Purchased: VIB Rouge Pre Access Sale

Somebody call the po-lice because I have been victimized by this here mega retailer. They’re a repeat offender with a track record to rival Bill Cosby’s. I went there. They’re that twisted. The fact that I allow myself time and time again to experience such lascivious turmoil doesn’t say a whole lot about my character either so. No relationship is perfect right?

Anyways, the VIB Rouge and VIB annual holiday shopping event has arrived in a flurry of overly made up artiste faces and a cloud of Bobbi Brown’s beach scent. Both of which I am highly titillated by. The VIB Rouge sale was from the 5th to the 9th and VIB members have access from the 13th to the 16th. Here’s hoping there are some remnants left over for y’all.

Here are the items I scored but didn’t need. HAHAHAHA. Just kidding. I need everything.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Ugh. Why. So much unnecessary goodness Jaclyn Hill? You already had us like crack addicts with your Becca highlighter – now there’s 3?! You bitch. You beautiful talented money making bitch. Take all my pennies. Take them all. This little palette contains three highlighters – Pearl (a pale shimmering white), Champagne Pop (soft white gold with pink undertones) and Blushed Copper (warm copper with rose gold shimmer). I love the colour range here – a bright highlight, a shimmery natural highlight and a darker tone to really add some depth to your usual blush application. Each shade is limited edition and exclusive to Sephora – more importantly they’re inspired by the holiday season so unless you’re one of those types offended by snowflakes and christmas trees, and the christmas season or just the word season or just every letter in the word season – how can you not?

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

This is my new favorite concealer. I’m a fan and avid user of NARS creamy concealer, Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able full coverage concealer, and the tried and true MAC Studio Fix – but this? This is Lindsay Lohan in mean girls. She comes in awkward, runs shit, and then emerges as an accepted, respected leader. The lightweight gel base is what really has me sprung. It’s easy to blend, doesn’t cake (even after an 8 hour day) and is easy to build on. I use it mainly underneath my eyes because that’s the only area I feel needs brightening – and it’s truly effective. No lines, no build up, no heavy feeling. It’s infused with pineapple ceramide which brightens and helps improve the skin texture. Pineapple ceramide – you bad. Also – biggest shade range in a concealer – there’s no way you won’t find something to match your skin color.

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix 

I wish I had started using this product this past summer when my makeup was melting into my collarbone and not have waiting until the crisp autumn months – but clearly I felt I needed more highlighters and nude lipsticks to diffuse into a liquid rather than stay put on my face. Oh well. I spritz my masterpiece once after everything is applied and really – I’m not sure if it does the job because my makeup tends not to budge (professional artiste here) but I do feel like my skin is more refreshed and not screaming for fresh air. It does create a sweat proof, rub proof shield – which I have noticed, as well as keeping your makeup fresh looking for 12 plus hours, all the while increasing hydration, keeping it looking phresh, and silky, and not dry AF. Definitely good to have around if you don’t want to melt into a puddle of $2379489 worth of makeup.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Velvet

This is my third go with Bite Beauty’s lip products and I am not disappointed. The Matte Creme lip crayon and the Luminous Creme lipstick are flawless – so I decided to try this one here. I like to get myself acquainted with all products – unless they’re from a drugstore. (Kidding, kidding, so rude). I totally use Sally Hansen‘s Hard as nails and cotton pads hair products. I digress. This pencil is described as a matte but it has more of a creme’/glossy look to it. I’m not complaining – I’m simply correcting Sephora’s description. Not matte. Has matte qualities, but more a glossier application. Micronized pigments, shit ton of antioxidants, and apparently it contains the amount of resveratrol found in 5 glasses of wine. My advice – try the lipstick, but don’t forgo the wine. That’s just preposterous.  *resveratrol -member of a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds are thought to have antioxidant properties – AKA Drink lots of wine  – it’s good for fending off heart disease and cancer, it also makes you feel happy.

Diptyque Tam Dao

I haven’t tried this scent until now. One of my recent trips to Nordstrom – my favorite connoisseur of fragrance @ the Bellevue location gifted me with a little eau du toilette. Sandalwood is the most poignant note (I love warm, musky scents) and it’s unisex so you can share. Diptyque is my absolute favorite family of fragrance – so you can’t go wrong with any one of their exotic scents.

Shop the products:

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix

Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil 

Diptyque Tam Dao 

xo

Purchased: January Favorites

So much for my goal to act like a peasant last month. I can commend myself for not making as many clothing related purchases but as a treat for accomplishing that, I’ve bought myself makeup and decorative items. I’ll never succeed. And I don’t quite care. The fact that I’m making the attempt is enough for me.

Whilst mourning the lack of shoe, bag and clothing purchases I managed to accumulate some pretty impressive effects. So cutting through the chatter – these are my January purchases that were too good to not share. (I’d like to mention here that I should be ashamed but am not).

*I know it’s February 8th. Better late than not at all.

Makeup

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Polish in Milk and New Wave 

After my first Enamored polish, there was no way I couldn’t have just the one. My purchase justification rests upon the fact that this stuff is heavy duty. It lasted more than two weeks, and then some. And that’s mostly because I decided to change colors, not because it was chipping. I chose Milk (which you can only get as an exclusive on the MJ site here) and New Wave, which is available in stores as well, specifically Sephora. Milk is a really different shade for me. It’s an almost nude but a luminescent, truly milky finish. Kind of an iridescent pearl look. Very chic, and a really nice shade to wear day to day. It’s understated but definitely stands out. New Wave is the most majestic royal blue shade. It’s deep and carries some pretty major drama. I can’t wait for Spring to arrive so I can hook myself up with brighter shades like Shocking and Snap! These two are gorgeous Winter shades…

Lush Solid Conditioner in Jungle

Each time I went into Lush looking for a conditioner I looked right past this one. I didn’t think a solid could do much for hair restoration. I have always used conditioner in a liquid form, a true creature of habit. Anyway, I broke the product mould. I have been shamed by a solid conditioner. This is amazing. I made the purchase early in January and still have 70% of the little round bar left. The smell is so fresh and clean, as I find most Lush face/hair products to be. It doesn’t seem like much but when it’s worked into a lather (which is effortless might I add) the cocoa butter in it starts working it’s magic. It’s been known to slide onto hair easier and once it dissolves into the water it leaves your hair feeling like you’ve just performed an intensive mask treatment. No squeaky feeling, no dryness. Just soft, completely detangled, fresh feeling hair. It’s the cocoa butter, avocado extract, passion fruit & kumquat you’d like to send a thank you note to….here

 

Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme in Oh Miley and Infamous

You better believe I dropped everything to ensure I got my greedy little hands on these highly anticipated lipsticks. I had added the ones I liked to cart (Sephora online – because the stores didn’t have the full collection just yet) and clearly didn’t move my shaking fingers fast enough. They were selling out as I was browsing so I consider myself lucky to have scored these two shades. You can head over to the MJ Beauty website to look for yourself because out of the 20 shades sold online at Sephora there are only 7 currently available. Oh Miley is described as a Strawberry Spice and Infamous is soft peony. I have yet to receive them but I’ll make sure to do an in depth review before you make the purchase. I’m almost positive Sephora will be re-stocking online and in stores but until then you can make your purchase here. The selling factor? 10 hour stay put lipstick that coats your lips with a buttery, velvety pigment with just one swipe. And they stay moisturized with the effects of sea berry, cocoa butter and Meranti. I can’t wait to try these out. *Update – Check out my review, awe-struck is the lesser way to describe my reaction here

Decor

Faux Hydrangeas

I’m still annoyed that I’ve gone against my die-hard, adamant belief that fresh blooms are the only flowers you should be working with. I’ve always thought that faux flowers were tacky and too dollar store décor for me but I was wrong. I stand corrected – actually I sit corrected because I don’t feel like shaming myself to that extent. I’ve realized that it’s all in the style, the make-up, and the type of flower arrangement you pick. The more realistic they look – obviously, the better. I tend to lean towards hydrangeas, peonies and roses (when I do purchase fresh). They compliment any space, look elegant and fresh and are neutral enough to add a natural, clean focal point to the surrounding area. I ordered these from Amazon because I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for in any of the stores I went to. They look so real that I don’t feel like such a hypocrite every time I pass by.

Trinket Tray 

I picked up this little trinket tray from Chapters during their after Christmas sale. It was under $10. So necessary. Very Kate Spade. I like anything with a simple gold accent, especially against a white background. It’s easy to work into whatever décor you have going on, whereas I find a black base a little kitschy. I have it sitting on my bedside table – a nice catchall for my jewellery.

How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are – Anne Berest, Caroline de Maigret, Audrey Diwan & Sophie Mas

Caroline wrote this book with her 3 girlfriends as a tongue in cheek guide on how to deal with the first world problems every fashion (and unfashionable) girl has. A blasé undertone. My favorite kind. Also, it looks really chic displayed on my vanity (admit it – this is an Insta-worthy read).

Strand Lights

I came across these at Urban Outfitters while Christmas shopping, but – because I was only making purchases for others, I held off until a few weeks ago. I first had the idea to string them around my throne bed, but realized I have a padded headboard which clearly didn’t support such a thing. (A downfall of tunnel vision shopping). I decided to string them around my vanity and I can confirm that said lights were a superb buy. Complete transformation. I like how they give the look of actual bare bulbs, but a softer more subdued version. I would love the real deal but these are doing a good job in tiding me over…

Clothing

Wildfox Teddy Sweater

It’s a teddy bear sweater. With swingy sleeves and a nubby material you can just wrap yourself in. C’mon.

Wildfox Superbowl Baggy Beach Jumper

I know I said I wasn’t clothes – shopping but this had to happen. My favorite brand comes out with a Superbowl capsule collection? It’s a no brainer. Really. I didn’t even have to enter in my info, just add to cart and purchase. I hope everyone experiences that simple pleasure at least 357426 times once in their lifetime.

I love reading about everyone’s favourite monthly products. I usually mention mine in my Friday Favorites posts but there were too many this month. Again, sorry to my 2015 Resolutions. My bad.

x0

Purchased & Reviewed : Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme

I didn’t think I could get this excited over lipstick. Actually, on second thought – I have and I am. This highly anticipated Le Marc lipstick has garnered a huge amount of necessary hand clasping since it’s launch date was revealed. Now it’s here. Take a seat and let me lead you through the process I had to engage in, in order to obtain these.

9:16am – Get text from sister exhibiting glee and informing that said lipsticks have hit Sephora online.

9:16am – Accidentally choke on coffee and knock over a couple items while logging into Sephora account.

9:17am – Logged in and perusing with the focus of a CSI and the intensity of a fitness instructor.

9:19am – Realize that I am not the only one trying to make up my mind over which color to purchase.

9:20am – Full on panic as I find that lipsticks are selling out while I’m still trying to make up my mind.

9:21am – Tell 2 fellow employees to wait as I am trying to engage in a task that requires my full attention. Work comes second.

9:22am – Add my favourites to cart and purchase.

9:22am – One of the lipsticks in said cart shows as “currently unavailable”

9:23am – Frantically call Sephora customer service to ensure said lipstick was indeed purchased before it sold out.

9:25am – Customer service agent is unable to reassure me that said lipstick is indeed purchased. Advises me that I’ll receive an email if I was too late.

9:25am – Call her an incompetent dick in my mind.

9:29am – Receive email that all items have been purchased successfully and will be on their way to me soon.

9:30am– Work may resume, but not until I wipe the sweat and drool off my keyboard.

The emotional roller coaster was real.

After all that, I’ve satisfied the yearning.

Behold.

I honestly had a photo shoot with 2 lipsticks last week. I’m not apologetic in the least.

There is nothing stopping you from at least trying these out. Amazing.

See?

Packaging: True to Marc Jacob’s sleek designs for the whole line – these are so James Bond. Or should I say Bond Girl? Sleek, magnetic, glossy lids with a faux button on the front. The silver and black is classic enough for your vanity and futuristic enough to whip out for show and tell.

Formula: The formula was a huge selling point in the hype leading up to the launch. Rich and velvety (and I mean velvety – it’s not just fluff, I promise). It’s a matte creme texture (think a luxurious matte that doesn’t dry out), with the most pigmented color. One swipe = 10 hours – another monumental claim by the brand and this is what really drew me in. After trying it out for myself I can confirm with the utmost giddiness – that colossal profession is 100 % legit. I had to use tissue and cleanser at the end of the day. Credit the color boosting pigments which are “triple milled with hydrating ingredients” that leave your lips soft and plumped without that cakey feeling. Seaberry, meranti & cocoa butter. In your lipstick. Beyond ideal.

Wearability: Like I mentioned above, this stuff stays put. I wore Oh Miley! which is a deep strawberry red. I had to put some back into it when I finally decided to take it off (after my 9 hour day). Should have held out for the hour but I was already convinced. The colors are gorgeous and I purposely picked shades from different spectrums. I found no need for lipliner or gloss, but the accompanying liner would be nothing but complimentary.

Verdict: Score. I’m ecstatic that this lipstick lived up to my practically formidable expectations. The formula is what really seals the deal here. It’s a pricier lipstick but I can honestly say, the wearability, the durability, and the luxe packaging all make it worth the higher price point. I’m already sorting through my lipsticks to see which shade I don’t have so I can justify purchasing another.

Let me know if you purchase and which shade. I can’t get enough.

Here and here.

xo

Oh – and did I mention that I finally went to pick up my VIB Rouge card/welcome kit from Sephora – and found this little gem inside?

A mini version of the Rouge exclusive in So Rouge 10.

I heard this is by far one of the best offers so far…I ain’t mad at it. I had my sights on the full size but now I can take the savings and purchase another. (This is my version of rational thinking and I stand by it). 

Friday Favorites: Monday Edition

I’ve been so busy hitting “add to cart” these past 2 weeks or so that I haven’t posted my Favorites.

This one’s a heavy hitter, plus it’s on a Monday – how rebellious.

Favorite Purchase

Babaton Templeton Slip Dress

I needed something for my work Christmas party and although I have dresses in my closet with the tags still attached, I wanted something I didn’t have. Sound familiar? Anyway, I like to shy away from the mainstream from time to time so I decided on a pale pink slip midi slip dress. I love the material (no creasing) and the simplicity. Also – this is a staple since I can style it in a ton of different ways…leather jacket, an oversized sweater, a cozy cardigan, sleek blazer…mind blown.

Favorite Photo

Jackson prancing around in a pile of leaves. 

How can this not be the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? I love this little guy. And hello? He’s wearing a rain jacket. Rain jackets are not cute. Until he puts them on. 

Favorite Past time

Tree Trimming

Christmastime is my favorite time of year. I highly doubt I have to explain why. It’s cozy, the lights are twinkly and the gifts are a plenty, most people try not to act like assholes, and there’s so many picturesque situations to document. I mean, you have to deal with driving in subpar conditions, associating with family members you may have sworn you’d never associate with, encounter people who drive like they’ve just finished off a crack pipe in the mall parking lot, and the new skinnies you’ve gotten for Christmas may not fit on your fat ass come December 25th, but it’s okay. Tis the f*cking season.

Favorite Look

Pale pink and dark lips

Oh look who made an appearance. The Templeton slip. And my best friend. Her too. I think I envisioned this outfit in my dreams, long before this dress came into existence. I went for a white/black swan kind of vibe. Neutrals like soft beiges and pale pinks look amazing with a dark lip and a edgier accent like a leather jack or sharp blazer. Vision come true. 

Jacket/Shoes – Zara

Slip – Aritzia 

Lipstick – Kat Von D’s Vampira

Her dress – Nordstrom

Shoes – Nine West 

Favorite Dear Santa Item

Pajamas

I know, I’d rather get Louboutin D’orsay pumps too but pajamas are always welcomed with greedy little hands. Considering I live in these, they’re very necessary. And they must come from Wildfox. Lazy day comfort is what they’re known best for.

Favorite Product

Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eye Stick

I just did a review on these. I am obsessed for a reason. Not surprisingly my favorite product – the color is intense, the formula is like any other, and the longevity is obscene. Really, I’m not just throwing together a string of flouncy, illustrative adjectives. I’m currently working on building my Twinkle Pop empire.

xo

Purchased & Reviewed: NARS Velvet Lip Liner

Oh child no. Why. Why is this happening? I can’t handle the fact that I bought something that ended up being sub par. Like, the fact that I had to put this item on hold at a different location, natter around with the makeup associate because he misplaced it, and then purchase it because it looked straight up amazing on my hand is highly unfortunate.

I’m talking about these little weasels.

What caught my big eye in the first place was that it was a new product. I haven’t tried NARS’ old lip pencils but I consider myself a true #narsissist so I had to have this revamped liner.  It was introduced shortly after the Audacious lipstick collection but sadly is nowhere on the same level as the lipsticks. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing I tell you…

Pros:

Retractable – huge because I hate having to carry around a sharpener…

Brand – NARS is everything. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a product that I didn’t enjoy immensely. Until now…

Color – Vibrant, matte, and really unique. I fell hard for the Anise Soleil (a really vibrant pretty coral shade)

Consistency – Matte. My favorite. But even this can only go so far…

Cons:

Application– It glided onto my hand but when I put it on my lips (where it matters) it felt rough and dry. I tried different types of strokes, patting, everything – the tip actually came off it was so hard to apply. That’s when my heart started to ache…

Formula & Consistency – Again, this is where 99% of my disappointment lies. I s*t you not – 4 minutes after applying it, there was legit caking. I moisturize my lips every morning and night so the blame doesn’t fall on me here, I’m not the asshole who can’t keep my skincare routine in line, not this time anyway. I figured I could smooth it out by packing on some more – major faux pas. Don’t do this. It looked like I ran out of lipstick and hit the nearest Home Depot for some color. Out of a paint can. Real sad.

Wearability: Oh sh*t no. I honestly felt chapped the whole time I had it on. Because I was. Chapped and flaking. Picture peeling paint if you really can’t do without a visual. At this point, all my optimism and loyalty was overcome with the desire to rip my lips off my face. I wasn’t in the vicinity of my makeup remover (or anything close to it) so I wet some paper towel and proceeded to tear away pretty much all the skin from my lips. I felt like an anaconda shedding it’s skin (I am deathly afraid of snakes so I’m not sure why I used this exact metaphor but I’m really trying to set you up with my situation). So for wearability, I say go ahead – if you don’t have lips. If you are a lip-less person you won’t mind this stuff. If you have lips? You might as well make out with your curling iron. Because that’s what it feels like. Again, real sad.

I mean, thank God for Nordstrom’s return policy because when I see it out of the corner of my eye, sitting in shame in my makeup organizer I get chills. Oh wait – that’s just my lips burning.

PS – Invest in Smith’s salve and coconut oil. I owe favours. Big up to them.

 See that mess up at the application site? That’s the struggle. It’s real.