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April Favorites 2015 – ColourPop, Nails Inc, Cover FX, RMS Beauty & more!

Another month has come and gone, which means we’re one step closer to Summer!!! There’s something about the rapidly approaching Summer that is always exciting to me. But, first we need to fully experience Spring. J This month has brought some absolutely spectacularfavorites…and potential holy grail status items! With something like that to look forward to, let’s not f-around with this chit chat and get on with the wonder products. J

This is really starting to become a trend to the point that I’m wondering if I can ever do another favorites without one of these suckers! If you haven’t guessed what it is, it is yet another Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick. This month’s go-to shade is “Streak.” Definitely my favorite color for Spring…so far! It’s a lovely coral that is not too in-your-face thanks to the sheer formula, which makes it wearable for pretty much any occasion. It’s so beautiful! I actually have the original Revolution Lipstick in “Streak” as well, but I never reach for it because I feel like it’s toopigmented. Not so with the “Sheer” version. Clearly I am obsessed with these lipsticks. They’re just so comfortable, easy to wear and can be worn for pretty much any occasion. They’re definitely my go-to these days! J

Another makeup favorite that may indeed reach holy grail status is from Cover FX. If you’ve seen my review (linked here), you know that I absolutely love the Custom Cover Drops. I was really a bit skeptical about how much use I would get out of these, but I actually find I use them even more than traditional coverage products. They are totally customizable and, depending what I mix them with, make my skin look better texture-wise than anything else I have tried! I won’t ramble on since I just reviewed them, but seriously they are amazing…and unlike so many other reviewers lately, I have absolutely no affiliation with Cover FX.
As I said in my review, I love mixing the Custom Cover Drops with the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield. This stuff is also spectacular. The combination blends so quickly, easily and seamlessly. The texture of my chemo-ravaged skin looks better than with any other foundation because the Invisiblur really does help to blur enlarged pores and general imperfections. It does have that silicone-y slip to it, so if you’re not a fan of that feeling, you may want to steer clear. I don’t mind it and find that it feels completely weightless and it lasts all day without any trouble. Oil is no better or worse than with most other foundations (I need to blot once or twice perhaps, but nothing excessive). If you’re drier, I find that it glides right over dry, flaky areas without settling in. This stuff is pricey in my eyes, but it’s also worth it!
Moving on to cheeks, I’ve been reaching for a lot of different blushes in April. However, my favorite and most frequently repeated choice is “Fox” from ColourPop. I really love the ColourPop Super Shock Cheeks. They’re so unusual, but they look really pretty and wear like iron. The $8 price tag is pretty sweet too! JA gentle flush of “Fox” stippled on with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush just livens up my dull, pale complexion. Love!
Sticking on the ColourPopband wagon, I have been loving their Super Shock Shadow in “Dare” this month. It is an absolutely spectacular purple shade. It’s kind of duo-chromey and glittery and just unusual, beautiful and striking. I have gotten so many compliments every time I’ve worn this shadow this month. Rather a rare occurrence for me. I just apply it with my finger and gently blend the edges out a bit with a different clean finger. Quick, easy and eye catching. J
I have a different highlighter favorite this month! I never used to be even remotely interested in highlighters, but lately I feel almost undone without one. Anyway, for April I seem to have switched to a cream highlighter. It is the Living Luminizer from RMS Beauty. I’m not big on the glittery, sparkly, in-your-face kind of highlighters and this is definitely not one of those. It is very much a subtle burst of illumination wherever you place it. It looks like nothing in the super cool frosted glass pot, but definitely perfect for that oh-so-pretty luminous glow. Again, my fingers seem to be my tool of choice here. I can build it up a bit for more impact, or blend it out a bit more for a subtle hint of illumination. There’s a lot of hype over this product, and I think I see why. J
For skin care favorites, I’ll just direct you to my Skin Care Game Changers post, because the Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA, the Resist Vitamin C Spot Treatment, and the Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips & Carrot Perfecting Serum are definitely stand outs from the past few months.
Moving on to something I’ve had for a while, but stopped using for no apparent reason. I use it as a detangler for my hair, though it’s really much more than that. It is the Perfect 4 Platinum Miracle Filler Treatment from Pureology. I actually really like the entire Perfect 4 Platinum line (well, that I’ve tried) from Pureology, but this is perfect for making my Tangle Teezer glide through my hair like a hot knife through butter without weighing my hair down. That’s my main reason for using it, but it has so many benefits as well! It has some sort of protein-filler type technology that helps with strength and breakage too, though I can’t say I see a definite difference in much other than the manageability of my hair. This makes such an amazing difference and detangles so beautifully that I’m kicking myself for forgetting about it!
One last favorite for April and it’s a nail color. Well, technically a collection of colors. I have been really in love with The White Collection from Nails Inc. I think I’ve worn one of the three shades that I have pretty much every day this month. I can’t really pick a favorite…and I’m really annoyed that they took Lily Road off the shelves before I had a chance to add it to my stockpile. The most neutral shade that I have is “Whitehall” and I’ve probably been sporting it the most. It’s a not-quite-white with a subtle tint of peach, though it looks pinkish on my skin tone. I cannot find fault with these polishes. The brush is absolutely prefect – flat and somewhat wide – and the formula, despite being quite light in tone, is not at all streaky and covers pretty well in only two coats. Love, love, love Nails Inc.’s The White Collection!
Swan Street, Whitehall & White Horse Street

Whitehall
I guess that was April! I have made some really fantastic discoveries this month. Have you found anything worth raving about in April? Leave it in a comment so that everyone can check it out! J I hope you’re enjoying the milder weather…well, I guess that depends on where you live, but it’s such a welcome change around here! And I hope you’ve had a lovely April. Here’s to an even better May and hopes for more sunshine, slightly warmer temperatures and just plain old good times! JThanks so much for stopping by and I hope to see all of you again soon.

One of my favorite signs of Spring!
Another favorite Springtime treat 🙂

Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations 2015

That glorious time of year has arrived! That’s right, it’s time for the Spring Sephora VIB Sale!!! From now (April 16th) through April 21st, VIB and VIB Rouge members receive 15% off all purchases made with the appropriate code (should have been mailed by now – for Rouge members, it is “ROUGELOVE”). If you are a BI member, you will receive 10% off beginning Friday, April 17th. One of my favorite things about these sales from Sephora is that you can use the code as many times as you like – both online and in store. It’s fantastic because I don’t feel the pressure to remember everything at once, and I don’t kick myself if I hear about something amazing the next day. Since there are plenty of cruelty free items from brands that I love available at Sephora, I thought I would share my Top 10 Recommendations with you today.

I have a lot more than 10 product recommendations, but we all have limits, right? So what I’ve chosen with direct links is as follows:

  1. Cover FX Custom Cover Drops – I bought these a few weeks ago and am absolutely impressed (look for a review next week). They are pigment drops that you mix with any non-powder face product to create your own custom foundation! Love!
  2. Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments – These are absolutely gorgeous eye shadows! I have more than I care to admit. “Rose Gold” is shown in the picture (and it’s always sold out!), but I also love “Heaven,” “Hell,” and “Peacock.” I have my eye on “Copper” too!
  3. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Eye Cream – I really love this eye cream! It’s a thick gel texture that is totally hydrating without being too heavy. I am prone to little bumps under my eyes (millia) and this has not caused any issues. My eyes are left so soft and supple, while theoretically helping with anti-aging.
  4. Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – This is brand spankin’ new and I only have a sample right now, but it is phenomenal! I have a lot of texture issues, and this primer / sunscreen hybrid is hands down the best pore blurring product I have ever tried…and I’ve tried a lot! I’d grab it for the blurring factor alone, but with the added SPF and anti-aging benefits, it is a sure winner.
  5. Nails Inc. NailKale Superfood Base Coat – This is a fantastic base coat! It sounds gimmicky, but I really do feel like my nails are a bit stronger and in better condition when I use this base coat. And if the packaging alone isn’t nice enough for you, the brush on all of the newly packaged Nails Inc. polishes is spectacular! Wider, but not too wide and flat. This is another constantly sold out online product (check in stores ’cause it’s out right now too), but definitely check out any of the new Nails Inc. polishes – I have my eye on Abbey Road and the rest of the White Collection (only in stores) right now!
  6. Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks – Oh, where do I begin? I love this new sheer formula so much that I currently have 6 ::blushes:: of the shades already! Though they are called “sheer,” they are by no means just a hint of tint. These pack a color punch, but in that nice almost stain-type way. Really comfortable on the lips as well.
  7. Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Brush – I usually hate dual-ended brushes, but this one is just so useful on both ends that I can look past the awkward storage issues. It is so soft and, of course, made with synthetic fibers. The slanted “contour” end works beautifully for applying and blending out contour powders, bronzers and blushes; the “highlight” end is perfecting for highlighting, contouring, setting under eyes, powdering the face, blush, do I need to keep going? Definitely a brush worth having in your arsenal!
  8. Cover FX Illuminator (Moonlight) – This is quite possibly the perfect highlight. It is not glittery or shimmery. It genuinely just creates that ethereal “lit-from-within” glow that everyone wants. The powder is so buttery soft and can be packed on with a finger for an inner eye highlight or used with a brush for a less intense, but strikingly beautiful sheen. It’s another one that’s often out of stock (like now, so check in stores).
  9. Nails Inc. Spring Summer Mini Gel Effect Collection – As I mentioned above, the Nails Inc. polishes are divine! Though these mini bottles don’t have that perfect brush (it’s an old-school thin rounded brush), the colors just scream Spring and Summer! This is one of the few nail polish sets that I have come across where I would honestly wear every single one of the colors.
  10. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – Need I say more? I love this mascara so much that I’m not only willing to pay full price, but I actually don’t even want to try any other mascaras! My search for the perfect mascara is over. It’s the deepest of blacks, creates fantastic volume and length – my mom sometimes asks if I’m wearing false lashes with this on! – and is water-resistant without being impossible to remove. I’ve reviewed it here if you’d like to read more.
I could go on and on with more recommendations, as well as my personal wish list, but I won’t! Ten is plenty…for now! I would love to hear what some of you are planning to pick up from the sale, or would recommend to everyone else. I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of my picks, and I wish you a wonderful time shopping!!!

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