November Loves 2014

The many lovely things I love thus far...
Recently having bought things here and there, either for replenishment or wanting to try out new products, I decided to post what I've bought and some things received as lovely gifts. but have tried and loved for the month of November.

Essie TopCoat: Great top coat for fast-drying nails; nails look polished for up to a week (as tested)

Patriot Candles (can be found at Walgreens) : great candles that can be near dupes for Bath and Body Works candles; long-lasting and have wicks last the same or longer than Yankee or B&BW candles

Bath and Body Works Marshmallow Fireside Mini Candle: Freebie, but won me over with the warm, winter scent; wasn't very long-lasting (as it is in the mini size); thought the scent could've been stronger, but still a great pick

 L.A. Colors Nail Polishes in Red and Mint: Great polishes for the price; not as opaque with one coat as I would like, but with multiple coats, these are winners; not as many color choices, but are great as a cheaper alternative

Teavana Teas in Royal English Breakfast (black tea), Pineapple Kona Pop (herbal tea), Jade Citrus Mint (green tea), and Youthberry (white tea): I'm in LOVE with these teas, they will soon be replacing the TAZO teas at Starbucks, but these are superb replacements as the taste of them are spot on as I'm more of a tea drinker than a coffee one. These are beautifully flavored and taste great with a hint of creamer or even just by themselves. Highly recommend!!

L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, Maybelline The Rocket, and Lancome's Definicils Mascaras: I've always loved the L'oreal Voluminous mascara for extra volume and drama. Maybelline's The Rocket is a newbie and will be trying as I've heard a lot of good reviews of its effects (volume and length). Lancome Definicils is a beloved one that I will most likely keep repurchasing as it gives both a nice amount of volume, length, and drama with one small, thin brush. Although on the pricier side, it does the job with thinner and more sparse lashes as my own.

All these are in the waterproof version as I never purchase the non-waterproof. The L'oreal Voluminous does still tend to smudge, even in the Waterproof version, but yet, still a lot less.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Cherry: Great dry shampoo for those with thicker hair; really soaks excess oil and gives a nicer, refreshing scent than the original. This version still leaves a bit of a white residue, but still performs great as I hate dealing with day 1 hair and prefer hair looking a little disheveled which happens around day 3. This really helps with achieving that look.

NARS Pro-Prime Eyeshadow Primer: This one is a repurchase as it is by far the best eyeshadow primer I've tried. It beats the Urban Decay, especially those who suffer with excessively oily skin. This primer will not only keep your shadow from fading, smudging, or flaking, but works great in conjunction with eyeliner or even eyebrow products to make them last longer. It will help any product stay longer, so it doesn't necessarily have to be eyeshadows. Highly recommend this eyeshadow primer.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks in Tulip (coral-orangey color), Hydrangea (bright pink), and Peony (light, baby pink): These lipsticks are absolutely great. The pigmentation is spot on and the packaging is oh so lovely, both sleek and chic. The formula itself is good, but after a couple hours, it can be a bit drying, but with a good lipbalm over or under, it will help from making this lipstick flake or dry on you. Really love these lipsticks, but not sure how the HD comes into play in these as I have photographed with them on and they appear matte, with little to no shine. 

All in all, great lipsticks with nice formula, great pigmentation, and a great color range to choose from.

Ben Nye Highlight and Shadow: These have been faves of mine for awhile as I picked them up for my makeup class a semester ago. I've used them since on myself and in the application on others and they work beautifully. The pigmentation is amazing as the highlight really works beautifully to accentuate the cheekbones, the forehead, cupid's bow, or anywhere else you choose to highlight. The shadow works great in the hollows of the cheeks, slimming features such as the sides of the nose, sides of the jaw or forehead, and both products blend extremely well, either using a brush or a sponge. These are always my top picks for highlighting and contouring and always carry them in my makeup kit.

Last, but definitely not least, my baby pooch. He'll always be in my favorites as he's been the best part of this year. Although he still needs some good ol' training here and there, he always manages to bring a smile, as I know many pets will do :)  

Enjoy what is to come and to my fellow East side, stay warm!!