What's In My Bag for Fashion Week

This is a bit exciting, I suppose! A little while back I shot a video with Glam while I was in San Francisco about what I'd pack in my bag for fashion week. The concept was to curate a little bag that you could take straight from the airport to NYFW. Simple, right? Not so much as I wanted to pack all black. Tell me if you're surprised!

In my Cuyana Tote was:

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine #10, Chocolate Instyle
MAC Rebel
MAC Breath of Plum

Shoemint heels (similar here)
Catbird + Endswell rings
Beanie from Voyager

Dress from Wasteland
Helmut Lang skirt
Romper from Jane's Closet
Zara leather jacket

Samsung NX-300

That romper has been in full rotation and I don't think I've gone two days without wearing that beanie since I got it. I finished that YSL lipstick since shooting (RIP) and will probably repurchase; we all know I love those 90's brown lips. Still digging that leather jacket I bought a few years back — so impressed with the quality of Zara's leather goods, if I'm being honest. And of course I go nowhere without my lil camera + rings. Woo.

I had so much fun shooting and love how it came out. Check out the video, let me know what you think, and leave me some comments telling me what you would put in your bag for fashion week, yay!

P.S. Give a little love to Kristen and Kelly; they were amazing!

August 2014 Favorites

MAKE Cosmetics Matte Dew · MAC Hug Me · MAC Viva Glam V Lipglass · MAC Margin Blush · Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturizer · NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska

How crazy is it that August is over? Gonna be honest though, super stoked for fall weather; leaves changing, chilly nights and gorgeous days. Put me on a rooftop and give me a glass of Pinot and I'll be good. I think I have an obsession with rooftops, guys.

It's been hot in New York — really hot with a stupid amount of humidity that makes you want to shower 341482 times a day. Not cute, therefore minimalism was definitely a thing for me. Less is more and all that jazz. 

To help combat oils, I stuck to the matte side of MAKE's Custom Finish Effects Matte Dew.  It's super silky and will help in any places you need a little less shine. On the other hand, when the nights are cooler, I've been loving the dewy side for a purposely-glowy boost. It's perfect and I really want to try their Face Gloss when the cooler weather comes.

Nude lips are my thing as of late. MAC's Hug Me + Viva Glam V Lipglass are the perfect combo. I usually hate lipgloss but I can't stop wearing this one. If you're looking for a pink nude that leans towards the brown side (as I normally do), definitely check these two out. Obsessed.

While NARS Douceur is my every-day blush of choice, I've started to fall a bit for Margin again. It's kind of a brown peach color with a frost finish so it's gorgeous on tanned / yellow-toned skin. Paired with the aforementioned nude lip and a bit of liner? Hell yes.

Switching gears to bases, Fresh's moisturizer is still in rotation. It's light and hydrating and I can't get enough. NARS Tinted Moisturizer is the new love of my life. It stays on through the hot summer days and doesn't melt off while waiting for the subway (guuuuuuhhhh). The coverage is on the lighter side but totally buildable.

And so we have my August favorites. Let me know if you guys would like me to do separate reviews for any of these! Happy September!

Early Spring Favorites

Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine Spray / Burberry Brit EDT / Bobbi Brown Even Finish Longwear Foundation (sand) / MAC Modesty / Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturizer / MAC Harmony 

Let's just start out by saying that I am so stupidly thankful the snow is gone. Now I can only hope it stays that way *fingers crossed*. I'm not normally that into spring to be honest. I dig summer, love fall, and winter is pretty enough for me to deal but there's just something very meh about spring weather for me. Those in-between days where it's too windy to go sans-jacket but if you're in the sun long enough it's just ugh, sweltering? I can't get behind it. That said, all I want is sun and I don't care if I need light layers. I will do it as long as there is no more snow. And with that, all the pretty berry shades I own will be used a little less and the peachy ones a bit more. You know, cuz I'm predictable and all. 

When I got my hair cut in January (best haircut eva) my stylist recommended the Moroccan Oil Glimmer Spray. Basically does what it says +  protects your hair against sun and a bunch of other elements. Considering it hit 80º here on Sunday, I'd say this is a definite must for the warmer months. It's been a daily-use product for me and I couuuld live without it but like, why would I want to? 

I'm back in the Burberry game, back to the first perfume I ever wore (and stuck to) and I still love it all the same. It's such a light, sexy scent which is one of the reasons why it'll be on rotation all throughout the spring and summer. 

Face/base wise, I've been fairly consistent these past few months. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize with the Fresh's Lotus Moisturizer. It's super light on the skin which is reaaaaally important to me. It keeps my skin feeling perfectly hydrated and supple and I love it. The smell is pretty lovely too. For foundation I've been using Bobbi Brown Longwear quite a bit. It's so glorious and I'm not sure why it took me so long to try. Sometimes I mix it with primer for a lighter, daytime coverage and then I'll build it up for nights out. It's incredibly versatile and the shade range is pretty great. I really want to check out the BB cream next — do any of you recommend it?

Moving on to MAC. Ahhh, who doesn't love some classic MAC shades? I bought Harmony so long ago and was obsessed, then I fell out of love (as one can sometimes do), and then rediscovered it not too long ago. What the hell was I thinking? It's the perfect spring contour if I don't want to go all out with NARS Laguna. It's subtle and it's matte — plus it looks good paired with all my favorite peachy pink blushes. For lips I've been sticking with nudes/browns; must be the 90s thing going on. Anyway, Modesty is amazing and very similar to Patisserie except it's less pink and more nude. 

I'll probably do a follow up post / monthly favorites posts after this but I just thought I'd talk about my favorite things as of late. What are you guys loving?!

June 2013 Beauty Favorites

Hourglass Dim Light / MAC Harmony Blush / Jouer Bare Tint* / 

Jouer Perfume Oil* /OPI Samoan Sand / Korres Anti Aging Primer /

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector / Diorskin Nude Skin Hydrating Concealer /Pixi Lash Line Ink

I must admit, while it's insane that it's the end of June/that this year is going by so quickly, I'm pretty excited for this month to end. Why? Welllllll, next month is my birthday. I'm a huge birthday person so I can't wait. I don't even care that it means I'll be another year older. Embracing these 20s, yo! Plus, this month has been great in terms of finding some new products that I really really love.

Hourglass' Dim Light has obviously made the cut. Still using it, still obsessed. I've even been wearing only this on lazier days. No foundation necessary. MAC Harmony has made it back into my daily routine, taking over as my contour powder of choice. Not sure why I haven't used it more; it's so perfect! A new little product that I recieved: Jouer Tint in Bare. A gorgeous pale peachy-pink. You guys know that's totally what I'm into as of late. This stuff is 10x better than the Stila cream blushes so keep any eye out for a full-on review.

I wrote a little review on this perfume oil and honestly? I can't get enough. I use it daily and reapply like 20x an hour because I'm obsessed. Sorrynotsorry. Am I allowed to put Samoan Sand here even though I just got it last week? I'm gonna go with yes. It's the perfect nude/summer color and it definitely helps bring out the slight tan I've gotten. Beach babe status: almost achieved. This Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer is a sample I got from Sephora and have been using religiously. Though I went off primer for a little while, I'm back and loving this so so much. It doesn't make me oily like the NARS primer started to do and it really does help my makeup last. Will most definitely be purchasing the full-size of this.

My BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone is still one of my all time favorite products. I love how versatile it is, not to mention it's incredibly natural looking. No disco ball shimmer, I promise. Diorskin concealer still workin' it's magic on my hormonal spots. Still thinking about getting the lighter shade so I can mix the two to make the perfect color. We'll see. Pixi Lash Line Ink aka the best liquid liner for achieving a sassy little cat eye. I'm loving gloss + liner with a bit of contour, powder, and a pop of blush. Less is more in this 95º weather!

Annnnd that's a wrap. So many products but honestly, I've just really been enjoying makeup this month. More so than ever, I think. What are your favorites?!

My Favorite/Most Used Brushes

MAC 239 / MAC 217 / MAC 224 / Real Techniques Expert Face Brush / Real Techniques Setting Brush / Real Techniques Stippling Brush / MAC 109

We've all got the tools we love to use and I'm not sure about you but I love reading about favorite brushes. Why? Well why not? I love finding things that make application a little bit faster and a little bit easier. These are my favorites (and hopefully they're some of yours too)!

Eyes: The MAC 239 is my favorite for packing on color — any color at all. Want a brown smoky eye? Use this to pop the base color all over the lid, and maybe along the bottom lashes as well. Then grab your trusty 217 aka the Mother of All Brushes (IMO) and add some crease color. Go on, add some more and blend that allll out. Not blended quite enough? That's where the 224 comes in. A fluffy one this is, making it perfect for blending evenly and softly. I feel like if you've got these three brushes in your possession, you don't really need many any more. You can create a whole eye look with just these three. Want two instead? Stick with the 239 and the 217, they'll be your best friends. I'm talking BBF4L.

Face: Is it surprising that I haven't included the ever-loved Buffing Brush? I'm gonna be honest, I really don't love that brush at all. The only thing I use it for is Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation and that's about it. When it comes to foundation application I stick with the Expert Face Brush. It perfectly applies YSL Le Teint Touché Éclat and Jouer Matte Moisture tint like a dream (when I'm not using my fingers). Something about the way this brush buffs foundation into the skin makes you look totally flawless.

I'm not at all a concealer girl but when I do use it (effing creepy stealth blemishes), I use the Setting Brush. Dot, swirl, brush. It covers anything I need covered and with minimal effort. It's also super great for setting concealer under the eyes.

The Stippling Brush is my go-to for cream blush. Stippling one of Stila's Convertible Color blushes onto the skin is a breeze with this thing. It picks up just the right amount and leaves you with a natural flush of color.

Lastly, my beloved 109. Probably my favorite brush of all time. I use this for contouring, blush, highlighter, basically anything cheek related. Since it is a contour brush, it fits perfectly under your cheekbones to give you a lovely defined look (which I'm really into). For some reason this lil thang is also amazing with blush; NARS, MAC, whatever you like. I haven't tried it with cream blush so I'm not exactly sure how it'd work, but as far as powder goes, it's the cream of the brush crop.

Aaaaand that pretty much sums up my favorite brushes. I'm pretty sure if I had to live with only these I would be totally okay with that. What are your favorite brushes? I love trying out new ones!

FOTD: Reloving

Face: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, YSL Le Teint Touché Éclat in BD10 / Cheeks: NARS Orgasm, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle / Eyes: L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara, MAC Era, and MAC Patina / Lips: MAC Cut A Caper

We're having some ridiculously nice weather here in Northern California as of late. Something about the summer spring sunshine makes me want to whip out the corals and pinks and do cartwheels in the freshly cut grass — well maybe not cartwheels (just yet). But really, I get stupidly tan in summer and the way coral looks on a tanned skin highly appeals to me and my cheeks. So I thought it was time to whip out some things I haven't used in quiiiiite a long time.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is something I've been using a lot lately after forgetting over winter, oops! I love the smooth feeling that it leaves my skin with. The perfect base for foundation, voila! Touché Éclat has grazed my skin once again. I swear I will never get sick of this stuff — I'm actually repurchasing tomorrow because I've officially run out. I really do feel like it will be holy grail for me forever. 

Orgasm! Ohhhh la la!!!1!1!!11!! No but seriously I love this color and mine (as you can see) is well loved. I haven't really touched it since summertime last year but I am sooo ready to get back to wearing it. It's such a pretty coral-pink, plus I love a little pop of color right on those apples. Swept MAC's Soft & Gentle on the top of my cheekbones which you can't even see, but it's there! I'm still iffy about powder highlighters after getting the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector, but hey. Every product needs a little lovin' now and again. 

L'Oreal Mascara that has been in heavy rotation for me as of late. Now if only I could get seriously dramatic volume with this crazy length I would have the loveliest lashes in all the land. Swiped MAC Era all over the lids (a new edition to my collection/palette) and I'm obsessed already. Patina in the crease just to add a little somthin' somethin'. Definition. EYES. All that jazz. (I forgot to add in what I used for brows but it's just my normal Anastasia Brow Wiz + Charcoal Brown by MAC)

Cut A Caper. Sound familiar? Every time MAC re-releases this color people go nuts. When they did last year, I went nuts, but for good reason. Do you see that color? Perfect bright coral perfection. This was my summer go-to last year and you bet it'll be my go-to this year. P.S. Please re-release this so I don't have to use it sparingly. xoxo.

That's it for my face of the day. Simple! What do you guys think? What are some things you love but may have forgotten about? 

MAC Lovelorn

MAC Lovelorn / $15 

Let me preface this post by saying: I never in my wildest dreams would have ever imagined myself owning a shade of pink such as this. 

Don't get me wrong, I love pink, but bubblegum pink? Uhhhh, let's just say I was skeptical. A month or so back, I made my way to several MAC counters in search of Patisserie. None of the MAC employees I spoke to had ever heard of it (which I kind of laughed about), but I was feeling a little down that day and didn't want to leave empty handed. Stubborn girl, I am! Anyway, I was at a counter in Macy's and the lovely girl that was working talked me into Lovelorn. At first I was like "no no no this is all wrong" and that turned into "hmmm I'm not so sure", but after 10 minutes of her convincing me it looked good with my skin-tone, I gave in. 

Lovelorn is an "emotive blue pink" (wtf kind of description is that, MAC?) aka something that I'm normally afraid of. Blue toned anything can wash me out, but because of the brightness of this, it just works. It's also a lustre finish which means it's not drying on my already dry lips! I love wearing this on days where I'm wearing minimal makeup and casual outfits as a statement, if you will. It's not overbearing or overwhelming and the contrast against my brown hair is actually kind of lovely. I do 100% think this would look better when I'm tanned, but northern California is a biatch and refuses to give us warm weather at this specific point in time. Hmpfh. 

What do you guys think of Lovelorn? Are there any great shades out there that I should know about/try? 

MAC Patisserie

MAC Patisserie / $15

You might frequently hear people (or well, mostly bloggers?) talking about the lipstick that is "their lips but better". A lipstick that just almost matches your natural lip color but just with a little oomph — whether it be a bit brighter, darker, whatever. For a really long time I thought I wouldn't find a color that seemed to be "made for me", but alas the day finally came. Patisserie. The first MAC lipstick I ever bought before swatching because I was just so sure I'd love it. Maybe it was the name that did it for me. I'll admit I'm a sucker.

Patisserie is a really gorgeous nude-but-not pink with the slightest hint of brown. It's sheer, it's creamy, and it's incredible. It's one of those colors that you can grab and throw on without a mirror and it just looks good with, well,  e v e r y t h i n g. Daytime, nighttime, dressed up, dressed casually — it all works. There's just something about it that I absolutely adore. It's almost too easy to love. 

I think it's safe to say that Patisserie is my all time favorite MAC lipstick ever. For now... 

January (Beauty) Favorites

I really love watching favorites videos on YouTube, but because I don't have a proper filming camera I figured I'd just do a favorites post. While I don't have a lot of favorites, these are the few things I've been using basically religiously throughout the month.

First up is the Essie polish in Eternal Optimist. I'm gonna be honest and say I kind of hate the formulation of these polishes. I find they chip so fast, even with a bit of Seche Vite over top. That said, this color is incredible and is probably my favorite polish color of all time. Pale pink with a hint of salmon? Love at first sight. 

Next are MAC's 224 brush and All That Glitters eye shadow. I've been loving just sweeping this all across the lid with the 244, blending a bit, popping on some mascara, and leaving it at that. The gold pearlescent color is really flattering whether it's worn alone, or with another color. 

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, anyone? While this ain't a product for everyone, it's definitely a product for me. I usually wear mascara on my bottom last and deal with the dreaded smudging or smearing or whatever. With this I have zero issues and it lasts until I wash it off with a bit of warm water. It's almost too good to be true.

Then we've got a Revlon lip butter. I didn't really hop on the bandwagon with these but I did pick up two that I quite liked the look of; Peach Parfait being one of them. It's got a hint of color with a bit of shine and is super moisturizing. Such a great alternative to lipstick if you're feeling a bit lazy. 

Last but definitely not least is LUSH's Full of Grace. I've literally been using this non-stop since I got it in December — every night before bed and after I cleanse, I'll rub my fingers on this little serum bar (which I keep in a shampoo bar tin) and I massage it into my face. It's calming and smells heavenly and I wake up in the morning with extremely soft and hydrated skin. I've noticed that my skin is a lot calmer as well, less redenss and basically no breakouts whatsoever. This stuff is holy grail in my book. 

Annnnd that's it for January favorites. I'll probably review some of this stuff on it's own at one point or another.. but until then, let me know what you think! What are your favorite things from January? 

FOTD: Anniversary Edition

Face: NARS Pro Prime / YSL Touché Éclat in BD10 / BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone / MAC Margin Blush

Eye: MAC All That Glitters / MAC Star Violet / Clinique High Impact Mascara / Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara / Anastasia Brow Wiz / Chanel Liner in Beryl

Lips: MAC Cosmo

Nothing much to say today other than... yay! It's my anniversary. Two whole years of being married and it's flown by faster than I can even believe. We're going out to dinner tonight to a restaurant with a 40's feel— casual dressy, so I figured I'd go a bit feminine with my makeup. Lots of pinks, focus on the lips, soft eyes and cheeks, strong brows. Lots of new stuff here I haven't reviewed yet which means... lots of reviews coming up, whoop! 

My poor Cosmo lipstick looks like it's been through hell and back (it has). It was my first MAC lipstick and is still one of my all time favorites. Also the blush I'm wearing was the one I wore on my wedding, *nostalgia*. While I'd love to stay and chat I've got so much to do before tonight! Nails to be painted, presents to be picked up and... my hair needs a good taming because it's literally taking over my face. Eeeep!

What do you guys think of this look? I may throw on some eyeliner before heading out but I'm not sure! Yay or nay?! Hope everyone has the best Tuesday ever. ♡

FOTD: Muted Neutrals

Face: NARS Pro-Prime / YSL Touché Éclat BD10 / L'Oreal Magic Lumi concealer / MAC Margin Blush / MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in S&G

Eyes: NARS Portobello / MAC Charcoal Brown / Diorshow Iconic Mascara / Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal / MAC Teddy eyeliner

Lips: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 014

Last night I went a little bit Lisa Eldridge crazy. No regrets. I'm late to the game, I know but I am ob-freakin'-sessed. I watched so many videos before bed, that this morning when I woke up I decided I wanted to recreate a look, this look to be specific. While I know it's not the same thing (and I'm not claiming it is), I put my own spin on it and made it work for me. 

For my base I started with the NARS primer and then applied YSL Touché Éclat with my fingers and blended it softly into my skin. I concealed under my eyes and around my nose with the Magic Lumi concealer. I popped a bit of Margin on the apples of my cheeks and added a touch of highlight with Soft & Gentle. I actually haven't worn Margin since my wedding day but I've rediscovered it and have fallen right back in love.

For eyes I used the darker color from Portobello all over the lid and Charcoal Brown from MAC in the crease and outer corners. I applied two coats of Diorshow Iconic to my top lashes and one to the bottom. Followed up by the nude Rimmel liner in the inner part of my waterline and Teddy on the outer part.

I finished with the Rimmel Kate Moss nude lipstick and applied it generously with a Real Techniques lip brush from the Core Collection. First time using that brush and it's sooooo awesome.

I've never ever ever worn a nude lip before, but I've got to say I'm kind of in love. I'm also loving the soft brown eyeshadow paired with the coral/orange toned blush. Not something I would normally wear together but I love the way it works. This is pretty out of my comfort zone if I'm honest as I'm really used to a bright pink or berry lip. I also went a little lighter with my brows, using Charcoal Brown and Mystery; I'm convinced!

Annnnd ta-da, that's my finished look. What do you guys think? I feel like I'll be wearing nude lips so much more now, it's actually kinda nice! Do you like these kinds of posts? If so, let me know!

MAC Capricious

MAC Capricious · $15* (this was a gift)

Ahhhh, Capricious. I've been wanting this lipstick for a long time, but last time I went to MAC they were out so I settled on Plumful and Rebel. Hilariously enough, Richard read my blog when trying to figure out Christmas gifts for me, saw that I wanted this, and bought it for me. Talk about a keeper! 

I absolutely love love loooooove this color because of it's versatility. It's just dark enough to be a great autumn and winter color, but still light enough to be worn in spring. It's an easy color, if you will; no need to really think about it and it goes with just about everything. MAC describes it as a "fanciful rose plum" which kind of made me laugh — not sure about the fanciful part, but it's definitely a beautiful plummy rose. Lustre is one of my favorite finishes as well; I just find them moisturizing and really easy to wear (especially if you've got dry lips!!). I have a thing for berry colors as of late, if you couldn't already guess, so I'm super excited to have this as the newest addition to my collection. 

I'm on a serious MAC lipstick kick too so if you've got any recommendations, please let me know. I'm thinking Patisserie or Maple next? Although not berry colors, they're unlike anything I have at the moment! Also, what do you guys think of Capricious?!

MAC Harmony

MAC Harmony · $20

Now I'm not sure what possessed me to want to buy this — but I think it has a lot to do with my recent MAC haul/obsession. I'll be the first to say it: I know the absolute basics when it comes to contouring and I'm really not all that good at it (yet). That said, I was bored and found myself browsing the MAC counter, swatching Harmony and was basically talked into it. I mean, when you're told you have nice bone structure and that it looks amazing on you, how can you say no? I was sooooo skeptical and still am, but I'm dealing with it.

Harmony is a really nice "muted rose-beige brown" as the MAC website says. Lots of people love to contour with this color but I was afraid it'd be too pink or too brown for me. It still might be, I'm still unsure, but am doing my best to work with it. I think it would be amazing for summer when I'm a bit more tanned but for now I'm just buffing and buffing to make it look as subtle as possible (is it working?). Either way I'm glad to have added this to my collection and hopefully with a bit of practice I'll get better at contouring because to be honest, I'm loving the way it looks!

What do you guys think of Harmony? What are your favorite contouring colors? 

MAC Haul & FOTD

Face: YSL Touché Éclat, Tarte Exposed · Brows: Anastasia Brow Wiz, MAC Mystery · Eyes: MAC Painterly, Malt, Sable, Teddy eyeliner, Maybelline Illegal Lenghts Mascara · Lips: MAC Rebel

This past Saturday, with a list in hand, I took a trip up to San Francisco to the MAC Pro Store and ended up with a bit more than I had planned, but oh well!  I really wanted a Z-Palette but they're so hard to get here (and I'm impatient) so I settled for the new MAC palette. I know some people didn't like the old one, but I've got to admit the new one is beautiful and sturdy.

For shadows, I opted for: Shroom, Patina, Charcoal Brown, Sable, Copperplate, Quarry, Malt, and Satin Taupe.  They seem to complement each other beautifully and also go well with some others I need to de-pot (Naked Lunch, Silver Ring, and Honesty). I think what started this whole thing was me dropping my beloved Satin Taupe and being way-too-sad about it. I originally purchased it to wear when Richard and I got married (and I did) so when it broke, I was feeling a bit nostalgic (lol?).

I really wanted a paint pot but couldn't decide between Bare Study and Painterly — the lovely lady MAC talked me into Painterly and I'm glad she did. It's such a nice nude base for shadows and it makes the colors pop a bit. My only fear is waking up one morning to find a dry paint pot, but hopefully that won't be for quite a while.

I repurchased Teddy, my favorite brown eyeliner of all time. I only wear it on the outer-half of my waterline, but I think it's perfect for that use. I also got the MAC 217 as I was in the market for a new blending/shadow brush. I'm in love! I need more brushes! Help!

Last but definitely not least are Plumful and Rebel. I originally went in for Capricious, but they didn't have it in stock, sigh. I figured I should get Plumful since I wanted it eventually anyway and was then talked into Rebel as well — but hey, I ain't regretting it.

Soooo that's that. Sorry this was ridiculously long! It's stuff like this that makes me seriosuly consider buying a new camera with video capability so I can do videos (so if you have any recommendations please let me know). I think I'm set for a while when it comes to MAC products — what are your favorite things from MAC?

MAC Creme In Your Coffee

MAC Creme In Your Coffee · $15

When it comes to red lipstick, I'm not quite convinced that red red looks good on me. Because of that I tend to lean towards more brown and deep reds which seem to suit my complexion a lot better. For a long time MAC's Cosmo has been my go-to lipstick but it's a bit more pink than red (yet still has a bit of brown), so I went on a search to find something a little more elegant.

Creme In Your Coffee is just really beautiful. It's described as a "creamy mid-tone pink brown" but it's definitely more reddish brown than pink on me. I'm a huge fan of the cremesheen finish as my lips have been a little more dry as of late, and this finish tends to not dry my lips out! I was between this, Capricous, and Plumful but I'm definitely glad I got this first — especially because everyone is blogging about Plumful at the moment, ha.

MAC lipsticks are still my favorite lipsticks of all. Sooo many colors, finishes, and I just love the packaging. What do you guys think of Creme In Your Coffee? Which lipstick shall I get next?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle · $29

I love a little bit of highlight every now and again — though now and again is more like every other day. As the summer fades, so does my tan and sometimes Benefit's Sunbeam is just a bit too bronze for what I'm looking for. That's when I reach for this gorgeous little highlighter.

MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle is the most perfect, perfect, and did I mention... perfect highlighter. Why? Because it looks good on basically all skin types all year round. Not to mention that it lasts forever. I've had this one for a few months now and it looks like I've barely touched it. It's pretty subtle when applied to the cheeks and cheekbones (hence the swatch I did), but still gives you the most gorgeous natural glow. Every time I use it I'm reminded why it's a product that most bloggers/beauty junkies adore and use on the daily. 

What do you guys think of Soft and Gentle? What are some of your favorite highlighters?

MAC Dark Side Lipstick

MAC Dark Side Lipstick · $15

You know that feeling that you get when you go through your MAC products and realize you finally have six empties which means you can get a free lipstick? No? Well it's a really good feeling.

So after hoarding keeping MAC empties for months I discovered I had six which is awesome because I'm seriously obsessed with lip products lately. I figured I should get something different from my normal pinks/corals ( Angel, Cut A Caper, etc) but was seriously afraid to commit to something darker. Berry and dark purple are huge colors this fall so I took a step out of my comfort zone and had the lovely MAC MUA show me a few shades.

Dark Side looks a hell of a lot darker in the tube than it does on the lips but it's still a seriously pigmented lipstick. The great thing about it? I can wear it dark or light. By just patting it on my lips instead of applying normally I get a lighter but still lovely color (I did that in yesterdays post). Anyway I'm already in love with this color and have been wearing it like, everyday. So much for being afraid of darker lips!

What do you guys think? Do you love the deep berry/purple lipstick trend as much as I do?