Spring Makeup and Beauty Favorites

I’m really excited about this Spring Makeup and Beauty Favorites I have for you today. Like, really excited.

The Sephora VIB sale came up again. I made a list, filled a shopping cart online, then went to a real store to see the stuff in person…which means I walked out, buying almost double the amount that I would have bought online. Sephora: 1 My Wallet: 0

 

 

NARS Contour palate in Paloma

I walked into that Sephora store with one goal: learn how to contour my cheeks. There are SO many palates, so many tutorials online, that I was overwhelmed, and I knew I was doing it all wrong. So, I asked a makeup artist to pick a palate with only 2 choices in it and show me exactly how to do it (some palettes have up to 6 color shades in them and most of the reviews online went something like this “I really only use 2 of the shades, so I wish they were bigger”). By learning how to contour MY face, I knew I’d be more confident to do it at home and make it part of my routine!

I really love this palate. It’s smaller and a bit less expensive than the Marc Jacob’s one I walked in there for and the colors are really beautiful. She color matched me just right. Plus, now I feel confident enough to add a bit more shape to my face in the morning, and it literally only takes me a few seconds.

 

Sephora PRO Contour brush #74 

This is the brush I ended up buying for contouring. I wanted something small enough to get the detail I wanted, but big enough and soft enough to blend it out and make it look natural. I was torn between this one and the Kevin Auquon* contour brush, but I really ended up loving this one after I used it, plus it’s $10 cheaper.

 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla: 

I’ve really been wanting to try this concealer for months. I think it was fate that the makeup artist ended up using it on me when she did my contouring, so I bought a tube.

I love this! It’s really thick and stays right where you put it and it lasts all day long. I use the wand to dab some in an upside-down triangle under my eyes, then use my finger to pat it until it is blended in (I love using my fingers. The makeup artist used a blender sponge, but I really can’t beat free). It really covers my epic dark circles and acne scaring and makes the highlighter powder stand out when it’s dusted over.

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface

I have had this blush on my list forEVER. I have really been wanting to try some more all natural makeup lines, and this blush has been calling my name.

I chose a bright pink shade because I usually tend towards coral or something more brown even. But when summer strikes, I love to have a bit of pink brightening up my summer-bronzed skin. This pink may look bright and harsh on the palate, but the colors really are very sheer. You can build them up if you want to, but I like to just barely wash the color over the apples of my cheeks. Love it.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

Total score with this one. I happened to find one that came with a full size of the regular formula and a bonus travel size of the waterproof. That’s prefect for me because I never remember that I NEED waterproof mascara until it’s much too late.

I used to wear this mascara back in college and totally forgot about it. But, when I was having an “all natural makeup epiphany” with the blush, the mascara was right there, smiling at me. Done.

I think the brush in the travel sized one is actually a bit fluffier, and I like that better, but they’re both pretty awesome. Just be careful though, because I read a lot of reviews and most people were disappointed because they didn’t realize they didn’t put the cap on tight enough and it ended drying up too soon. Just be aware.

 

Bite Agave Lip Mask 

This stuff is magic. I don’t normally condone spending over $25 on a lip balm, but this isn’t lip balm. I have the WORST dry lips in the world. I often am pulling at them, messing with them, making them a thousand times worse. And flakiness drives me bonkers. Yet, I have it pretty much year round, and the worst is when seasons are changing. So I marched into Sephora this past winter with this one product on my mind.

I was not disappointed. This stuff doesn’t have a smell, which is great, and is slightly sweet from the agave. It is SO thick and you only need the tiniest bit. It smooths out your lips and stays on for HOURS. I like to put it on before bed and wake up to smooth lips, or I put it on before I leave the house in the morning, and my lips survive my morning “sip on a million different drinks” ritual on my way to work. If you suffer from your lips being dry, flaky, painful, or just plain dull, then this is for YOU.

 

Zoya Satin nail polishes

I love this new line from Zoya. The satin finish is almost matte, but not, and it is so interesting. I love the ballerina-like shades too.
Zoya is 5-Free so it is free of most chemicals that are in typical nail polishes (some of which I am allergic to). I totally recommend it. My mani’s and pedi’s always last SO long with this polish.

 

GLAMGLOW YouthCleanse face cleanser

If you’re a fan of the GLAMGLOW face masks (I’ve used all 3 and love love love them), then the cleansers will knock your socks off. I started by asking for samples of all three (the orginial (black), super (white), moisture (blue)) and trying them at home for a few weeks. Within days I noticed that my skin was significantly clearer and so much healthier looking. Seriously, I couldn’t believe how good I was looking.

I bought a full-size of the YouthCleanse original cleanser because I knew it was the one I’d most likely use everyday. I can’t tell you how big of a difference this has made on my skin.

Make sure you read the directions. You pump out 1-2 pumps, wipe it over DRY skin, then wet your fingers and later it up, then rinse. This stuff is the bomb. Plus, it’s way cheaper than the masks which makes it easier to re-purchase.

Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Hair Mask

I picked this up for a STEAL at Ulta. It had a clearance sticker on it, so it was less than $4 and it lasted me a few months (I just finished it off in my last shower). This hair mask is amazing and I totally recommend it for anyone with long, dry hair. I put it on early in my shower, use a wide-tooth comb to comb it through, then rinse it off at the very end of my shower. My hair turns to pure silk after I use it and I can’t wait to go get another bottle!

 

Tree Hut: Shea Sugar Scrub in Brazilian Nut

I was looking for a scrub to replace my dry brush. I like the idea of dry brushing, but the thought of how gross that brush can become just really makes me uneasy. So sugar scrubs are the answer. I know that most awesome brands (Body Shop, Lush, etc) have scrubs for over $20 and that’s such a money suck. I found this one at Ulta for around $7 and it is amazing.

My skin always comes out silky smooth after I use it. Plus, it smells like chocolate/caramel/hazelnuts/coffee/unicorns and sprinkles. Just can’t beat that!

 

Well, that’s it for now! It’s quite the beauty haul, so I’m sure you’ve found something you can’t live without. 

 

Note: this is not a sponsored post in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Any Amazon links are affiliate links.