I don’t usually do this…but one of my girlfriends from Warner Bros. is always telling me to share my obsession, insight, and secrets about all my favorite beauty products with others since she usually doesn’t really know what/how to pick out products for herself. I guess she respects my opinion? WHOOPS.  

So here I am…brace yourself.

If you step into my room, you will notice that the array of my beauty, hair, and skin products are piled up high and scattered ALL OVER THE PLACE. It literally looks like Sephora decided to vomit all over my bedroom…

I have always had a terrible habit of spending TONS of hard earned money on beauty products based on hear-say and marketing strategies at some of my favorite stores like Nordstroms, Sephora, Ulta, etc., and never using them completely.

I recently decided to do a little tidying up…I wanted to find my favorite and most used items in every aspect of self-enhancement and stick to what is affordable, useful, beneficial, and of GREAT (not good or alright) but GREAT quality. Something I would buy and use…and by use…I mean USE ALL OF IT.

I fully know and understand that everyone has an opinion based on what they think is best and right for them, so my intention is just to share some current goodies…there’s a lot…so I will blog 5 at a time…

In no particular order…here they areeeeeee! ;)

1. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow - Color: Fahrenheit Fab ($19)

First off, let’s just say…this stuff is undeniably wonderful!!!! I wear this shadow almost every day!

I have always had a problem with creasing when it comes to eyeshadow due to the oily skin that I have been blessed with. (Insert sarcastic face here :/ ) THIS EYESHADOW DOES NOT CREASE. Also, I specifically chose this color for a reason…this shade is the epitome of a highly pigmented BRIGHT & EYE-CATCHING GOLD! I love to wear this eyeshadow alone on my eyelids as well as under, right below my bottom lashes. It draws attention to a persons eyes and enhances your eye color not matter what it is…I have used 1 complete jar of this product and am on my 2nd one now. I tend to wear it everyday cause the color works for the day time as well at night time perfectly.

It is really easy to apply…I just use my ring finger and apply the shadow like I would an eye cream. It lasts ALL DAY. I love that!

If you think this product screams MAC PAINT POT…wrong. This stuff is WAY MORE pigmented and durable. 

I have bought 3 other shades from this collection…but this color has proven to be my favorite and the best one for me!

You can find this product at ANY Benefit counter (Macy’s, Sephora, Ulta, Bloomingdales) or at Benefitcosmetics.com!

2. Garnier BB Cream ($12) 

So…BB Cream is booming all over beauty counters right now! I had no idea what all the hype was about until I read a review on it on one of the beauty blogs I follow…and I was really interested in what the product had to offer.

Here is a little synopsis… 

BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm. Save time with just one multi-benefit product that offers advanced skincare + immediate skin perfecting coverage. This hybrid formula renews radiance, brightens complexion, evens skin tone, hydrates and protects with SPF15 UVA/UVB sunscreen. BB creams come in a variety of different formulations and qualities mainly perceived as being anti-inflammatory and having a soothing effect on skin. 

Believe me when I say this stuff is MIRACLE CREAM. There are a ton of higher end brands that are formulating BB Cream for their cosmetic line…but this Garnier one is PERFECT and works GREAT.

What about my foundation?  It has the same affect as a liquid foundation…not as much coverage but rather a ton of beneficial bonuses for your skin. I still use and LOVE my Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation ($43)…however, BB Cream has so many more valuable ingredients for my skin…so unless I am going out…or having a terrible skin day and need the coverage…I have been sticking to BB Cream as my base…then using powder foundation for a matte finish…and lastly, finishing powder to set it all in!

GET. THIS. STUFF.

It’s really good sized bottle…totally worth the purchase in my opinion!

You can find this product at Ulta, Target, ANY drugstore actually, or online at Garnier.ca.com!

3. Maybelline’s “Baby Lips” Lip Balm - Color: Pink Punch ($4)

SO…there are a MILLION of these tinted lip balms hitting cosmetic shelves and counters daily…and being the fiend I am…I have bought all 1 million of them…yes, I have no shame! (Come over and try all of them ;] ) It was a close call between this balm and the NYX Lip Balms…but this was my TOP pick…

This balm has SPF 20 and leaves my lips feeling SILKY SMOOTH. This particular color is also the THEE PERFECT baby pink color…not to mention that it smells AMAZING. It lasts a really long time and has a buttery consistency. It glides right onto your lips…

Overall, everything is just right about this balm. Some of the other ones that I purchased either had NO SPF, didn’t last, the color options sucked, or melted away in the back seat of my car…WHOOPS :/

There are 5 other shades/flavors besides this one with equally beautiful colors and incredible scents…

You can find this product at ANY drugstore that sells Maybelline shhhhtuff! :) 

4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - Color: Earthshine ($29)

These skinfinishes can be used to add highlights to your cheeks or just as an overall ultra-deluxe polish for your face…I usually use this to just create a glowing affect to my finished makeup look, generally swiping it over my blush and t-zone area. 

I have 3 different skinfinishes…but Earthshine seems to be my favorite since it is versatile for all seasons! Bronzy yet it has a pearly and pink tint to it. 

You can find this product at ANY MAC counter, Mac store, or online at maccosmetics.com!

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay & Cheek Palette ($44…a $142 value)

Me and palettes have a LOVE/HATE relationship. I am always sooooo quick to buy a palette because I LOVE OPTIONS and I love the “value” factor…but usually…I buy a palette and of all the “options” it has to offer, I end up only using/enjoying/liking 1 thing out of the entire palette. :/ LAME.

HOWEVER…(besides my Naked and Naked 2 eyeshadow palettes) something has managed to break this curse! VICTORY!!!!!!! :)

This Tarte palette is wonderful! It is formulated with a beauty breakthrough ingredient: AMAZONIAN CLAY!

This palette contains 6 Amazonian clay eyeshadows (the colors are STELLAR) and 2 12-hour blushes…(the blushes are TO.DIE.FOR.) The texture of the shadows and blushes are smooth and soooo easy to apply. They are also highly pigmented…

This palette is totally worth the purchase seeing as to 1 blush from Tarte is $25 alone and the eyeshadows are $19!  

You can find this product at Sephora or online at tartecosmetics.com!

5 down.

I have the next 5 ready…and I’ll post um ASAP. 

If you have ANY questions or have any requests on specific products…send um my way…michellekrm@yahoo.com OR shoot me a message here on my blog!

xo.

M