Too Faced Brand Review

     Hello everyone!  I hope this finds each of you in the midst of a joyful holiday season celebrating with those closest to you.

     I have been working on this post for quite a while (get a drink it's gonna be a long one). For some time I've been wanting to provide reviews on brands as a whole instead of individual products.  I know often times I can get somewhat stuck in a rut, sticking to specific brands and products that I know work best for me.  Nothing is wrong with it, but it's also fun to try out products/brands that are perhaps unfamiliar.  Unfortunately with the cost of many cosmetic prices, it's not always feasible to grab a bunch of products to experiment with.  Especially if the products don't end up working for you.

    So I hope that this (and future posts like it) can help you navigate through some of the various brands and products that you may encounter in the cosmetic world.  Perhaps you find some information here that makes you feel comfortable with indulging in a pricier splurge.  Or after reading this you decide that it's best to save your money when it comes to a particular product.

     For full disclosure, I purchased all of these products with my own money. All the reviews are my own.  I am not affiliated or sponsored by Too Faced cosmetics in any way.

     Ok enough of the boring stuff, lets get into the review.  As a general introduction Too Faced is a high end cosmetic brand available through Ulta, Sephora, Macy's and other similar cosmetic stores as well as TooFaced.com.  The whole brand is cruelty-free and many (but not all) the products are also vegan.

     It's well known for its elaborate and ultra-feminine packaging, often sporting bright colorful cases emblazoned with script fonts, flourishes, bows and of course sparkles.   The packaging, while cute, actually kept me away from the brand for a long time as it can be very reminiscent of the cheap play makeup one would see in the dress up aisles of discount stores.   But just like a book should not be judged by its cover, make-up should not be solely judged on its packaging.

Love Flush Long Lasting 16-hour Blush - $26.00 - 0.21oz

Too Faced Love Flush Long Lasting Blushes feature playful packaging color coordinated to the blush within 

     Speaking of packaging....these blushes are a prime example of the ultra feminine style of Too Faced.  It's not my favorite, they are kind of hard to get open.    However the product itself is amazing. These are richly pigmented, and finely milled which allows for easy blending.   I have not personally tested the 16-hour wear time that is being claimed, but I have never had any issues with the blush fading or breaking down on me. 

Too Faced Love Flush Blushes from Left to Right in Baby Love, Your Love Is King, and Justify My Love

     There are 6 colors available of which I have 3 (shown above).  Baby Love I used a ton last summer as it gave a very natural warm pink glow that looked great with a tan.  Justify My Love is my year round baby pink color.  Your Love Is King is my newest shade and I really like it for the fall and winter when you want that just-in-from-the-cold type look.  

Too Faced Love Flush swatches from Left to Right: Baby Love, Your Love is King, and Justify My Love

Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer - $30.00 - 0.35oz

Deluxe Sample of Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer 

     Just for clarification, the image I have is of my sample size of the Chocolate Soleil bronzer.  The price and the size reflected in the title is the cost of the full-sized product.

Too Faced Cocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer swatched 

     This is one of Too Faced's better known products. It is a matte bronzer infused with cocoa powder, so it smells absolutely delicious.  The powder is very finely milled and blends well.  Unfortunately it is way too dark of color for me.  They also offer a lighter formula (Milk Chocolate Soleil), a deep formula (Dark Chocolate Soleil) as well as several blush/bronzer combinations.

     I have played around with the Milk Chocolate in the store, it blends well and is also finely milled, but the base color is too warm and pulls orange on my skin.  As such I think these products work best for those with warm to neutral undertones. If you have cool undertones such as myself , it may be best to avoid this product. 

Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer - $32.00 - 1.35oz

Deluxe Sample of Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer

     Another sample sized product (I make those Sephora points work for me), the noted price and size are for the full sized product.  What is pictured is my sample. 

    A silicone-free primer, this contains coconut water, probiotics, and "skin revivers" that are supposed to help promote skin brightness and elasticity while hydrating, smoothing the skin texture and extending the wear of makeup.  It has a slight coconut scent to it that quickly disappears after application. 

    I had a lot of hope for this as my skin is usually brutally dry in the winter. A primer that promised to promote hydration and brightness is exactly what I was looking for.  Unfortunately it didn't deliver.  It was a slightly uncomfortable formula for me as it left a bit of a sticky feeling residue.  I didn't feel any hydration benefits compared to my usual primer, nor did I see any bright or dewey complexion that was promised.  As far as extending the wear of my makeup it didn't increase or decrease the wear time compared to my other primer.  

    

     Being dry I don't often have issues with my makeup breaking down, usually I use a primer as a mixing agent for the CoverFX drops that I use as a foundation.  Occasionally I will use a pore-filling primer, but in those instances a primer with a silicone like component works best on me. Being that it didn't particularly help, and it left the annoying sticky residue I wouldn't personally recommend this primer. 

Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer - $20.00 - 0.35oz

Deluxe Sample of Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer

     Yet another sample sized product.  This came with one of the palettes I bought.  The price and size above reflects the cost of the full sized product. 

     While my skin is dry, I do have somewhat oily eyelids and have found my eye shadow creases when I don't prime my lids.  In addition as a contacts wearer I like having a primer to lock down the softer more powdery shadows, I have found it generally helps prevent irritation from excessive fallout. 

 
     I like this primer, it does what it claims.  The formula is light and applies smoothly.  It dries relatively fast and its light beige color helps even out the color of my lids.  Eyeshadow stays in place (although I have never tested it's waterproof claims) longer than if I had not primed at all.  I place it on par with other high end brands of eye shadow primer.  If you have creasing or fading issues with your eye shadow and drugstore primers just aren't working I'd recommend giving this one a try. 

The Return of Sexy Eye Shadow Palette - $49.00

Too Faced The Return of Sexy Eye Shadow Palette 

     This palette contains 15 eye shadows with a total net weight of 15g or 0.53oz. It also includes a full sized Perfect Eyes Eyeliner (0.04oz) and a deluxe sample of the Shadow Insurance primer (0.17oz).

Palette includes 3 Eye Shadow Quints from Left to Right: the Ingenue, the Icon, and the Bombshell

    The palette is divided up into three style looks, the Ingenue, the Icon and the Bombshell.  Each look has 5 coordinating shadows including a highlight color, 3 midtone colors and 1 dark color.  All of the shadows are extremely glittery or shimmery and as such I only use this for special events or nights out when I want a more dramatic eye look.

The Ingenue Quint Includes Shadows from Left to Right: Naive, Ingenue, Innocent, New In Town, Casting Couch

    As most glittery shadows are, these are a bit gritty save for Pink Diamond which is surprisingly soft.  I found Ingenue to be the most difficult to work with, and New In Town to be very sheer.  Considering how common gold/bronze/shimmery brown shadows are, I would say over all the shadows in the Ingenue look quint are rather disappointing.  If you are buying the palette specifically for these color options, spend it elsewhere.

The Icon Quint Includes Shadows from Left to Right: Pink Diamond, Icon, Divorcee, Hopeless Romantic, Primadonna

     That is NOT the case for the Icon and Bombshell quints.  I found these shadows to be well pigmented albeit a bit gritty (again they have glitter), and when paired with a good primer the wear time is good.  I used Bombshell and Hollywood for a Christmas party, and had very little to no creasing by the end of the night, also no fallout.

The Bombshell Quint Includes Shadows from Left to Right: 7 Year Itch, Bombshell, Hollywood, Maneater, Beautymark

   
     Overall I would say this is not a need-to-have palette. While the formula is nice for a glitter-intense shadow, there are no matte shades to create a more toned down look or use as a transition shadow.  As such, I find myself only occasionally reaching for this.  When I do use it, I have to use other shadow products as well.  Considering the relatively high price tag, I'd save my money for something that will provide more looks. 

Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection - $49.00 

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection 

     Similar to the Cocolate Soleil bronzers, all the shadows in the Chocolate Bar collection are infused with cocoa powder and smell just like chocolate.  There are 16 shadows total.  14 shadows are 0.03oz each for a total weight of 0.42oz.  The remaining 2 highlight shadows are larger at 0.07oz each for a total weight of 0.14oz.

Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Collection Features 16 Shadows Including 2 Larger Sized Highlights

     Where the Return of Sexy Palette dropped short, the Chocolate Bar picks up the slack.  There is a great mix of matte, shimmer and glittery shades in this palette.  As well as a good mix of neutral brown shades and pops of color.  The result is a well balanced palette that allows for several different looks both daytime appropriate and nighttime dramatic.

Chocolate Bar Swatches from Left to Right: Gilded Ganache, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut, White Chocolate, Marzipan, Creme Brulee

    All of the shadows blend out easily, including the mattes.  They are well pigmented and smooth. The brown colors may not be the most original, however the addition of the plum, pink and burgundy shades add more variation and versatility than a traditional neutral palette.

Chocolate Bar Swatches from Left to Right: Semi-Sweet, Haute Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Strawberry Bon Bon,       Cherry Cordial

     There were two colors (Cherry Cordial and Triple Fudge) that I had a bit of trouble with.  There seemed to be a bit of a hard pan-type layer covering the top.  Once I worked with them a little more and dug in a bit they softened up considerably.

Chocolate Bar Swatches from Left to Right: Black Forest Truffle, Candied Violet, Champagne Truffle, Triple Fudge, Amaretto

    Unlike the Return to Sexy palette which is only pulled out for special occasions, I feel this palette is set up for many more looks.  The combination of matte shades with the shimmers allows it to be used day into night and the pop of color available allows for the user to venture outside the traditional brown looks. The addition of the cocoa powder adds a bit of uniqueness which also makes this palette stand out.  Taking into account that the overall formula is  nice and consistent, I would highly recommend this palette to anyone who is interested in exploring this brand or high end makeup in general. 

Better Than Sex Mascara - $23.00 - 0.27oz

Deluxe Sample of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in Black

    What I have is another deluxe size sample product.  So what I have pictured is not the full size.  The brush size and shape however is the same. 

     Longer lashes and 1,944% more volume is what is promised by the advertisement for this product.  I think a lot of that volume comes in the form of a chunk.  Maybe my sample was bad, old, or overly dried out, because man is this stuff thick. The brush, however, is amazing.  If I could pull it out, clean it off and use it with other brands, I would. 

     The first application I barely got anything on my lashes at all.  Second coat and later applications deposited more product, but what was deposited was very clumpy and dry.  I didn't even attempt a third coat which was supposed to "make me believe in magic."  Did my lashes look bigger? Yes because it was obvious I had a craptacular amount of mascara on.  Personally that is just not a look I go for.  Also as a contacts wearer it became increasingly uncomfortable as the formula started to dry and flake throughout the day.  

    Overall this just isn't something I would recommend.  I am particularly hard on mascara, especially high end brands.  Usually I love the wands/brushes offered in expensive mascara but don't find the formulas any better or worse than what the drugstores offer.  Bottom line, save your money  for one of their other products. 

La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick - $22.00 - 0.11oz

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipsticks

     In my opinion this is THE big daddy formula of any hydrating lipstick.  The formula is incredibly comfortable, it honestly feels like a lip balm.  In the winter I usually suffer from chapped, peeling lips  (who doesn't) and this is one lip color that I feel I can wear that doesn't dry my lips out more or highlight the trouble spots.

La Creme Lipstick Swatches from Left to Right: Honey Bear, Pink Chocolate, Bumbleberry

     That doesn't mean this lipstick is without faults. For starters like all hydrating lip formulas, the wear time is much shorter than a drier or matte formula lipstick.  There is some transfer and re-application will be necessary after eating.  Also true to most hydrating formulas, the color is more sheer.  It still has a good color payoff, better than most lipsticks of similar formula, but you will not get an intense painted on look that you can achieve with a liquid lipstick.  

     In short I think this is a fantastic splurge item, especially if you have problems with dry chapped lips or find many lipstick formulas uncomfortable to wear.  While the collection features 32 shades, most of them are fairly similar and very daytime appropriate.  My recommendation would be to find the one shade you love (or that my-lips-but-better shade) that you will wear every day, and buy that one.  This isn't the formula or the collection to go searching for the new daring color (it's unlikely they will even have it).  And it's more cost effective to invest in the color that you will wear every day.

Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick - $21.00 - 0.4oz

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick 

     On the opposite end of the spectrum from the La Creme line is the Melted liquid lipsticks.  Available in 18 original colors, 8 metal colors and 6 new chocolate colors, these lipsticks pack a serious color punch.

Melted Lipstick Swatches from Left to Right: Melted Berry, Melted Fig

     Of course the pigmentation and longevity come at a very slight discomfort price as it is in no way hydrating.  Unlike other liquid lipsticks that dry to a matte formula, these have a more glossy appearance and are not nearly as drying.  I found myself wearing the formula fairly comfortably for 6 hours. There was a slight bit of crumbling when the formula dried out and showed signs of wear, but that was also after eating and drinking.  I found hydrating the lips before applying helped tremendously with any dry feelings. 

     Application is very easy. The tube is reminiscent of that of liquid chap stick, however the tip is felt rather than plastic and it evenly disperses the product which is light and thin.  A little goes a long way especially in the bolder colors.  The formula does have a staining action to it which contributes to it's longevity.  

     Despite it's rather high price tag, I do love this lipstick. Melted Fig (pictured above) is by far my favorite color in the collection, and actually is a serious contender for my favorite lipstick of all time. If budget is an issue I recommend picking a single color that is your go-to bold lip look.  The comfort of the formula will keep you from wanting to scratch your lips off while the longevity will keep you from constant reapplication. 

Overall Thoughts/Observations

     If you are new to high end makeup, or want to give a new brand a try, I think Too Faced is a good brand to go with.  They have a solid line of of  products especially when it comes to eye shadows, lipsticks and blushes.  I have not personally tried out their Born This Way foundation, but I have heard very good things about it.  There are only a small handful of products that I flat out don't like, and the bronzer I avoid only because it doesn't work well with my skin tone.  

   Thank you all so very much for stopping by!  This was a monster of a post but I want to be as thorough  as possible with these brand reviews.  If this is a type of post you would like to see more of let me know in the comments below!  Have a very merry holiday and I will see you next week! 

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November Ipsy vs. Boxycharm

     Howdy!  It has taken me a ridiculously long amount of time to get this post up, but finally here it is -  my monthly rundown of what I received in my November Ipsy and Boxycharm packages!

     If you are interested in signing up for either one of these subscription boxes you can find referral links on my favorites page here.  I don't get paid for referrals,  I simply get points that I can use to redeem some additional products as does every one who subscribes.

    I am not paid or endorsed by either Ipsy or Boxycharm, nor am I by any company whose products are represented in the boxes.  I pay for the subscription boxes myself and as such the reviews and opinions on the boxes and the products they contain are my own.

Ipsy: 

     

Ipsy November Glam Bag - Beauty Blast 

     This month's Ipsy bag theme was Beauty Blast and the card included says "The stars are aligning.  Your November glam bag is a universe of brilliant beauties.  Twinkle, twinkle darling. It's time to light up the sky."  I love the bag this month.  It's a basic nylon fabric, printed with a interstellar/galaxy motif.  It's pink, purple and blue and I promptly threw it in my handbag to use.

Beaute Basics Gel Eyeliner - Navy

Beaute Basics Gel Eyeliner in Navy

     Initially I was pretty excited for this product.  I don't have much gel eyeliner and would like to experiment more with it.  The navy color in the pot looks like a nice deep color.  However upon swatching the liner, I was unimpressed.  The formula is very wet/creamy, and the color is pretty sheer.  To get the dark navy color it has to be built up quite a bit.  Because it is so wet it takes a while to dry down and smudges a lot when applied thickly, but you need it thick to be opaque... it's a mess. 

     Also, the brush included is really cheap.  It didn't come to a nice point but rather split out at the end, making it impossible to get a nice fine line.  Ok, I have other brushes so that's not a deal breaker.  But combined with the formula issues, this product is over all a giant no for me. 

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara - Jet Black

Smashbox Full Exposre Mascara in Jet Black

     I have 3 or so of these trial sized Smashbox mascaras already.  I haven't tried the formula yet as I am waiting to finish with the mascara that I am currently using. I am fairly ambivalent towards receiving this mascara.  I've heard good things about it, but again it's hard to get excited for something you already have. 

Crown Brush C412 DLX. Pointed Crease Brush

Crown Brush C413 DLX Pointed Crease Brush

     This is a fairly basic crease brush.  I wish it had a longer handle on it, but that is just personal preference.  The bristles are very soft and fluffy.  It's good for blending out colors.  It's nothing terrible, but also nothing super amazing. 

Albertini International Warm Love Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask

Albertini International Warm Love Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask

    I mentioned before that I love trying out different facial masks.  I have not tried this one out yet, but I am looking forward to doing so.  It smells fantastic!  It smells like pumpkin pie. It has a creamy texture, I'm fully anticipating this product making me hungry when I use it.  

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light

    This is the product I am most excited about.  I have heard so much about the Josie Maran argan oil through other bloggers.  Most have used it as a moisturizer for their face but I have heard of other uses including using it as a hair oil or as a cuticle oil. 

 

      My skin in the winter is horribly dry and flaky, especially on my nose.  I am hoping that this product can help with that without breaking me out.  I've never used a straight oil before, it seems... interesting.   We will see, I'll report back. 

Boxycharm:

November Boxycharm box - Beauty Par-Tea

     The theme for this month's Boxycharm box is a tea party.  The card included with it says "Twinkle charmers in the skies! How we love your sparkling eyes!  Up above the moon we dream. Like a rainbow in the stream.  Twinkle charmers in the skies! How we love your sparkling eyes!"

    From that little poem one would think that this box includes a bunch of eye products, but it doesn't. Maybe some other subscribers got more eye products in their boxes?  I don't know.  I just thought it funny that the poem talked about sparkling eyes and the majority of the products were not eye oriented. 

Luxie Rose Gold Concealer Brush 211 -$12.00

Luxie Rose Gold Concealer Brush 211 available at www.luxiebeauty.com

     This is labeled as a concealer brush, but I probably won't use it as such.  It's bristles are soft, fairly stiff and come to a point.  It's also got a flat shape to it.  It looks like it will work nicely for packing on eye color, especially cream formulas such as Colourpop shadows.  So that's probably what I will use this for. 

Pur~Lisee Pur~Eye Adore Quadra Benefit Eye Serum - Full Size -$65.00

Pur~Lisse Pur~Eye Adore Quadra Benefit Eye Serum available at www.purlisse.com 

      Holy crap a $65.00 eye serum!  Haha this is one of the reasons why I love Boxycharm.  I would in all likelihood never buy myself this product.  Now if it turns out to be a miracle in a bottle, eh then maybe I would repurchase it.  But I doubt that is going to happen.  However, I am excited to try this out and see how it works. 

Manna Kadar's Liplocked Priming Gloss Stain - All of Me - Full Size - $24.00

Manna Kadar Liplocked Priming Gloss Stain in All of Me available at www.mannakadarcosmetics.com

     This is a brand I had previously never heard of, so it was fun trying this out.  The formula is really weird, but in a good way.  It applies and feels like a standard gloss. It definitely has a shine and has that slick gloss feeling.  However unlike most standard glosses the color is very opaque and it leaves a stain when wiped off.  

     It does transfer quite a bit as one would expect with any gloss.  Because of the staining properties, it is a bit of a pain when it transfers because it's not the easiest formula to wipe off.  But the color is absolutely beautiful and I'm going to continue to wear it.  I'll just try not to kiss my husband or kids while it's on. 

Coolway Leave-In Treatment - Full Size - $19.95

Coolway Leave-In Treatment available at www.coolwayhair.com

     I have received several other products from Coolway before and I have liked all of them.  So it is safe to say that I will also enjoy this product.  Although to be quite honest I don't know what differentiates this from the leave-in conditioner that I received a few month's ago other than this has a pump and the conditioner was a spray.  Oh well, it smells nice and my hair can always use some hydration. 

Studiomakeup Soft Blend Blush - Wildflower SBB-07 - Full Size - $17.00

Studiomakeup Soft Blend Blush in Wildflower available at www.studio-makeup.com

     Another brand that I have not previously tried.  The formula of this blush is really nice and finely milled.  The pigmentation is good, it does apply a bit sheer but can very easily be built up to a opaque finish which I personally prefer in a blush.  

   The color I received (Wildflower) is a really pretty natural pink matte.  I think it would look nice on most fair to medium skin tones.  It may not show up on some darker tones.  But it is a very flattering shade.  

LVX Discount Code: BOXYLVX 

     Last of all the November Boxycharm included a discount code for LVX nail lacquer. It is good for 25% of your purchase at shoplvx.com and is good through 12/31/2015.  No where on the card does it say the code is one time use only, so I'm sharing it with my readers.  

   That is it for the November Ipsy and Boxycharm.  Thanks for stopping by!  As always if you have any questions or recommendations feel free to leave them in the comment section below.  I am trying to get some posts written up ahead of time so that I can post regularly through the holidays, however it has been super busy for us just like it is for everyone.  I apologize ahead of time if a week is skipped, or if a post shows up later in the week.  

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RIP Scott Weiland and Personal Reflections on Music

     I have been going back and forth on whether I wanted to make more personal  posts like this, a good friend of mine (you know who you are babe) has encouraged me to, so here it goes.


    I was laying in bed last night, avoiding sleep by mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and other pages as I too often do.  It was through one of these mindless scrolls that I caught word of Scott Weiland's death.  I can't quite describe how the news affected me.  Shock? No. His struggles with drugs were well publicized.  And while the details of his death have not been revealed (nor do I particularly care), it would be of no great surprise if drugs or the complications of them were involved.  The only word that adequately sums up my feelings is fairly basic. Sadness.  Another man, another inspiration, a voice of my generation had gone to war with his personal demons and lost the battle.

     Death of musicians hit me hard.  I grew up in music.  One of my earliest childhood memories is of sitting on my Dad's amp while he played the guitar.  While other kids my age were discovering the cookie cutter teen dreams of the 80's, my sister and I were raised on the likes of Kansas, Bachman Turner Overdrive, REO Speedwagon, Meat Loaf, and .38 Special.  Music with soul and loud guitars.

     Then came the 90's and I discovered what's commonly referred to as grunge.  It wasn't the sugary sweet pop that my friends were into, nor was it the music of my parents.  This was something entirely new.  It was loud and angry, and sad, and sometimes happy all in one. And God did it speak to me.
   
     Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden... and Scott Weiland with Stone Temple Pilots.  They were able to express my feelings through music far better than I was able to express my own feelings through simple words.  A trend that continues to this day.  Yes, my music tastes have evolved, expanded.  The emotions are much more nuanced and complex covering far more topics than what my simple teenage mind could comprehend.  But one thing remains the same, music quiets the noise, it creates the peace that I so desperately crave.  I throw on a track and for those 3-5 minutes the outside world just fades away.

    It's sad when you discover that someone else was never able to find that peace.  It's jarring, almost disturbing.  It makes you question things. Is the peace finite? Does it run out?  Is there an expiration date on this peace?! Does it matter from where this peace stems?  I know music is my peace, just as painting is someone else's.   Still others find their peace in religion.

   Maybe these are all questions we are never meant to answer.  Perhaps part of maintaining that connection with the quiet is trusting that it will always be there.  Believing that no matter what shit show your life may be handing you today, tomorrow the peace will return.  Or maybe I have just had too much coffee today and my mind is running in circles.

    I guess all I really wanted to say is Scott where ever you may be now,  I hope you have found the peace that you managed to give so many of us.
 

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November 2015 Favorites!

     Hello all!  I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend (or just a good weekend if you don't celebrate that particular holiday).  Us here at the house of chaos had a really good holiday weekend. We hosted our first holiday in our new house, and despite the two prior weeks that proved Murphy's law is indeed a fact, the dinner went off without any problems.  Also the Hawkeyes beat Nebraska and that felt pretty good.

     As per usual I have complied a list of some of my favorite things from this past month.  Some old, some new, all are items I have found myself returning to multiple times in November and think are worth checking out.... you know the drill.

Movies/TV: Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy available on Netflix 

     Yes, yes I know this show is over and done with.  But remember when I said I have kids that don't let us watch TV or movies?  Yeah I wasn't lying.  Also the series is now on Netflix and the hubs just bought a Amazon Fire Stick allowing us to watch Netflix on our bedroom TV.  So each night we go through an episode or two of the show.  Probably not the best of ideas when considering the odd violent dreams I have been having.... oh well.  

     If you are in the dark regarding Sons of Anarchy the drama series follows the life of Jax Teller, the vice president of a California motorcycle gang who starts questioning the gangs criminal activity and his future when his son is born.  The show is definitely not for kids (hence why we watch it so late), but it is very well written, includes a variety of characters (some which entertain, others will piss you off) and grabs your attention almost immediately. 

Music: November Mix Tape

     With my computer being down for a portion of the month, I had to stray from my usual selection of music and listen to the radio (gasp! the humanity!)  In doing so I have found some "new" songs that have caught my attention.  I even wrote them down so that I may download them when we get iTunes back up and running. 

1. "Through It All" - From Ashes to New
2. "The Otherside" - Red Sun Rising - this song reminds me so much of 90s grunge.  I LOVE IT. The video though, sigh.  It's like the orcs from Lord of the Rings got together with Samara from The Ring they had a baby and he joined a band. 
3. "Death March" - Motionless in White - someone tell me I am not the only one who thinks Christ Motionless goes all "This is Halloween" from Nightmare Before Christmas  in the bridge of this song? 
4. "Kill Pop" - Slipknot  
5. "The Last Garrison" - Enter Shikari
6. "Take the Bullets Away" - We As Human featuring Lacey Sturm - Lacey kills it on this track, and she has a new solo album coming out which leads to the next song...
7. "Impossible" - Lacey Sturm - I love that this girl can rock and keep a positive message.
8. "The Fox" - Ylvis - ok this is a joke. I don't really like this song.  BUT at the insistence of my 2 year old son, I HAVE heard this song at least twice a day, every day for a month.  When I don't play it, he sings it.  
9. "Wash It All Away" - Five Finger Death Punch - this is one of the few concerts I have been to that looked as good as the video.  Yeah the concert was that good. 

     Also, I have started compiling the songs from my favorites (and other songs I like) together in a playlist called "Music I Love" on my youTube channel here.  Eventually I will have my own videos on my channel too, but for now its an easy way to find the music I like and other bloggers I follow. 

Makeup: 

Smashbox Bronze Lights - Warm Matte

Smashbox Bronze Lights in Warm Matte, $34.00 available at Sephora, Ulta and other Smashbox retailers

     For those of you fair skinned like me, you know how difficult it can be to find a bronzer that doesn't look  ridiculously orange on you.  So when my go-to product (bareMinerals Ready Bronzer in The Skinny Dip) ran out, I debated finding a new one or simply repurchasing the bareMinerals.  

      

     I discovered this guy while browsing around Sephora during their VIB beauty sale, I swatched it several times before deciding to pick it up and I am glad I did.  It is a very subtle matte bronzer.  It is not going to give you that just got back from a beach vacation look.  I anticipate only being able to use this in the winter time as I don't think it will show up in the summer when I am "tan", but in the winter it will keep me from looking completely washed out which is what I am looking for. 

the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick - Committed

the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Comitted, $17.00 available at Kohls and thebalm.com

     If you saw my October Ipsy vs. Boxycharm post, this lipstick might look familiar.  That's because I received a sample of it in my Ipsy bag.  I mentioned that I was most excited to try the lipstick and it has become one of my favorite lipsticks of all time.  So much so that I went out and bought a full size of it. 

     The color is a standard pinky nude color.  It's a nice color but not something so unique that you wouldn't find it anywhere else.  The formula however, is what makes this lipstick stand out.  It's a very thin formula, but it is very pigmented.  As such it dries down quickly but doesn't feel tight or cakey like some other thicker liquid lipsticks do.  I wore this on Thanksgiving and it stayed put through out dinner.  I don't precisely remember when I felt the need to reapply but I know it wasn't for several hours and well after dinner. 

Fragrance: Elizabeth and James Nirvana - White & Black

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White Roller ball fragrances, $25.00 each at Sephora 

     I do not buy a whole lot of perfume.  When I do it's usually just in the roller ball sizes because I don't go through it often enough to justify buying a full size.  I am also extremely bad at describing scents and identifying notes and whether something is a "warm" or a fresh scent.  So I will post the descriptions provided by the brand:

"Nirvana Black is an addictive blend of alluring violet, sensual sandalwood, and rich vanilla that strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine."

"Nirvana White is a captivating blend of delicate peony, chic muguet, and tender musk for a feminine scent with dark sophistication."

    I bought both the White and the Black because individually I just found them ok. However I love the scent of the two combined.  It's very complex and unlike anything I have smelled.  The scent lasts a very long time so not a lot is required, and it does not change on me after wearing it for an extended period of time.  Because it is a heavier/stronger scent I don't think I will wear this in the summer, but for the winter it is very nice. 

Video Game:  Minecraft

   

Minecraft video game for computer, $26.95 available for download at minecraft.net, console versions available

     I will fully admit that I love myself a good video game.  I used to be a strict console gamer, but when introduced to World of Warcraft (yes I play that game) I became more enthralled with computer gaming.  

     Minecraft isn't all that new to me.  I have played a little bit off and on whenever I got bored and the mood stuck.  Recently I have become addicted to it.  I threw some mods in it to change it up and make it a bit more challenging.  

     I think one of the reasons I like it so much is that it is a game I have no problems playing in front of or with my children.  There is no bad language or excessive violence.  There are monsters that look like they are straight out of a Scooby Doo episode, and you do fight them but they turn into a puff of smoke when they die.  My 5 year old loves playing the game with me, and usually does so by telling me where to go or what to build.  It's also a game that you can very easily pause or turn off and walk away from which is essential when you have kids. 

     That is all I have for this month.  Thank you so very much for stopping by!  If you have any recommendations or questions as always feel free to post them in the comment section below or send me an email!  I will see you next week!   

 

     

      

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Storytime Life Update

      Ever have one of those days where your mind just checks out?  Not just an "oh I don't feel like doing much" kind of day, but one of those "I am really trying and evidently I have forgotten how to chew" kind of checking out.  The kind that makes you wonder if you have a tumor in your cerebral cortex.
   
     I am having that kind of day.  Although day isn't an accurate designation of time.  I am having that kind of month.  The lights are on, but there is no one home.  After Halloween my brain dropped mic, and left the building.  No two weeks notice, no goodbye note telling me when he'd return. Nothing. What an asshole.

     For a bit I was sustaining a functional household purely on technology.  After all, why do you need to remember things when you have a computer that will give you names, numbers, dates and deadlines?  I could fake my way through a day, remembering most important appointments and required events.  Then 3 critical events occurred.

     1. We sold our old house.  We have been living with two mortgages and getting this one off our hands is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.   However, if you have ever been through the process of buying or selling a house you know the month of closing is a jungle of negotiations, assessments, inspections and paperwork. It's a mess and living an hour and a half away from said house (and other involved party members) makes it more so.

     2. Our computer decided to take a dump.  That's right, my lifeline to a functioning day (since old cerebrum decided to split) just stopped working.  I guess the strenuous schedule of signing legal documents, writing a blog, and playing minecraft just became too much for him, as he just declared "Sayonara bitches" and refused to boot up. With him he took my notes on future blog posts, all our family photos, and my sanity.  Edit: we have since recovered the files from the hard drive including the photos and notes.  My sanity has yet to be found.

     3. My husband left town for business.  This wasn't unplanned, we knew it was coming. It was just shit timing given everything else.  I think my adventures in single parenting was the final straw that knocked over this house of cards.

    So here I am now, sitting in front of a new computer screen.  I apologize for missing last week's post, but blogging from my phone just wasn't going to happen.   Also I just have now pieced together from various phone calls with my Dad and my recovered Google calendar that THIS THURSDAY is indeed Thanksgiving, not next week (which is what I have been telling myself for about 10 days now). When did that happen?

     What's my point in all of this?  I don't know.  I don't have one.  Maybe if I could make up one it would be that if you ever come across someone whether it be the cashier, waitress, customer, coworker, whomever and they clearly don't have all their marbles at the time...give them a break.  Even if they did just unload a whole cart of stuff at Target only to discover that oops their wallet is still on the kitchen table at home (yep that happened).

     We get so wrapped up in our own lives, our own struggles and demands that so often we overlook what's really important.  We end up treating one another horribly and why?  Because they slightly inconvenienced us?  Did the extra 10 seconds that person stayed stopped at the green light break your day?  Did the mother who forgot her wallet at Target ruin your life?  No.

     If my checking out has shown me anything, it's that I can spend a WHOLE MONTH doing nothing but inconveniencing myself through sheer forgetfulness and my life is still doing just fine.  If missing two weeks of guitar lessons, blog posts, doctor appointments hasn't derailed my life, someone getting a price check at the 10 items or less register certainly isn't going to.  

      Anywho, next week I shall return.  Hopefully my brain will be back from what ever spirit walk it's gone on and next week's post will be more engaging.  I do have some goodies to share with you all, and I have a special surprise coming in the mail (Spoiler: its the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani palette).  Hope to see you then!

   

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Holiday Palette Reviews: Smashbox, Tarte, Buxom

     Ah November, a beauty junkie's favorite time of the year, and the bane of their bank account.  Yes, the holiday palettes and gift sets are out and just begging for an impulse purchase.  Teasing us with their limited edition colors and quantities.

     This year I tried to do better.  Well, ok by "better" I mean I tried not to get just a boatload of eye shadow palettes, but rather select a palette from each category of eyes, lips and face.  It had varied results, there are just too many tempting eye shadow palettes out there.  However today, I will stick to my original plan and share my thoughts on one from each category (I will have more in upcoming posts I promise).

Smashbox ART. LOVE. COLOR. Master Class - $65.00

Smashbox ART. LOVE. COLOR. Master Class package inspired by artist Yago Hortal

     Available exclusively at Sephora, this years Master Class palette is inspired by artist Yago Hortal and his colorful designs. The kit comes with 32 Photo Op formula eye shadows in a 0.025oz size, 6 blushes that are 0.05oz, and 2 highlighters that are 0.07oz but look the same size as the blush.  It also comes with a set of 8 instructional cards as well as a small bio on Yago Hortal. 

Smashbox Master Class palette opened up, each tray is removable with names printed on clear covers

     The packaging is rather interesting.  The design is beautiful and very colorful, but rather bulky and not what I would call travel friendly. The products are located in two plastic trays which remind me of CD cases.  The trays are removable (which would be better for travel), and have the names printed on the clear covers which snap shut.  When open the palette lays flat, which is helpful as it is not held easily in one hand during application.  There is no mirror (I don't know where they would have put one) but again, it makes it less travel friendly.

Left Picture: left to right Posy Pink (cheek), Naked, Charmed, Candy, Framboise
Right Picture: left to right Java, Oxidize, Nutmeg, Alabaster, Sunset (cheek)

     I picked this palette up as a possible alternative to the Kat Von D palette that is sold out every time I go to Sephora.  I don't have much in the way of colorful eye shadow (most of what I own is akin to the Naked palettes by Urban Decay), and I was looking for an introduction to some brighter colors. As an introductory palette, I think this works nicely.  If you are someone more experienced and wanting intensely pigmented colors, I don't think you will be happy with this palette. 

Left Picture: left to right Persimmon (cheek), Custard, Torch, Goldenrod, Gold
Right Picture: left to right Gypsy, Spruce, Zoom, Sea, Glow (highlight)

    The color selection and formula is... safe for lack of a better word.  The formula is very soft (it will kick up powder when you dip into it) and blends out easily when applied dry.  The result is more of a wash of color rather than an intense bold application.  Which is great for beginners who want to ease into color.  The colors can be built up or used wet to achieve a bolder look, but it will take some extra work.  In that sense I don't find this a suitable alternative to palettes like the  Kat Von D where the pigmentation is more intense and less forgiving. 

Left Picture: left to right Bitten (cheek), Sky, Nile, Azure, Pacific
Right Picture: left to right Harbor, Steel, Cement, Cosmic, Prism (cheek)

   There are a few shades in this palette that I did not like at all.  Charmed, Sea, Cosmic and Silver Moon which are the chunkier, more glittery shades.  I would imagine that use of a glitter shadow glue would help with application. But seeing as I so infrequently want a glittery look, the extra work isn't worth it for these shades.  Everything else did apply smoothly and evenly, including the blush and highlight shades.  As I mentioned before they do kick up some powder, so just be sure to tap the excess of the brush to avoid some fallout during application. 

    

Left Picture: left to right Plum (cheek), Breeze, Celestial, Eggplant, Orchid
Right Picture: Ebony, Smoke, Silver Moon, Snow, Shimmer (highlight)

Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette - $44.00

Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette 

     Available exclusively at Sephora, this year's Tarte blush palette features 4 limited edition blushes (Dollface is the only one featured in the permanent line).  The full size, stand alone blushes cost $28.00 a piece and are 0.20oz. The blushes in this palette are 0.15oz and there is 5 of them, meaning the palette contains roughly $105.00 worth of product.  For this reason the Tarte blush palettes are always big sellers each holiday season. 

Tarte Bling It On palette blushes in Fetching, Dollface, Prim, Smashing, and Beaming

    The packaging is a slim and the cover is magnetized.  There is a decent sized mirror inside making it travel friendly.  The only thing I do not like is the black glitter on the outside.  While it looks very pretty, the glitter flakes can easily falls off and with continued use I imagine it will get worse. 

Tarte Bling It On blushes left to right Fetching, Dollface, Prim, Smashing and Beaming

    Personally I am a big fan of Tarte's Amazonian clay blushes.  They are well pigmented do last a considerable bit of time on me.  The color goes on semi-sheer and can be built up.  For us fair skinned ladies this is super helpful as it helps prevent the dreaded clown face. 

     The colors featured this year are very flattering and easy to wear.  The only shade I do not like is beaming as it has chunky silver glitter in it.  Why would they ruin a beautiful peach shade with silver glitter?  Who knows.  Maybe someone can use it as a highlight?  Not this lady.   The remaining 4 shades all have a matte or satin finish.

    

Buxom Leave Your Mark Full-On Lip Polish & Lip Cream Set - $59.00

Buxom Leave Your Mark Full-On Lip Polish & Lip Cream Set Packaging

     Again available exclusively at Sephora (I swear this post is not sponsored lol), this set features 8 mini sized lip polishes and 8 mini sized lip creams.  Each of the minis are 0.07 fl. oz and come with the standard doe foot applicator.  For comparison a full size of one of these lip glosses is 0.15 fl oz and cost $19.00. 

Buxom Lip Gloss swatches left to right: Hot Toddy, Bunny, Cherry Flip, Taylor, Dolly, Jennifer, Sophia, Purple Haze

     For those who have never tried a Buxom lip product before, the formula of these glosses feature a menthol derivative that gives the gloss a minty scent/taste and creates a tingling/cooling feeling on the lips.  The formula is very smooth and the tingling/cooling feeling does last for a bit on the lips.  It doesn't burn, but it is noticeable.  The best I can describe it is when you eat a strong mint like an Altoid or Life-Saver and you suck air in.  That cool tingle?  That's how your lips will feel.  I personally love it, but know some girls that are bothered by it. 

Buxom Lip Gloss swatches left to right: Zoe, Starr, Sandy, White Russian, Berry Blast, Olivia, Pink Lady

    Each of the colors in this kit are also in the permanent line.  There are no exclusive or limited edition shades featured, so if you fall in love with a particular color you should be able to get a full sized version.  True to most glosses, these offer a general wash of color but are not intensely pigmented.  The polishes feature anywhere from a fine shimmer (Sophia, Sandy) to a chunky glitter (Oliva, Starr).  The glitter doesn't affect the feel of the gloss, but I have found it does hang out on your lips after the product has worn off.  The creams are a flat glossy color and feature no shimmer or glitter. 

    Overall, this is a nice lip gloss set.  Is there anything super amazing or special about it? Other than the large sampling of colors, no.  I purchased this mainly because loving the glosses already, I wanted to expand my color options without purchasing the full sizes.  If you know that a bunch of these colors aren't going to work for you, or you don't like the glitter in the polishes, you might be better off purchasing a smaller holiday set or a few individuals in the full sizes. 

That is all I have for today.  Like I mentioned previously there will probably be another post in the near future with reviews on some other palettes I picked up (nothing big though, these were the main three I purchased this year).   Thank you all for stopping by and I will see you next week! 

         

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October Ipsy vs. Boxycharm: Unboxing and 1st Impressions

     Hello everyone, and welcome to November!  To start off this month I want to try something different than I have done before and share what I have received in my Ipsy and Boxycharm subscription boxes.

     If you are unfamiliar with beauty subscriptions, the down and dirty explanation is that you fill out a questionnaire and based on the answers provided you are sent a box of surprise goodies each month. Depending on the service to which you subscribe, the goodies may be sample or full sized and be drugstore or high-end brands.  It's a really fun way to try out new brand and products that you haven't heard of or may be reluctant to buy on your own.

     I subscribe to two of these boxes, Ipsy and Boxycharm.  They are probably two of the more well known beauty subscriptions.  If you are interested in either of these, I have links to each service in my favorites tab here.  I pay for these boxes myself and any referrals I make with those links just awards me points to get additional products.  You can chose to use those links or not, it's up to you.

Ipsy 

October Ipsy Glam Bag "Alter Ego" 

   
     The Ipsy subscription is $10 a month.  There is always a little cosmetic bag included and usually contains 4-5 products.  The products are more often than not sample sizes and are a good mix between high end and drug store products.

     This month (October's box) the theme was Alter-Ego.  It came with a duo-sided bag one side a metallic gold and the other a shiny black vinyl.  The products it contained were:

• It Haircare 12-in-1 Amazing Leave-in Treatment - full size
• LeeAnni Eco Go Away Gloomy Day Skin booster - Sample 0.5fl oz 
• MICA Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Bronze - full size
• Girlactik Beauty Precise Eyeliner Marker in Black - full size
• the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Committed - sample 0.04fl oz

     I was pretty surprised by this month's Ipsy bag.  Usually I get more sample sizes with this subscription and the majority here are full sized products. I am most excited to try out the liquid lipstick and the eyeliner.  The pinky-nude color of the lipstick is one of my favorite day to day colors, and it has a strong minty smell that I also really like.  The eyeliner I am interested in experimenting with as I do not have a lot of liquid type eyeliners.

the Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Committed

    The eyeshadow color is nice.  I don't often wear this color of bronze as it pulls really orange on my skin.  I also don't wear cream eyeshadow all that often so we will see how this one goes.  I really like that I got a full size bottle of the leave in treatment for my hair.  Often times sample sizes for hair products do not give me enough uses to determine if I really like it or not.  

MICA Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Bronze

    The skin boost I could take or leave.  I don't really understand what it's primary goal is other than to "boost skin" whatever that means.  It's an organic product with no preservatives which I know is a bonus for a lot of people.  There is warning on the side of the bottle that states it should be discarded within 6 months of purchase.  That kind of turns me off as I am currently trying out some other skincare items and I don't want this to expire by the time I get around to trying it. 

Boxycharm

October Boxycharm "Faces of the Moon"

     Boxycharm costs $21 a month.  So it is twice the cost of the Ipsy subscription.  However this is almost entirely high-end makeup and a lot of it is full sized.  In fact every thing I got this month is a full sized product.  A nice thing that Boxycharm does, that Ipsy does not do is tell you how much the price of the full sized product is.  So you can keep a running total of how much you have spent vs how much the box is "worth" to you.

     This month's theme was Faces of the Moon and it included the following products:

• Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask - full size - $64.00
• Doucce Punk Volumizer Mascara  - full size - $24.00
• Bellapierre Cheek and Lip Stain in Coral - $19.99
• Lord & Berry Line/Shade Eyeliner - full size - $18.00
• Cult Cosmetics Nail Polish - full size - $12.00

     So as you can see the value of the products you get far exceed the cost of the subscription box, which is nice if you want to try a number of high end products without fully investing in the cost.  I am probably the most excited for the Palmetto mask.  At $64.00 it is not something I would have ever bought myself, but it actually looks really nice and it smells fresh.  

     The mascara and the blush look interesting. I don't have much experience with the creme blush formula so there may be a bit of experimenting to do.  It may have to wait until spring as the coral color, while pretty, just looks better suited for spring/summer.   I love trying out high end mascaras but very rarely do I purchase them as I find that for my lashes drug store formulas work just as well. 

Bellapierre Cheek and Lip Stain in Coral 

      I am not very interested in this eyeliner.  It's a basic black pencil liner, not particularly dark.  It blends out very easily, which I am sure is due to it also being promoted as a shade, but I know for my eye type it means it will not stay put and most likely run.  

   So that is all that I got.   I know everyone gets something different depending on what their answers were on the questionnaires.  It would be cool to hear what others got in their boxes, if you would like to share you can put it in the comments below.  Thank you all so much for stopping by and I will see you next week!  

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