloggers picked is a surprise to me too! I am always so eager to click through to find out what everyone picked!

Did you miss our last few Makeup Wars? Be sure to check out those posts here: Battle of the Taupes, The $20.00 Face Challenge, Battle of the Favorite Summer Lippie, the Most Expensive Face Challenge, the Best Brush, Favorite Fall Polish, Favorite Red Lipstick, Best Fall Look, Halloween Manicure,  Favorite BB Creams, and Favorite Mascara. 

While I do love metallic eye shadows, I decided to focus on metallic polishes for this post. As I browsed through my makeup collection selecting my favorites, I realized that I might just have a metallic polish addiction! Seriously! I didn't really even realize how many I had until I started picking through them and swatching them for this challenge.

To see what my favorite metallic polishes are, please keep reading!

Makeup Wars: Favorite Mascara!

Are you ready for another Makeup War? I sure am! Today we are battling it out over the best mascaras. I am jumping into the fray with one of my all-time favorite mascaras!

What are these Makeup Wars of which I speak?
The Makeup Wars group blog blasts about the same topic about every other week. We link to each others' posts through the themed graphic at the top of the post (see the last mascara, next mascara links) and the blog logo/photo links at the bottom of this post. We encourage you readers to click the links and scroll through all of our blogs to see our favorite mascaras! Our posts all go live at the same time. So, finding out what other Makeup Wars bloggers picked is a surprise to me too! I am always so eager to click through to find out what everyone picked!

Did you miss our last few Makeup Wars? Be sure to check out those posts here: Battle of the Taupes, The $20.00 Face Challenge, Battle of the Favorite Summer Lippie, the Most Expensive Face Challenge, the Best Brush, Favorite Fall Polish, Favorite Red Lipstick, Best Fall Look, Halloween Manicure, and our Favorite BB Creams.

I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I literally do not go a day without it. Even on "no makeup days" I still slap on some concealer, a bit of lip balm, and a couple coats of mascara. So, why the hate? Most mascaras smudge on me....terribly! I am not exactly sure why. My best guess is that my eyes are very sensitive and they tear a lot. Therefore my mascara must stand up to that tearing. Between the wind, bright sun, and allergies, there is almost always something making my eyes water a bit. Sure, I have tried waterproof mascaras to combat this. I just don't like how stiff they make my lashes feel. Plus, those are harder to remove.

So, what is a girl to do? Find the best mascara and stick with it! Rarely do I ever stray from my Holy Grail favorite mascara. Even as a beauty blogger who tests out products, I still do not stray much. I mean, why stray? Are you curious about what I selected as my favorite mascara? Well, keep on readin!

Makeup Wars: Our Favorite BB Creams

It is time for another Makeup War!!! This time we are searching for the Best BB Creams out there!

I am just thrilled that "BB Creams" is the Makeup Wars topic for the week as searching for the perfect BB Cream has been one of my main missions with my Foundation Fairy review series! If you happened to miss that series, feel free to check out that intro post here: Foundation Fairy: The Fair Girl's Guide to Foundation.

I will fully admit to being a bit picky when it comes to foundations. If you are going to apply something all over your skin (that you work so hard to keep clear!), the product better be fabulous, right?!?! It can be so hard to find the perfect foundation-type product. That task is compounded with having very fair and hard-to-match skin! Often even the lightest foundation shade from any given brand is just a bit too dark for my skin.

What are the Makeup Wars?
The Makeup Wars group blog hops/blog blasts about the same topic about every other week. We link to each others' posts through the themed graphic at the top of the post (see the last cream, next cream links) and the blog logo links at the bottom of this post. We encourage you readers to click the links and scroll through all of our blogs to see what manicures we are loving this year for Halloween!!! Our posts all go live at the same time. I am always so eager to click through to see what my other lovely and creative Makeup Wars girls came up with!!!

Did you miss our last few Makeup Wars? Be sure to check out those posts here: Battle of the Taupes, The $20.00 Face Challenge, Battle of the Favorite Summer Lippie, the Most Expensive Face Challenge, the Best Brush, Favorite Fall Polish, Favorite Red Lipstick, Best Fall Look, and Halloween Manicure.

Back to BB Creams: BB Creams in a Nutshell:
BB Creams have completely flooded the market. Just about every major brand has released either a BB Cream or a tinted moisturizer repackaged as a BB Cream. BB Cream stands for Blemish Balm or Beauty Balm. They originated in Asia as post-laser treatment skin care products. Soon they became a cult favorite and eventually their popularity prompted Western brands to jump on the trend. While BB Creams vastly differ in what they offer, for the most part they are a amped-up tinted moisturizers. So, they are foundation-like products containing skincare ingredients like moisturizers, SPF, and anti-aging ingredients.

To find out what BB Cream (or Creams!) that I picked for this Makeup Wars Challenge, please keep reading!